What is the CMBA Acupuncture (only) MCQ examination?

It is Stage 1 of the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia's regulatory examination pathway, a computer-based, scenario-based multiple-choice test mainly used to assess overseas-qualified acupuncturists (and others advised by Ahpra) against the Board's Professional capabilities for Chinese medicine practitioners. Candidates must pass the MCQ before they can sit the OSCE.

How long is the CMBA acupuncture MCQ exam and how much does it cost?

The Acupuncture (only) MCQ examination runs for 150 minutes (2.5 hours) and currently costs A$767.00 (GST free), per the Board's published fee schedule. A combined Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine practitioner MCQ runs 180 minutes and costs A$920.00. Always confirm current fees on the CMBA website before booking.

How many questions are on the CMBA acupuncture MCQ exam?

The Chinese Medicine Board of Australia publishes the examination duration but does not publish an exact public question count for the Acupuncture (only) MCQ. This free practice bank contains 66 original questions.

What score do I need to pass?

The Board does not publish a fixed percentage pass mark for the MCQ or OSCE. The CMBA Examinations Committee sets and applies its own examination standards.

What happens after I pass the MCQ?

Passing the MCQ makes a candidate eligible to sit the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), the practical Stage 2 assessment, which is only offered in Australia and carries its own fee (A$3,000.00 for the Acupuncture-only OSCE).

What topics should I study?

The exams are based on the Board's Professional capabilities for Chinese medicine practitioners (approved December 2019), covering acupuncture assessment and treatment (Domain 1A), professional and ethical practice, communication and collaboration, lifelong learning, and quality and risk management, including biomedicine and clinical safety.

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66+ Free CMBA Acupuncture MCQ Exam Practice Questions

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Sample CMBA Acupuncture MCQ Exam Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CMBA Acupuncture MCQ Exam exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 66+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A patient with poor appetite, loose stools, fatigue and a pale, swollen tongue is most likely showing which Zang-Fu pattern?

A.Spleen Qi deficiency

B.Liver Fire flaring

C.Kidney Yin deficiency

D.Heart Blood stasis

Explanation: The Spleen governs transformation and transportation of food; when Spleen Qi is deficient, digestion weakens, producing poor appetite, loose stools, fatigue and a pale, swollen tongue as Qi and fluids fail to be properly transformed.

2Which physiological function is the Lung primarily responsible for in Chinese medicine theory?

A.Governing Qi and respiration

B.Storing blood

C.Governing transformation of food

D.Storing essence

Explanation: The Lung governs Qi and respiration, controlling the intake of clear Qi from the air and its distribution throughout the body, along with dispersing defensive Qi and fluids to the skin.

3In Chinese medicine, Kidney Essence (jing) is described as the material basis for which of the following?

A.Growth, development and reproduction

B.Digestion of food

C.Circulation of Qi in the channels

D.Regulation of emotions

Explanation: Kidney Essence combines pre-natal essence inherited from the parents with post-natal essence refined from food, forming the material basis for growth, development, reproduction and the aging process.

4According to Chinese medicine theory, which organ is said to 'house the mind' (shen) and govern mental activity, consciousness and sleep?

A.Heart

B.Liver

C.Spleen

D.Lung

Explanation: The Heart is said to house the Shen (mind/spirit), governing consciousness, thinking, memory and sleep. Disharmony of Heart function can manifest as insomnia, palpitations, poor memory or disturbed mood.

5The classical relationship in which the Spleen (Earth) is said to be restrained by the Liver (Wood) in the five-element controlling (ke) cycle explains which common clinical pattern?

A.Liver Qi stagnation invading the Spleen, causing digestive symptoms

B.Kidney Yang deficiency causing Spleen Yang deficiency

C.Lung Qi deficiency causing Spleen Qi deficiency

D.Heart Fire excess causing Spleen Dampness

Explanation: In the controlling (ke) cycle, Wood controls Earth; clinically this is seen when constrained or stagnant Liver Qi disrupts Spleen function, producing digestive complaints such as bloating, poor appetite or loose stools alongside emotional symptoms, a pattern often termed 'Liver Qi invading the Spleen.'

6A patient reports heaviness in the limbs, a feeling of fullness in the chest and epigastrium, foggy-headedness and a sticky taste in the mouth. This cluster of symptoms is most characteristic of which pathogenic factor?

A.Dampness

B.Dryness

C.Wind

D.Fire

Explanation: Dampness is a heavy, turbid pathogenic factor classically associated with sensations of heaviness, fullness, foggy-headedness, sticky taste and greasy tongue coating, reflecting its tendency to obstruct the free flow of Qi and impair the Spleen's transforming function.

7In Chinese medicine theory, the Liver's function of 'governing the smooth flow of Qi' primarily relates to what?

A.Maintaining free and unobstructed movement of Qi throughout the body

B.Governing digestion of food and drink

C.Controlling respiration and Qi intake

D.Storing Kidney essence

Explanation: The Liver governs the smooth, unobstructed flow of Qi throughout the body and organs; when this function is impaired, Qi stagnation results, commonly manifesting as irritability, distending pain and menstrual irregularities.

8Which combination of signs is most typical of an interior excess heat pattern?

A.High fever, thirst for cold drinks, a red tongue with yellow coating and constipation

B.Low-grade fever, dry mouth at night and a thin, rapid pulse

C.Cold extremities, pale complexion and clear, copious urination

D.Fatigue, poor appetite and loose stools

Explanation: Interior excess heat is marked by pronounced heat signs including high fever, strong thirst for cold fluids, a red tongue with a yellow coating, and constipation from consumption of body fluids by heat, reflecting a vigorous excess pattern rather than a deficiency pattern.

9A patient presents with chronic low back pain relieved by rest, night sweats, warm palms and soles, dry mouth at night, and a thin, rapid pulse. Which pattern best fits this presentation?

A.Kidney Yin deficiency

B.Kidney Yang deficiency

C.Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner

D.Blood stasis in the Lower Burner

Explanation: Night sweats, warm palms and soles, dry mouth at night and a thin rapid pulse are classic signs of empty heat from Yin deficiency; combined with chronic low back pain, a common Kidney-region symptom, this points to Kidney Yin deficiency rather than a Yang or excess pattern.

10Sudden onset of aversion to cold, mild fever, headache, stiff neck, sneezing and a floating-tight pulse most closely describes which exterior pattern?

A.Wind-Cold invasion

B.Wind-Heat invasion

C.Damp-Heat accumulation

D.Interior Cold pattern

Explanation: Wind-Cold invasion typically presents with sudden aversion to cold, mild fever, headache, body aches, sneezing/nasal congestion and a floating-tight pulse, reflecting an exterior pattern where cold predominates over heat.

About the CMBA Acupuncture MCQ Exam Practice Questions

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