FMGE 2025 Paper 1 vs Paper 2: Where to Score More | Strategy Guide

A twenty-six-year-old lady who has a degree in medicine from Kazakhstan is taking the FMGE exam for the time being. She got a score of one hundred and forty-eight on her two attempts. Just two marks away from passing. What did she do wrong? She did not focus enough on the parts of the exam. She treated both parts of the exam the same way, and that is why she lost a lot of marks on the second part, which has a lot of questions about clinical subjects that are very important.

When you know where you get your marks from, it makes a difference in this exam. The FMGE exam is about the marks you get from each part, and the lady from Kazakhstan needs to understand this to pass the exam. The FMGE exam has two parts. She needs to focus on the second part, which has a lot of clinical subjects.

QUICK ANSWER

Paper 2, which is about Clinical Subjects, gives you chances to get marks because it is worth 200 marks. On the other hand, Paper 1 is only worth 100 marks. Here is the thing: the basic ideas you learn in Paper 1 are really important for the questions in Paper 2.

If you want to do you should try to get 55 to 60 percent in Paper 1. Then you should try to get 50 to 55 percent in Paper 2, which is about Clinical Subjects. This way you can easily getmore than 150 marks. Paper 2, which is about Clinical Subjects, is really important.

FMGE 2025 RELEVANCE

FMGE 2025 follows a 300-mark, two-paper structure with no negative marking. Paper 1 covers pre-clinical and para-clinical subjects (100 marks). Paper 2 tests clinical knowledge (200 marks). The new time-bound sectional format makes strategic preparation non-negotiable.

What is the FMGE paper structure?

The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination is a test for MBBS graduates from universities who want to get a medical license in India. The National Board of Examinations, or NBE for short, is in charge of this test. It happens two times a year, once in June and once in December. 

The exam is divided into two papers that you take on the same day. You can think of the paper as the base of a house. The second paper is like the house itself, which is built on top of the base. If the base is not strong, then the whole house will have problems, and that is what happens when your foundation in reasoning is weak; it creates cracks in your clinical reasoning.

Each paper contains 150 MCQs with 2 hours and 30 minutes allotted per section. The 2025 format introduces time-bound sections within each paper—50 questions per section with strict 50-minute limits. You cannot return to previous sections once the time expires.

How Are Marks Distributed Between Papers?

The marks distribution heavily favors Paper 2. Here's the exact breakdown that should guide your preparation intensity.

Paper 1 (Pre-Clinical & Para-Clinical): 100 Marks

Paper 2 (Clinical Subjects): 200 Marks

The math speaks clearly. Medicine and Surgery alone contribute 65-75 questions, nearly 25% of your entire exam, from just two subjects.

What paper do you think you should work on first? 

Paper 1 vs Paper 2: Direct Comparison

FMGE Paper 1 Foundation:

• Pathology questions are found in both papers. The pathology questions show up in the paper and the second paper as well. 
• The study of pharmacology is really important because it has a connection to clinical therapeutics.
• Microbiology plays a role in Medicine because it gives us answers to many questions about infectious diseases. We need to know about Microbiology to fight diseases in Medicine.
• PSM or community medicine is a great choice because it gives you the best result for the effort you put in. You can get a lot of marks in PSM or community medicine without having to study that much. 

The Strategic Answer: Allocate 60% of your preparation time to Paper 2 subjects and 40% to Paper 1. But sequence matters—start with Pathology and pharmacology before diving into clinical subjects.

 FMGE Paper 2 Priority:

200 marks versus 100 marks—simple mathematics

• Image-based questions in radiology, dermatology, and ophthalmology are really great for getting answers.
• The thing about image-based questions in these fields, like Radiology, Dermatology, and Ophthalmology, is that they can be solved fast.
• The topics that come up in Medicine and Surgery are much the same every year.

Also Read: FMG January Exam Date –Eligibility Criteria, Exam Pattern and Preparation Tips

High-Yield Scoring Strategy for Paper 1

You can achieve it by targeting specific high-yield areas within each subject.

• Pathology: Around 18 to 22 questions. You should really focus on hematology, neoplasia, and inflammation. These three areas of pathology are very important because they make up 60 percent of the pathology questions.
• Pharmacology: Around 15 to 18 questions. Pharmacology is about autonomic pharmacology, cardiovascular drugs, and antimicrobials 
• Anatomy: Twelve to fifteen questions are about the limb, the lower limb, and neuroanatomy. 
• Microbiology (12-15 questions): Bacteriology and virology cover 70% of the questions. Know your Gram stains, culture media, and serological tests. CNS infections and opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients repeat annually.

High-Yield Scoring Strategy for Paper 2

Paper 2 rewards clinical thinking. These subjects respond well to focused preparation.

Medicine (35-40 questions): Cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, and infectious diseases form the core. ECG interpretation questions appear every session. Know your diabetic complications, thyroid disorders, and stroke presentations. The recent emphasis on clinical scenarios means pure bookish knowledge falls short.

Surgery (30-35 questions): GI surgery, breast, thyroid, and trauma surgery dominate. Surgical anatomy correlations appear frequently. Know your incisions, approaches, and post-operative complications. Acute abdomen scenarios test diagnostic reasoning.

OBG (25-30 questions): High-risk pregnancy, labor complications, and gynecological malignancies carry maximum weightage. Know your partograph interpretation, Bishop score, and contraception guidelines. Obstetric emergencies appear as clinical vignettes.

Pediatrics (20-25 questions): Neonatology, vaccines, and pediatric emergencies score heavily. Know your milestones, growth charts, and childhood infections. Immunization schedules appear without fail.

Also Read: All about the Foreign Medical Graduate Screening Exam (FMGE)

Time Management: The 2025 Challenge

Paper 1 Time Strategy:

• Section A has 50 questions. You have 50 minutes to complete it. You should try to answer 45 to 48 questions. 
• Section B has 50 questions. You have 50 minutes to do them. You should try to answer 45 to 48 questions. This will help you do your best in Section B.
• Section C has 50 questions. You have 50 minutes to finish it. You should try to answer 45 to 48 questions. This will give you a chance of doing well in Section C. 
• Never leave questions unanswered—no negative marking

Paper 2 Time Strategy:

• Clinical vignettes are really long, so you need to take your time when you read them. You should plan to spend one point two minutes on each clinical vignette question. This way, you can make sure you have time to read the whole clinical vignette and think about the answer. 
• Image-based questions are really helpful because they give you answers when you have practiced them before. If you have taken the time to practice image-based questions, you will find that they are a way to get answers fast.
• Flag uncertain questions mentally, but answer before moving on

High-Yield Points for FMGE 2025-26

• 150 marks minimum needed out of 300 to qualify—exactly 50%
• Paper 2 contributes double the marks of Paper 1—prioritize accordingly
• Medicine + Surgery + OBG + Pediatrics = 110-130 questions—nearly half the exam
• No negative marking means attempt every question regardless of confidence
• Time-bound sections in 2025 mean no backtracking—answer and move on
• Pathology concepts appear in both papers—master it early
• PSM/Community Medicine offers the best marks-to-effort ratio in Paper 1
• Clinical scenario-based questions have increased significantly in recent sessions
• Image-based questions in Radiology, Dermatology, and Ophthalmology are quick wins if practiced
• MNEMONIC for top scorers: MSOP — Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Pediatrics

Also Read: Mastering the FMG Exam: 5 Smart Strategies for Success

Frequently Asked Questions

Which paper is easier to score in FMGE?

Paper 2 offers higher scoring potential due to its 200-mark weightage and clinical scenario format. Candidates with good clinical exposure during MBBS find Paper 2 more intuitive. However, the higher weightage also means mistakes cost more.

Can I pass FMGE by focusing only on Paper 2?

Technically possible but extremely risky. You would need 150 marks from Paper 2 alone while potentially scoring zero in Paper 1. A balanced approach targeting 55-60 marks in Paper 1 and 95-100 in Paper 2 provides a comfortable margin.

What is the best subject to start preparation with?

Start with Pathology. It bridges Paper 1 and Paper 2 concepts, appears heavily in both papers, and builds disease understanding that helps across Medicine, Surgery, and other clinical subjects.

How many months are needed to prepare for the exam?

Most successful candidates dedicate 6-8 months of focused preparation. Final-year MBBS students who start early can manage with 4-5 months. The key is consistency rather than duration.

Is PSM worth preparing?

Absolutely. PSM/Community Medicine questions are often direct and factual. With 10-12 guaranteed questions and straightforward answers, PSM offers an excellent return on the preparation time invested.

Should I attempt all questions in FMGE?

Yes, without exception. Zero negative marking means every unanswered question is a lost opportunity. Even educated guesses carry 25% probability of being correct.

CLINICAL PEARL

"Paper 2 gives you more marks, but Paper 1 gives you the knowledge to earn them." The candidates who consistently clear FMGE understand this connection. Your Pathology foundation appears in every Medicine case. Your Pharmacology knowledge answers every therapeutic choice. Build smart, score big.

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