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Considered as one of the toughest medical entrance exams in India, the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is a screening test for foreign-trained medical professionals wishing to practice medicine in India. The NBEMS conducts the FMGE exam for medical graduates from foreign universities who are seeking licensure to practice medicine in India. It is a mandatory screening test only through which candidates can obtain the National Medical Commission (NMC) registration. While the FMGE serves as an essential qualification step for foreign-trained doctors, the exam is widely regarded as one of the most challenging medical exams. Read the full article to know comprehensive details about the difficulty level of the FMGE, the reasons behind its challenging nature, and tips on how to prepare effectively for it.
Also check: FMGE 2024-2025 exam detailed analysis
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The FMGE exam is held twice a year in June and December. The exam assesses the knowledge and proficiency of foreign medical graduates in the field of medicine, ensuring that they meet the required standards to provide healthcare in India. A brief overview of the FMGE screening test is provided below.
Particular | Details |
Exam name | Foreign Medical Graduate Examinations |
Conducting authority | National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) |
Mode of exam | Online |
Total number of questions | 300 |
Type of questions | MCQ |
Total exam duration | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Number of shifts | Two |
Marking scheme | 1 mark for correct answer No negative marking for incorrect answer |
FMGE exam is one of the toughest medical entrance exams in India due to its content depth, exam format, time constraints and many more. This is evident from the year-wise FMGE pass percentage. Even after having passing marks of 50%, the FMGE success rate ranges roughly from 16% to 24%. The FMGE question paper level can be determined from the fact that despite no negative marking in the FMGE exam, candidates find it hard to score 50% marks.
Take a look at the past year's trend of the FMGE result pass percentage. One can check the passing rate of the examination for an understanding of the difficulty level of FMGE.
Year | FMGE Passing Rate (in %) |
2013 | 14.5% |
2014 | 4.93% |
2015 | 10.40% |
2016 | 11.22% |
2017 | 7.41% |
2018 | 10.2% |
2019 | 20.7% |
2020 | 9.94% |
2021 | 24.54% |
2022 | 23.35% |
2023 (June Session) | 10.20% |
2023 December session | 20.57% |
2024 June session | 20.89 % |
2024 December session | 29.62% |
Several factors contribute to the FMGE exam difficulty level, making it a tough nut to crack for foreign medical graduates. Some of the key factors are as follows -
The FMGE syllabus is comprehensive, covering topics from all areas of medicine. Candidates are asked questions from subjects ranging from Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, to Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, and various Clinical and Pre-clinical subjects. This vast depth of the FMGE exam syllabus makes it essential for students to have a solid foundation in basic sciences and clinical knowledge.
Each country has a different medical curriculum. However, the FMGE exam paper is designed keeping in mind the medical curriculum of India. Due to this many students often find it quite difficult to adjust to India’s Medical curriculum making the FMGE exam a challenging one.
For candidates whose primary language of instruction was not English, the language of the FMGE may pose an additional challenge. Understanding complex medical terminology and being able to read and interpret clinical cases in English can make the exam harder for non-native speakers. This is particularly true for candidates from non-English-speaking countries where medical education may have been conducted in their native language.
The FMGE is a time-bound exam with 300 questions to be answered in 2 hours and 30 minutes. This timing of 2 hours and 30 minutes is divided into sectional timing, providing a limited time to answer the questions. This sectional timing in FMGE exam allows limited time and makes it difficult to answer all questions. Many candidates struggle to finish the entire paper within the given time frame, leading to a sense of urgency during the exam.
Given the difficulty level of the FMGE, proper preparation is crucial. Here are some tips for aspiring candidates through which they can prepare well and enhance their performance.
Understand the syllabus - The FMGE syllabus is aligned with the MBBS curriculum in India. Hence, candidates should Identify key subjects and focus on understanding the concepts rather than just trying to memorise them.
Mock tests and previous year papers - Taking FMGE mock tests and solving previous year’s papers is an effective way to be familiar with the level of the FMGE exam. It helps in improving time management, being familiar with the exam format, and identifying areas where one needs further revision.
Revision and conceptual clarity - Constant revision is necessary for retaining knowledge and improving recall during the FMGE exam. Ensuring conceptual clarity in subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry is important, as these are fundamental to understanding clinical topics.
On Question asked by student community
If the FMGE exam centre location is different in SMS and email, don't rely on either.
• The final and correct exam centre will be mentioned only on the FMGE Admit Card.
• SMS / email are just city intimation and may have error.
• Wait for the admit card
The FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) previous year question papers (PYQs) are a vital resource for aspirants preparing for the upcoming January 17, 2026, session. Since the exam is conducted online (CBT), official papers are not released; however, memory-based "recall" papers from the June 2025, 2024, and 2023 sessions provide
Hello,
If you gave your name in the FMGE 2026 form as per Aadhaar and other documents, but your passport has a different full name or surname, then there is a real chance of a name-mismatch problem.
Here is the simple picture:
1. FMGE does not allow name changes after
Hello,
If there is a spelling mistake in your FMGE passing certificate , you should contact the National Board of Examinations (NBE) , which issues the certificate. Here’s what you can do:
Write an application to NBE explaining the mistake clearly.
Mention your name, roll number, exam session, and the
Hello,
If you have an MBBS from Nepal and haven't passed the FMGE, you have several options for further courses abroad, including pursuing a postgraduate degree in countries like the UK, the USA, and Australia, which may not require the FMGE to practice there.
I hope it will clear your
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Want to study abroad? Plan your Journey
Want to study abroad? Plan your Journey