Free Practice Questions for Secrétaire Médicale (Assistant Médico-Administratif)

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Key Facts: Secrétaire Médicale (Assistant Médico-Administratif) Exam

45 min

External oral examination duration (Coef 4)

Arrêté du 20 octobre 2020

Category B

Civil service classification in the FPH

Décret n° 2011-660

< 5 / 20

Eliminatory mark on an internal written paper or oral

Arrêté du 27 septembre 2012

Loi Kouchner

Foundational patient rights law of March 4, 2002

Code de la santé publique

The Concours Assistant Médico-Administratif (branche Secrétariat Médical) is the Category B competition for hospital medical secretaries in France. Governed by the Arrêté du 20 octobre 2020, the external route features a 45-minute oral examination with a patient case scenario, while the internal route tests written case studies and short answers. This question bank provides an English-language MCQ study adaptation covering medical terminology, patient confidentiality, and hospital organisation.

Sample Secrétaire Médicale (Assistant Médico-Administratif) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Secrétaire Médicale (Assistant Médico-Administratif) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In medical terminology, what does the term 'bradycardie' designate, and what is its standard clinical diagnostic threshold in an adult at rest?

A.A resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute

B.A resting heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute

C.An irregular cardiac rhythm with normal mean frequency

D.A temporary cessation of cardiac contractions exceeding 3 seconds

Explanation: The term 'bradycardie' is constructed from the Greek prefix 'brady-' (slow) and the root '-cardie' (heart). In clinical practice, sinus bradycardia is formally defined in an adult at rest as a heart rate below 60 beats per minute (bpm). A resting rate exceeding 100 bpm is designated as tachycardie.

2In gastroenterology, what anatomical structure and pathological process are indicated by the diagnosis of 'cholécystite'?

A.Infection of the common bile duct (*cholangite* or *angiocholite*)

B.Acute or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder (*vésicule biliaire*)

C.Formation of calculi inside the liver parenchyma (*hépatolithiase*)

D.Surgical removal of the gallbladder (*cholécystectomie*)

Explanation: 'Cholécystite' is composed of 'cholé-' (bile), 'cysto-' (bladder/sac), and the suffix '-ite' (inflammation), signifying inflammation of the gallbladder, most frequently caused by an obstructing gallstone (*lithiase vésiculaire*). It manifests clinically with right upper quadrant pain (Murphy's sign) and fever.

3In pulmonology, which medical term specifically defines painful or difficult breathing experienced by a patient?

A.Apnée

B.Eupnée

C.Dyspnée

D.Orthopnée

Explanation: The prefix 'dys-' indicates difficulty, pain, or dysfunction, and '-pnée' derives from the Greek *pnoia* (breathing). 'Dyspnée' designates subjective breathing difficulty or shortness of breath. 'Eupnée' indicates normal respiratory rhythm, while 'apnée' is the temporary cessation of airflow.

4A patient suffering from a left hemisphere stroke presents with preserved language comprehension but severe difficulty articulating spoken words. Which clinical condition does this represent?

A.Wernicke sensory aphasia

B.Global non-fluent aphasia

C.Apraxia of swallowing (*dysphagie*)

D.Broca motor aphasia

Explanation: 'Aphasie de Broca' (motor or non-fluent aphasia) results from damage to the posterior inferior frontal gyrus of the dominant hemisphere. Patients understand spoken and written language relatively well but experience agrammatism, telegraphic speech, and labored verbal output. In contrast, 'aphasie de Wernicke' involves fluent speech without comprehension.

5In oncology and pathology, what histological origin is denoted by the prefix 'adéno-' in the diagnosis of 'adénocarcinome'?

A.Glandular epithelial tissue

B.Striated muscle tissue

C.Fibrous connective tissue

D.Hematopoietic bone marrow

Explanation: The prefix 'adéno-' originates from the Greek *adên* (gland). An 'adénocarcinome' is a malignant tumor (*carcinome*) arising from glandular epithelial tissue, such as in the breast, prostate, colon, or stomach. Malignant tumors originating from muscle or connective tissue are called sarcomas (*sarcomes*).

6A medical record indicates that an adult inpatient has a 24-hour urine output of 250 mL. Which clinical term accurately describes this urinary symptom?

A.Polyurie

B.Oligurie

C.Anurie

D.Pollakiurie

Explanation: 'Oligurie' (from the Greek *oligos*, few/scanty) is defined in adults as a 24-hour urinary output below 500 mL (or < 0.5 mL/kg/h). 'Anurie' represents extreme suppression of urine production below 100 mL in 24 hours, whereas 'polyurie' designates output exceeding 3,000 mL/24h.

7In rheumatology, what fundamental pathophysiological distinction separates 'arthrose' from 'arthrite'?

A.Arthrose affects only spinal joints, whereas arthrite is restricted to synovial limb joints

B.Arthrose is an autoimmune bacterial infection, whereas arthrite is an age-related genetic malformation

C.Arthrose is a degenerative non-inflammatory joint cartilage wear, whereas arthrite is an inflammatory joint disease

D.Arthrose requires emergency surgical debridement, whereas arthrite is treated exclusively with physical therapy

Explanation: The suffix '-ose' designates a non-inflammatory chronic degenerative condition, whereas '-ite' designates an inflammatory or infectious process. 'Arthrose' (osteoarthritis) is characterized by progressive degeneration of articular cartilage with mechanical pain (aggravated by exertion, relieved by rest). 'Arthrite' (such as rheumatoid arthritis or septic arthritis) involves synovial inflammation with inflammatory pain (nocturnal awakening, morning stiffness).

8A patient's complete blood count (*hémogramme* or NFS) shows a platelet count of 45,000 / mm³ (normal reference: 150,000–400,000 / mm³). Which medical term documents this laboratory finding?

A.Thrombocytose

B.Leucopénie

C.Agranulocytose

D.Thrombopénie

Explanation: 'Thrombopénie' (or thrombocytopénie, from *thrombocyte* and the Greek suffix *-pénie*, meaning deficiency/scarcity) designates a platelet count below 150,000 / mm³ (150 G/L). It exposes the patient to hemorrhagic risks (purpura, epistaxis, hematomas). A platelet count above 400,000 / mm³ is a thrombocytosis (*thrombocytose*).

9In otorhinolaryngology (ORL), what is the correct medical term for an abnormal purulent or serous discharge flowing from the external auditory canal?

A.Otorrhée

B.Otorragie

C.Rhinorrhée

D.Épistaxis

Explanation: 'Otorrhée' is derived from 'ot/o' (ear) and '-rrhée' (flow/discharge). It designates any non-bloody fluid discharge from the ear, characteristic of acute otitis media with tympanic perforation or external otitis. Frank bleeding from the ear is termed 'otorragie'.

10Which surgical suffix specifically denotes the artificial creation of a permanent or temporary opening between a hollow organ and the external body wall?

A.-tomie

B.-stomie

C.-ectomie

D.-synthèse

Explanation: The suffix '-stomie' comes from the Greek *stoma* (mouth, orifice) and designates the surgical creation of an opening or stoma communicating with the outside (e.g., colostomie, trachéostomie, gastrostomie). In contrast, '-tomie' is an incision, and '-ectomie' is a surgical excision/removal.

About the Secrétaire Médicale (Assistant Médico-Administratif) Exam

The Concours d'Assistant Médico-Administratif (AMA) — branche Secrétariat Médical (widely known and searched by candidates as the Concours de Secrétaire Médicale Hospitalière) is the Category B competitive civil service examination for the French Hospital Civil Service (Fonction Publique Hospitalière - FPH). Governed by Décret n° 2011-660 and the Arrêté du 20 octobre 2020, this competition selects specialized healthcare administrative professionals who manage patient files, organize consultations and operating schedules, transcribe medical reports, handle multidisciplinary consultation meetings (RCP), and ensure compliance with strict medical confidentiality and the French Public Health Code (Code de la santé publique). The official syllabus set out in Annexe I of the 2020 decree covers the organization of the healthcare system, hospital structures, patient rights and medical ethics, secretarial rules and medical correspondence, and comprehensive medical terminology across human anatomical systems. This question bank provides an English-language study adaptation covering clinical terminology, health law, hospital organization, and patient data ethics.

Exam sponsor: Établissements Publics de Santé (EPS) / Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) / ARS. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

After dossier selection, the external oral lasts 45 minutes including 15 minutes of preparation (coefficient 4): a presentation of up to 5 minutes, one or two questions from programme points 1 and 2, and a 20-minute scenario based on a short text under point 3. Internal admissibility consists of a 3-hour cas pratique from a dossier of no more than 25 pages (coefficient 3) and six to ten short-answer questions in 3 hours (coefficient 2), followed by a 30-minute oral (coefficient 4).

Time Limit

External: 45-minute oral including 15 minutes of preparation; internal: two 3-hour written papers plus a 30-minute oral

Passing Score

External: jury threshold at least 40/80 on the oral; internal: at least 50/100 at admissibility and 90/180 overall, with a mark below 5/20 on a written paper or oral eliminatory

Exam / Certification Fees

No fee is stated by the organizing establishment

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

30%

Medical Terminology & Clinical Records (DPI)

Etymology, prefixes, roots, suffixes, pathology terms across organ systems, hospital discharge summaries (CRH), operative reports (CRO), DPI management, and CIM-10 coding basics

25%

Health System Organization & Hospital Governance

Public health governance, regional health agencies (ARS), HAS, CPAM, hospital bodies (Directoire, CME, CSIRMT, Conseil de surveillance), clinical poles, and territorial hospital groups (GHT)

25%

Patient Rights, Medical Ethics & Confidentiality

Loi Kouchner (March 4, 2002), medical secrecy vs shared secret (secret partagé), patient consent, access to medical records, trusted persons (personne de confiance), minors, and psychiatric care rules

20%

Medical Secretarial Practice & Clinical Coordination

Medical transcription protocols, consultation scheduling, physician agenda management, multidisciplinary oncology meetings (RCP), patient reception, and inter-service coordination

Preparing for the Secrétaire Médicale (Assistant Médico-Administratif) Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: External: jury threshold at least 40/80 on the oral; internal: at least 50/100 at admissibility and 90/180 overall, with a mark below 5/20 on a written paper or oral eliminatory
Assessment: After dossier selection, the external oral lasts 45 minutes including 15 minutes of preparation (coefficient 4): a presentation of up to 5 minutes, one or two questions from programme points 1 and 2, and a 20-minute scenario based on a short text under point 3. Internal admissibility consists of a 3-hour cas pratique from a dossier of no more than 25 pages (coefficient 3) and six to ten short-answer questions in 3 hours (coefficient 2), followed by a 30-minute oral (coefficient 4).
Time limit: External: 45-minute oral including 15 minutes of preparation; internal: two 3-hour written papers plus a 30-minute oral
Exam / certification fees: No fee is stated by the organizing establishment Official sources

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Secrétaire Médicale (Assistant Médico-Administratif): Suggested Study Strategy

1Master medical root words, prefixes, and suffixes: systematically review cardiovascular, neurological, digestive, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and oncological terminology

2Learn the legal rules of the Loi Kouchner du 4 mars 2002: direct patient access to medical records (8-day delay for records under 5 years old, 2 months for older records), rights of minors, and designated trusted persons

3Understand the boundaries of shared secrecy (secret professionnel partagé): know exactly what information an AMA can share within the care team (équipe de soins) versus outside disclosures

4Familiarize yourself with hospital governance bodies: distinguish between the deliberative role of the Conseil de surveillance, the executive role of the Directoire, and the medical advisory authority of the CME

5Practice prioritizing urgent patient inquiries: recognize red-flag medical symptoms requiring immediate transfer to a physician or SAMU/Centre 15

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'Secrétaire Médicale' and 'Assistant Médico-Administratif'?

Historically called Secrétaire Médicale, the corps was officially reformed and integrated into the Category B corps of Assistants Médico-Administratifs (AMA) under Décret n° 2011-660. The medical secretary track is officially designated as the 'branche secrétariat médical' (distinct from the 'branche assistance de régulation médicale').

What are the eligibility requirements for the external competition (concours sur titres)?

The external route requires the baccalauréat, another qualification classified at Level 4, or a recognized equivalent, in addition to the general conditions for public-service appointment. Specialized secretarial training may help preparation but is not stated as an additional statutory diploma requirement.

What legal text outlines the official syllabus?

The official syllabus is established by Annexe I of the Arrêté du 20 octobre 2020, which details health system organization, hospital functioning, patient rights, medical correspondence, and clinical terminology.

What are the core duties of a hospital AMA in secrétariat médical?

Duties include welcoming patients, creating and maintaining computerized patient records (DPI), transcribing medical consultations and surgical operation notes, managing specialist agendas, liaising between patients, doctors, and external practitioners, and safeguarding confidential health data.

What constitutes an eliminatory score in this competition?

For the external route, the jury sets an admission threshold of at least 40 points out of 80 on the oral. For the internal route, a written mark below 5/20 is eliminatory, the admissibility threshold is at least 50/100, an oral mark below 5/20 is eliminatory, and the overall threshold is at least 90/180.