APMLE Exam Practice Exam Questions WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |INSTANT DOWNLOAD
PDF
1. Which of the following is the first step in patient evaluation
in clinical practice?
A. Ordering laboratory tests
B. Taking a detailed history
C. Prescribing medication
D. Performing surgery
*Answer: B. Taking a detailed history — A thorough patient
history is the cornerstone of diagnosis and guides further
investigations.
2. A 45-year-old patient presents with chest pain radiating to
the left arm. What is the most appropriate initial test?
A. Chest X-ray
B. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
C. Echocardiogram
D. MRI of the chest
*Answer: B. Electrocardiogram (ECG) — ECG is the first-line
diagnostic tool for suspected acute coronary syndrome.
3. Which of the following pathogens is most commonly
associated with community-acquired pneumonia?
A. Streptococcus pneumoniae
B. Escherichia coli
,C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Staphylococcus aureus
*Answer: A. Streptococcus pneumoniae — It is the leading
cause of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia worldwide.
4. What is the most effective method to prevent the spread of
hospital-acquired infections?
A. Hand hygiene
B. Prescribing antibiotics
C. Patient isolation only
D. Sterilizing surgical instruments
*Answer: A. Hand hygiene — Proper handwashing significantly
reduces transmission of pathogens in healthcare settings.
5. Which vitamin deficiency causes scurvy?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin B12
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin D
*Answer: C. Vitamin C — Vitamin C is essential for collagen
synthesis; its deficiency leads to scurvy.
6. Which hormone regulates calcium levels in the blood?
A. Insulin
B. Parathyroid hormone
C. Cortisol
D. Thyroxine
*Answer: B. Parathyroid hormone — PTH increases blood
,calcium by stimulating bone resorption and kidney
reabsorption.
7. What is the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes?
A. Insulin therapy
B. Metformin
C. Sulfonylureas
D. GLP-1 agonists
*Answer: B. Metformin — Metformin improves insulin
sensitivity and is recommended as initial therapy for type 2
diabetes.
8. Which of the following is a common side effect of ACE
inhibitors?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Dry cough
C. Bradycardia
D. Hyperglycemia
*Answer: B. Dry cough — ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin
levels, which can trigger a persistent dry cough.
9. A 30-year-old woman presents with fatigue, pallor, and
spoon-shaped nails. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Iron deficiency anemia
B. Vitamin B12 deficiency
C. Hemolytic anemia
D. Thalassemia
*Answer: A. Iron deficiency anemia — Pallor and koilonychia
(spoon-shaped nails) are classic signs of iron deficiency.
, 10. What is the most appropriate management for a patient
with acute asthma exacerbation?
A. Inhaled corticosteroids only
B. Short-acting beta-agonist (SABA)
C. Antibiotics
D. Long-term oxygen therapy
*Answer: B. Short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) — SABAs provide
rapid bronchodilation during acute asthma attacks.
11. Which of the following conditions is an autoimmune
disease?
A. Type 1 diabetes
B. Hypertension
C. Osteoarthritis
D. Tuberculosis
*Answer: A. Type 1 diabetes — The immune system destroys
pancreatic beta cells in type 1 diabetes.
12. Which imaging modality is preferred for detecting
ischemic stroke within the first 24 hours?
A. MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging
B. Ultrasound
C. Plain X-ray
D. PET scan
*Answer: A. MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging — It is highly
sensitive for early ischemic changes.
13. Which of the following is a common symptom of
hyperthyroidism?
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |INSTANT DOWNLOAD
1. Which of the following is the first step in patient evaluation
in clinical practice?
A. Ordering laboratory tests
B. Taking a detailed history
C. Prescribing medication
D. Performing surgery
*Answer: B. Taking a detailed history — A thorough patient
history is the cornerstone of diagnosis and guides further
investigations.
2. A 45-year-old patient presents with chest pain radiating to
the left arm. What is the most appropriate initial test?
A. Chest X-ray
B. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
C. Echocardiogram
D. MRI of the chest
*Answer: B. Electrocardiogram (ECG) — ECG is the first-line
diagnostic tool for suspected acute coronary syndrome.
3. Which of the following pathogens is most commonly
associated with community-acquired pneumonia?
A. Streptococcus pneumoniae
B. Escherichia coli
,C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
D. Staphylococcus aureus
*Answer: A. Streptococcus pneumoniae — It is the leading
cause of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia worldwide.
4. What is the most effective method to prevent the spread of
hospital-acquired infections?
A. Hand hygiene
B. Prescribing antibiotics
C. Patient isolation only
D. Sterilizing surgical instruments
*Answer: A. Hand hygiene — Proper handwashing significantly
reduces transmission of pathogens in healthcare settings.
5. Which vitamin deficiency causes scurvy?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin B12
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin D
*Answer: C. Vitamin C — Vitamin C is essential for collagen
synthesis; its deficiency leads to scurvy.
6. Which hormone regulates calcium levels in the blood?
A. Insulin
B. Parathyroid hormone
C. Cortisol
D. Thyroxine
*Answer: B. Parathyroid hormone — PTH increases blood
,calcium by stimulating bone resorption and kidney
reabsorption.
7. What is the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes?
A. Insulin therapy
B. Metformin
C. Sulfonylureas
D. GLP-1 agonists
*Answer: B. Metformin — Metformin improves insulin
sensitivity and is recommended as initial therapy for type 2
diabetes.
8. Which of the following is a common side effect of ACE
inhibitors?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Dry cough
C. Bradycardia
D. Hyperglycemia
*Answer: B. Dry cough — ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin
levels, which can trigger a persistent dry cough.
9. A 30-year-old woman presents with fatigue, pallor, and
spoon-shaped nails. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Iron deficiency anemia
B. Vitamin B12 deficiency
C. Hemolytic anemia
D. Thalassemia
*Answer: A. Iron deficiency anemia — Pallor and koilonychia
(spoon-shaped nails) are classic signs of iron deficiency.
, 10. What is the most appropriate management for a patient
with acute asthma exacerbation?
A. Inhaled corticosteroids only
B. Short-acting beta-agonist (SABA)
C. Antibiotics
D. Long-term oxygen therapy
*Answer: B. Short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) — SABAs provide
rapid bronchodilation during acute asthma attacks.
11. Which of the following conditions is an autoimmune
disease?
A. Type 1 diabetes
B. Hypertension
C. Osteoarthritis
D. Tuberculosis
*Answer: A. Type 1 diabetes — The immune system destroys
pancreatic beta cells in type 1 diabetes.
12. Which imaging modality is preferred for detecting
ischemic stroke within the first 24 hours?
A. MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging
B. Ultrasound
C. Plain X-ray
D. PET scan
*Answer: A. MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging — It is highly
sensitive for early ischemic changes.
13. Which of the following is a common symptom of
hyperthyroidism?
