FMGE / NExT Preparation Guide

What is FMGE / NExT?

The Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) is a licensure screening test conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), India. Any Indian citizen who has completed their MBBS from a foreign country must clear FMGE to practice medicine in India.

Important update: The Government of India is transitioning FMGE to the National Exit Test (NExT), which will be a comprehensive two-part exam. NExT Step 1 (theory) and Step 2 (clinical) will apply to both Indian medical graduates and foreign medical graduates (FMGs), creating a unified licensing standard. FMGE will continue until NExT is fully implemented.

Who Needs to Clear FMGE?

• Indian citizens who have completed a medical degree (MBBS equivalent) from any foreign country
• The exam is mandatory before applying for registration with any State Medical Council in India
• Foreign nationals who studied medicine in India do NOT need FMGE

Exam Pattern (FMGE)

Aspect	Details
Format	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Total Questions	300 MCQs (Single Best Response)
Duration	3.5 hours (210 minutes)
Passing Score	150/300 (50%)
Negative Marking	No negative marking
Frequency	Twice a year (June and December)
Conducted by	National Board of Examinations (NBE)

Subjects & Weightage

Pre-clinical (30%)

• Anatomy — 15 questions
• Physiology — 15 questions
• Biochemistry — 15 questions

Para-clinical (30%)

• Pathology — 20 questions
• Pharmacology — 20 questions
• Microbiology — 15 questions
• Forensic Medicine — 10 questions

Clinical (40%)

• Medicine — 30 questions
• Surgery — 25 questions
• Obstetrics & Gynecology — 20 questions
• Paediatrics — 15 questions
• Ophthalmology — 10 questions
• ENT — 10 questions
• Psychiatry — 10 questions
• Dermatology — 10 questions
• Orthopaedics — 10 questions
• Radiology — 10 questions
• Community Medicine (PSM) — 25 questions
• Anaesthesia — 10 questions

Country-wise Pass Rates

Country	Approx. FMGE Pass Rate
Russia	20–35%
Kazakhstan	25–40%
Philippines	30–45%
Georgia	25–40%
Kyrgyzstan	20–30%
China	10–20%

Pass rates vary by batch, preparation, and university. Students from English-medium universities (Philippines) typically perform better due to clinical exposure in English.

How to Prepare — Strategy

Start Early (From Year 1)

Most students who clear FMGE in their first attempt begin preparation from their 3rd or 4th year of MBBS — not after returning to India. Integrate Indian exam-oriented study alongside your regular coursework.

Use the Right Resources

• Books: Across All India PGMEE series, Arvind Arora, BD Chaurasia (Anatomy), KD Tripathi (Pharmacology)
• Apps & Platforms: PrepLadder, DAMS, Marrow — excellent for FMGE MCQ practice
• Previous papers: Solve last 10 years of FMGE papers; patterns repeat

High-Yield Subjects

Focus on these subjects which carry higher weightage and are more predictable: Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Pharmacology, Pathology, Community Medicine, Paediatrics

Revision Cycle

Use a 3-revision system: read once, revise after 1 week, revise again 1 month before the exam. Use flashcards or short notes for high-yield facts.

Mock Tests

Take full-length 300-question mock tests under timed conditions at least 4 weeks before the exam. Analyse wrong answers — understanding the "why" prevents repeat mistakes.

How Akash Overseas Supports You

• We partner with top FMGE coaching institutes and can connect you with study groups
• We choose partner universities with strong FMGE pass rates and good clinical exposure
• Our alumni network provides mentorship from seniors who have cleared FMGE
• We provide FMGE orientation as part of our pre-departure program

Have questions about FMGE prep? Talk to a counselor — we'll connect you with FMGE-cleared doctors who studied at your target university.