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Key Facts: Concours PACES Médecine Exam

Written

Published assessment mode is written and varies by teaching unit

Faculté de Médecine d'Antananarivo

10/20

Published unit credit-validation threshold, not a standalone L2 selection cutoff

Official unit outlines

99

Questions in this independent practice bank

OpenExamPrep

This independent English-language MCQ bank supports preparation for the real end-of-PACES Médecine ranking. It does not reproduce the official language, paper layout, diagrammatic work, or complete assessment experience.

Sample Concours PACES Médecine Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Concours PACES Médecine exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 99+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following statements correctly describes the structural characteristics of the peptide bond in proteins?
A.It is a freely rotating single bond between the alpha-carbon and the carbonyl carbon.
B.It is formed by a hydrolysis reaction releasing a molecule of carbon dioxide.
C.It possesses partial double-bond character due to resonance, resulting in a planar geometry with restricted rotation.
D.It predominantly adopts a cis configuration in polypeptide backbones due to favorable steric interactions between R-groups.
Explanation: The peptide bond between the carbonyl carbon and the amide nitrogen has approximately 40% double-bond character due to resonance delocalization of the nitrogen lone pair into the carbonyl pi system. This restricts rotation around the C-N bond (omega torsion angle fixed at ~180° for trans) and constrains the six participating atoms to lie in a single plane.
2Under physiological conditions, what are the canonical geometric parameters of the B-form DNA double helix described by Watson and Crick?
A.A left-handed helix with 12 base pairs per turn and a pitch of 4.5 nm.
B.A right-handed helix with approximately 10.5 base pairs per helical turn and a pitch of 3.4 nm.
C.A right-handed helix with 11 base pairs per turn and base pairs tilted at 20° to the helical axis.
D.A triple-stranded helix stabilized by non-canonical Hoogsteen base pairing throughout the entire length.
Explanation: Canonical B-DNA is a right-handed double helix containing approximately 10 to 10.5 base pairs per turn with a vertical rise of 0.34 nm per base pair, yielding an axial pitch (repeat length) of approximately 3.4 nm (34 Å). Base pairs lie almost perpendicular to the helical axis, defining major and minor grooves.
3In enzyme kinetics following the Michaelis-Menten model, how does the addition of a reversible competitive inhibitor alter the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) and the maximum velocity (Vmax)?
A.Km increases (apparent affinity decreases) while Vmax remains unchanged.
B.Both Km and Vmax decrease proportionally, leaving the ratio Vmax/Km constant.
C.Vmax decreases while Km remains completely unchanged.
D.Km decreases (apparent affinity increases) while Vmax increases.
Explanation: A competitive inhibitor binds reversibly to the enzyme's active site, competing directly with the substrate. Because high substrate concentrations can completely outcompete the inhibitor, the maximum reaction velocity (Vmax) is unaffected, but a higher substrate concentration is required to reach half-maximal velocity, increasing the apparent Km (Km' = Km * (1 + [I]/Ki)).
4Which glycolytic enzyme catalyzes the primary committed and rate-limiting step of glycolysis, and what is its potent physiological allosteric activator?
A.Hexokinase; activated by glucose-6-phosphate.
B.Pyruvate kinase; activated by high levels of intracellular ATP and acetyl-CoA.
C.Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; activated by NADH and lactate.
D.Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1); activated by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and AMP.
Explanation: Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) catalyzes the phosphorylation of fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate consuming one ATP, which is the principal committed step of glycolysis. PFK-1 is allosterically inhibited by high ATP and citrate, and powerfully activated by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (produced by PFK-2) and AMP.
5During the tricarboxylic acid (Krebs) cycle, which reaction catalyzes the first oxidative decarboxylation, generating the first molecule of NADH and releasing CO2?
A.Conversion of citrate to isocitrate by aconitase.
B.Condensation of oxaloacetate and acetyl-CoA by citrate synthase.
C.Conversion of isocitrate to alpha-ketoglutarate by isocitrate dehydrogenase.
D.Conversion of succinyl-CoA to succinate by succinyl-CoA synthetase.
Explanation: Isocitrate dehydrogenase catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate into alpha-ketoglutarate (via an oxalosuccinate intermediate), reducing NAD+ to NADH and releasing CO2. This is the first decarboxylation of the citric acid cycle and a major rate-limiting regulatory checkpoint inhibited by ATP and NADH.
6In the mitochondrial electron transport chain, which enzyme complex catalyzes the terminal transfer of four electrons to molecular oxygen to produce two molecules of water?
A.Complex IV (Cytochrome c oxidase).
B.Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase).
C.Complex II (Succinate dehydrogenase).
D.Complex III (Cytochrome bc1 complex / CoQH2-cytochrome c reductase).
Explanation: Complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase) contains heme a, heme a3, and copper centers (CuA and CuB). It oxidizes four reduced cytochrome c molecules, transfers four electrons to O2 to form two H2O, and translocates four protons from the matrix to the intermembrane space per O2 reduced.
7What is the biochemical mechanism by which uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1 / thermogenin) dissipates energy in brown adipose tissue mitochondria?
A.It directly binds and inhibits the catalytic beta subunits of the F1 ATPase domain.
B.It provides a proton leak pathway across the inner mitochondrial membrane, bypassing ATP synthase and dissipating the proton-motive force as heat.
C.It irreversibly blocks Complex III, halting the Q-cycle and forcing electrons to reduce molecular oxygen into superoxide.
D.It hydrolyzes cytosolic ATP into AMP and inorganic pyrophosphate to generate exothermic thermal energy.
Explanation: UCP1 (thermogenin) is an inner mitochondrial membrane channel that allows protons pumped into the intermembrane space to flow back into the mitochondrial matrix without driving the rotor mechanism of ATP synthase (Fo/F1). This dissipates the electrochemical proton gradient as heat (non-shivering thermogenesis) rather than driving ATP synthesis.
8In hepatic gluconeogenesis, which two sequential enzymes bypass the irreversible glycolytic reaction catalyzed by pyruvate kinase, and what obligate cofactor is required by the first enzyme?
A.Pyruvate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase; requiring thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP).
B.Phosphofructokinase-2 and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase; requiring pyridoxal phosphate (PLP).
C.Pyruvate carboxylase (requiring biotin) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK).
D.Glucose-6-phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase; requiring tetrahydrofolate (THF).
Explanation: The reversal of pyruvate kinase requires two steps: first, mitochondrial pyruvate carboxylase carboxylates pyruvate to oxaloacetate using ATP, CO2, and the vitamin cofactor biotin; then, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) converts oxaloacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) using GTP and releasing CO2.
9What is the rate-limiting transport mechanism that transfers long-chain fatty acyl-CoA molecules across the inner mitochondrial membrane for beta-oxidation?
A.Passive diffusion through large porin channels in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
B.The citrate-malate shuttle using ATP-citrate lyase.
C.The glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle utilizing cytosolic and mitochondrial FAD.
D.The carnitine shuttle, initiated by carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT-I) on the outer mitochondrial membrane.
Explanation: Long-chain fatty acids cannot freely cross the inner mitochondrial membrane. CPT-I (carnitine palmitoyltransferase I), located on the outer mitochondrial membrane, replaces the CoA moiety with carnitine to form acylcarnitine. This is the rate-limiting step of fatty acid oxidation and is allosterically inhibited by malonyl-CoA. Acylcarnitine is transported into the matrix by carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase, where CPT-II regenerates fatty acyl-CoA.
10How does cholesterol modulate the physical state and fluidity of eukaryotic plasma membranes across varying physiological temperatures?
A.It acts as a bidirectional fluidity buffer, restraining phospholipid mobility at high temperatures and hindering tight fatty acid packing at low temperatures.
B.It always increases membrane fluidity regardless of temperature by cleaving saturated fatty acid tails.
C.It completely eliminates the phase transition temperature (Tm) by converting the lipid bilayer into a rigid solid crystalline sheet.
D.It displaces integral membrane proteins into the extracellular space when temperature drops below 30°C.
Explanation: Cholesterol intercalates between phospholipids with its rigid steroid ring adjacent to fatty acid chains. At higher temperatures, it restricts the movement of fatty acid acyl chains, decreasing fluidity and permeability; at lower temperatures, it prevents fatty acid chains from packing closely together and crystallizing, thereby preventing membrane freezing.

About the Concours PACES Médecine Exam

Independent PACES Médecine practice covering retained biomedical, biophysical, anatomical, pharmacological, embryological, and imaging concepts. Use it with current Faculty notices and course materials.

Exam sponsor: Faculté de Médecine, Université d'Antananarivo. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

PACES ends in competitive ranking under numerus clausus, with common teaching units and pathway-specific assessment. The published medicine UE8 covers upper- and lower-limb osteology and arthrology, basic embryology, and introductory medical imaging in a written QCU format. Other Faculty materials describe unit-dependent QCM and written questions. The reviewed materials are in French, but no separate official language rule was found. This English four-option MCQ bank is an independent conceptual adaptation, not an official translation, paper-layout simulation, or substitute for diagrammatic or other required work.

Time Limit

No consolidated duration published; the published medicine UE8 combines components in a 1 hour 30 minute written assessment.

Passing Score

Competitive ranking under numerus clausus; 10/20 validates published unit credits but is not by itself a current L2 selection cutoff.

Exam / Certification Fees

Not published for the end-of-PACES concours; 50,000 Ariary is the separate current L1 dossier pre-registration fee.

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Not published. No current L2 quota or pass-rate percentage was found. The 1,000-place figure in the 2026 order is the L1 dossier-admission capacity for Medicine, not an L2 quota. 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.

25 of 99 practice questions

Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Biomolecules, enzymes, metabolism, organelles, cell division, and histology.

14 of 99 practice questions

Biophysics and Biostatistics

Solutions, electrophysiology, flow, radiation, optics, diagnostics, and statistics.

20 of 99 practice questions

General Anatomy

Bones, joints, muscles, nerves, cavities, and circulation.

15 of 99 practice questions

Pharmacology and Health Sciences

ADME, receptor pharmacology, formulations, epidemiology, prevention, and ethics.

25 of 99 practice questions

Medicine UE8

Limb osteology and arthrology, early embryology, and introductory imaging.

Preparing for the Concours PACES Médecine Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Competitive ranking under numerus clausus; 10/20 validates published unit credits but is not by itself a current L2 selection cutoff.
  • Assessment: PACES ends in competitive ranking under numerus clausus, with common teaching units and pathway-specific assessment. The published medicine UE8 covers upper- and lower-limb osteology and arthrology, basic embryology, and introductory medical imaging in a written QCU format. Other Faculty materials describe unit-dependent QCM and written questions. The reviewed materials are in French, but no separate official language rule was found. This English four-option MCQ bank is an independent conceptual adaptation, not an official translation, paper-layout simulation, or substitute for diagrammatic or other required work.
  • Time limit: No consolidated duration published; the published medicine UE8 combines components in a 1 hour 30 minute written assessment.
  • Exam / certification fees: Not published for the end-of-PACES concours; 50,000 Ariary is the separate current L1 dossier pre-registration fee. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 99 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Concours PACES Médecine: Suggested Study Strategy

1Use current Faculty materials to learn exact French terminology while using these English questions for concept recall.
2Practice calculations without relying on answer recognition, especially for biophysics, pharmacokinetics, and statistics.
3Draw and label limb bones, joints, embryonic timelines, and imaging appearances because MCQs do not replace diagrammatic study.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a current assessment?

Yes. The Faculty currently lists Médecine Humaine as a PACES pathway, and its PACES guide describes the competitive end-of-year ranking for L2 progression.

What is the official format?

It is written and unit-dependent. The medicine UE8 uses QCU; other Faculty materials describe QCM and written questions. No mandatory oral, practical, assignment, or case-study concours component was found in the reviewed sources.

What language is the official concours delivered in?

The official materials reviewed are in French, but they do not separately publish a complete permitted delivery or response language rule. This English bank is not an official translation.

Is 1,000 the L2 quota?

No. The 2026 order's 1,000-place figure is the capacity for dossier admission into L1 Médecine Humaine. A current L2 quota was not published in the sources reviewed.

Does this bank simulate the real paper?

No. These four-option MCQs support conceptual review but do not reproduce official QCU/QCM/written formats or substitute for diagrammatic and other course work.