Physician Assistant Exam / PAEA EOC 2025
Exam Questions and correct Answers
Comprehensive Review of Key Medical Topics
1. Cardiovascular – Diagnosis
A 68-year-old male presents with chest discomfort that occurs with exertion and
is relieved by rest. It has been happening for the past 3 months. His ECG at rest
is normal.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Unstable angina
B) Stable angina
C) Myocardial infarction
D) Aortic stenosis
E) Pericarditis
✅ Answer: B) Stable angina
Rationale: Predictable chest pain with exertion that resolves with rest and has
been stable for months fits stable angina. Normal resting ECG does not rule it out.
2. Pediatrics – Infectious Disease
A 5-year-old boy presents with fever, sore throat, and a “sandpaper-like” rash
that started on his trunk and spread to his extremities. His tongue appears
bright red.
What is the most appropriate initial treatment?
,A) Supportive care only
B) Oral acyclovir
C) Oral penicillin or amoxicillin
D) IV vancomycin
E) Oral azithromycin
✅ Answer: C) Oral penicillin or amoxicillin
Rationale: This is classic scarlet fever caused by Group A Streptococcus. First-line
treatment is penicillin or amoxicillin.
3. OB/GYN – Management
A 27-year-old woman at 32 weeks’ gestation presents with painless vaginal
bleeding. Fetal heart tones are normal. What's the most likely diagnosis?
A) Placental abruption
B) Placenta previa
C) Ectopic pregnancy
D) Preterm labor
E) Uterine rupture
✅ Answer: B) Placenta previa
Rationale: Painless third-trimester bleeding with a normal fetal heart rate strongly
suggests placenta previa.
4. Psychiatry – Diagnosis
A 19-year-old college student is brought in by his roommate after staying awake
for four days, claiming he has a “million-dollar app” and talking rapidly. He has
no significant medical history.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Schizophrenia
B) ADHD
C) Bipolar I disorder
,D) Generalized anxiety disorder
E) Borderline personality disorder
✅ Answer: C) Bipolar I disorder
Rationale: Manic episodes with decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, and
pressured speech are hallmark features of bipolar I.
5. GI – Diagnostic Imaging
A 60-year-old woman presents with RUQ pain, fever, and jaundice. What
imaging test is most appropriate first?
A) MRI abdomen
B) Abdominal CT with contrast
C) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
D) Abdominal ultrasound
E) HIDA scan
✅ Answer: D) Abdominal ultrasound
Rationale: RUQ pain with fever and jaundice = possible cholangitis. Ultrasound is
first-line to evaluate the biliary system.
6. Emergency Medicine – Toxidrome
A 22-year-old male is brought to the ED with agitation, dilated pupils, dry skin,
and urinary retention. Which of the following substances is most likely
responsible?
A) Opiates
B) Benzodiazepines
C) Anticholinergics
D) Organophosphates
E) Beta-blockers
✅ Answer: C) Anticholinergics
Rationale: “Dry as a bone, mad as a hatter, blind as a bat, red as a beet, hot as a
hare” — classic anticholinergic toxidrome.
, 7. Musculoskeletal – Clinical Presentation
A 45-year-old woman presents with bilateral shoulder pain and morning
stiffness lasting more than 1 hour. ESR is elevated. Which condition is most
likely?
A) Fibromyalgia
B) Polymyalgia rheumatica
C) Rheumatoid arthritis
D) Osteoarthritis
E) Bursitis
✅ Answer: B) Polymyalgia rheumatica
Rationale: Bilateral shoulder pain and stiffness in an older adult with elevated ESR
suggests PMR.
8. Pulmonology – Interpretation
A patient presents with shortness of breath and wheezing. Spirometry reveals a
decreased FEV1/FVC ratio and improvement with albuterol. What is the
diagnosis?
A) Chronic bronchitis
B) COPD
C) Asthma
D) Pulmonary embolism
E) Sarcoidosis
✅ Answer: C) Asthma
Rationale: Reversible airflow obstruction (improves with bronchodilator) =
asthma.
9. Dermatology – Treatment
Exam Questions and correct Answers
Comprehensive Review of Key Medical Topics
1. Cardiovascular – Diagnosis
A 68-year-old male presents with chest discomfort that occurs with exertion and
is relieved by rest. It has been happening for the past 3 months. His ECG at rest
is normal.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Unstable angina
B) Stable angina
C) Myocardial infarction
D) Aortic stenosis
E) Pericarditis
✅ Answer: B) Stable angina
Rationale: Predictable chest pain with exertion that resolves with rest and has
been stable for months fits stable angina. Normal resting ECG does not rule it out.
2. Pediatrics – Infectious Disease
A 5-year-old boy presents with fever, sore throat, and a “sandpaper-like” rash
that started on his trunk and spread to his extremities. His tongue appears
bright red.
What is the most appropriate initial treatment?
,A) Supportive care only
B) Oral acyclovir
C) Oral penicillin or amoxicillin
D) IV vancomycin
E) Oral azithromycin
✅ Answer: C) Oral penicillin or amoxicillin
Rationale: This is classic scarlet fever caused by Group A Streptococcus. First-line
treatment is penicillin or amoxicillin.
3. OB/GYN – Management
A 27-year-old woman at 32 weeks’ gestation presents with painless vaginal
bleeding. Fetal heart tones are normal. What's the most likely diagnosis?
A) Placental abruption
B) Placenta previa
C) Ectopic pregnancy
D) Preterm labor
E) Uterine rupture
✅ Answer: B) Placenta previa
Rationale: Painless third-trimester bleeding with a normal fetal heart rate strongly
suggests placenta previa.
4. Psychiatry – Diagnosis
A 19-year-old college student is brought in by his roommate after staying awake
for four days, claiming he has a “million-dollar app” and talking rapidly. He has
no significant medical history.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Schizophrenia
B) ADHD
C) Bipolar I disorder
,D) Generalized anxiety disorder
E) Borderline personality disorder
✅ Answer: C) Bipolar I disorder
Rationale: Manic episodes with decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, and
pressured speech are hallmark features of bipolar I.
5. GI – Diagnostic Imaging
A 60-year-old woman presents with RUQ pain, fever, and jaundice. What
imaging test is most appropriate first?
A) MRI abdomen
B) Abdominal CT with contrast
C) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
D) Abdominal ultrasound
E) HIDA scan
✅ Answer: D) Abdominal ultrasound
Rationale: RUQ pain with fever and jaundice = possible cholangitis. Ultrasound is
first-line to evaluate the biliary system.
6. Emergency Medicine – Toxidrome
A 22-year-old male is brought to the ED with agitation, dilated pupils, dry skin,
and urinary retention. Which of the following substances is most likely
responsible?
A) Opiates
B) Benzodiazepines
C) Anticholinergics
D) Organophosphates
E) Beta-blockers
✅ Answer: C) Anticholinergics
Rationale: “Dry as a bone, mad as a hatter, blind as a bat, red as a beet, hot as a
hare” — classic anticholinergic toxidrome.
, 7. Musculoskeletal – Clinical Presentation
A 45-year-old woman presents with bilateral shoulder pain and morning
stiffness lasting more than 1 hour. ESR is elevated. Which condition is most
likely?
A) Fibromyalgia
B) Polymyalgia rheumatica
C) Rheumatoid arthritis
D) Osteoarthritis
E) Bursitis
✅ Answer: B) Polymyalgia rheumatica
Rationale: Bilateral shoulder pain and stiffness in an older adult with elevated ESR
suggests PMR.
8. Pulmonology – Interpretation
A patient presents with shortness of breath and wheezing. Spirometry reveals a
decreased FEV1/FVC ratio and improvement with albuterol. What is the
diagnosis?
A) Chronic bronchitis
B) COPD
C) Asthma
D) Pulmonary embolism
E) Sarcoidosis
✅ Answer: C) Asthma
Rationale: Reversible airflow obstruction (improves with bronchodilator) =
asthma.
9. Dermatology – Treatment
