FMGE Study Timetable for Working Doctors

There is no denying that preparing for FMGE is no small feat for any medical graduate. But it becomes even more challenging for the doctors who are also working full-time. Juggling patient care, hectic hospital shifts, and the intense preparation needed for FMGE can feel like a walking a lightrope at times. 

However, if you have a proper schedule and the right mindset, you can totally manage both effectively. All you need to focus on is proper time management, focused study sessions, and the right resources to guide you through. 

In this blog, we’ve covered everything you need to know to build a practical, result-oriented timetable tailored for working doctors. You can now prepare for FMGE without compromising your job and other clinical duties. 

Challenges Working Doctors Face During FMGE Prep

Before we dive straight in creating a study schedule, it is important to understand how your situation is different from the rest of the aspirants. Apart from facing the constant pressure of the exam, they also are hit with the constant unpredictability of the medical profession. 

One of the biggest hurdles for working doctors are time constraints. Uninterrupted study hours feel like a dream with long duty hours, night shifts, and sudden emergencies. ANd when you finally get so little time to study, mental fatigue can creep in making it difficult to study. 

This often leads to an inconsistent study routine, where planned study hours get pushed aside for urgent work demands.

Another most common challenge that working doctors face during the preparation is lack of revision time. There will be times when you’ll be more tempted to learn new topics rather than revising the old ones. This can seriously jeopardise your retention and recall during the exam.

Once you understand all these challenges, you can easily design a timetable that works in real life quite effectively.  

Key Principles for an Effective Timetable

Your FMGE preparation as a working doctor should be based on a few guiding principles:

• Prioritise high-yield subjects — since your time is limited, focus first on topics that have higher weightage in the exam.
• Follow the 80/20 rule — spend 80% of your time on core, high-impact subjects and 20% on volatile or low-weightage topics for coverage.
• Choose short, consistent sessions over long marathons — it’s easier to fit focused 2–3 hour blocks into your day than to wait for large free stretches that may never come.
• Integrate revision and MCQ practice daily — every study session should reinforce old learning and test your understanding with questions.
• Leverage digital learning tools — using mobile apps like PrepLadder allows you to turn even your 15-minute breaks or commute time into productive study time.
  

A Practical FMGE Study Timetable for Working Doctors

A timetable for working doctors must be flexible, yet structured enough to ensure steady progress. Here’s a sample plan you can adapt to your work schedule:

• 6:00 – 7:30 AM: Fresh study session — use your early morning energy to learn new topics.
• 7:30 – 8:00 AM: Quick recap of what you studied yesterday — this locks information into your memory.
• During breaks at work: Watch short PrepLadder video lectures or go through flashcards. Even 15–20 minutes can be useful.
• 6:00 – 7:00 PM: Rest and light meal — recharge before your evening session.
• 7:00 – 8:30 PM: MCQ practice with detailed explanation review — this improves your speed, accuracy, and application skills.
• 8:30 – 9:00 PM: Summary revision — go over all topics covered that day to consolidate learning.
• Sundays: Attempt a full mock test and spend time analysing your mistakes — this helps you identify weak areas and track your progress.
  

This timetable ensures that even with a busy job, you’re consistently covering new topics, revising old ones, and practicing exam-style questions.

Subject-Wise Weekly Study Rotation

With 19 subjects to cover, a rotation system keeps your preparation balanced and avoids burnout from sticking to one subject too long.

• Week 1–2: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry — build a strong pre-clinical base.
• Week 3–4: Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology — key para-clinical subjects.
• Week 5–6: PSM, Forensic Medicine, Ophthalmology — often scoring and high-yield.
• Week 7–8: Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology — major clinical subjects.
• Week 9–10: ENT, Orthopaedics, Anaesthesia, Radiology, Psychiatry, Dermatology — shorter subjects that can be revised quickly.
• Last 15–20 days: Full revision of all subjects, high-yield notes, and intensive mock test practice.
  Also Read: Failed FMGE Once? Here’s Your Bounce-Back Strategy with PrepLadder

Tips to Make the Most of Limited Time

If you are a working doctor, you must rarely get any uninterrupted study hours. Your schedule can change anytime depending on patient rounds, emergencies, and administrative work. The best thing you can do right noe is adapt your preparation to fit into the time you have available. You must try to make every minute count instead of waiting for long study blocks that you might never get. 

Learn in Micro-Sessions

No matter how little time you get, you can still make it valuable. You can leverage 15-20 minute gaps to revise notes, watch short video lectures, or solve a few MCQs. If you are sincere enough, even a hospital waiting period can be your study time. 

Focus on Active Recall

Rereading and cramming is not going to do anyone any good. You must test yourself, explain concepts to yourself in the mirror, or write what you remember. 

Use Commute Time

Turn travel into a mobile classroom with audio QBank, quick videos, or video lectures

Avoid Perfectionism

Cover 80–90% of high-yield topics well. Skip chasing flawless coverage of every detail.

Manage Fatigue

Stay hydrated, eat light, and take short breaks. A quick walk or deep breaths can reset your focus.

Also Read: Is the FMG Exam Tough?

Building a Strong Revision Strategy

Revision should be a daily habit, not something you do only at the end.

• Daily: Spend 20–30 minutes revising the previous day’s topics.
• Weekly: Set aside 3–4 hours to review everything you studied that week.
• Monthly: Take a mock test and carefully go through your mistakes to avoid repeating them.
  

PrepLadder’s Rapid Revision videos and concise notes are especially useful here, allowing you to revise entire subjects in a fraction of the usual time.

How PrepLadder Supports Working Doctors

PrepLadder’s platform is designed to make life easier for busy doctors:

• Short, high-yield video lectures — Learn essential topics quickly.
• Concise notes — Save hours by avoiding lengthy note-making.
• MCQ Bank with explanations — Practice on the go and understand every answer.
• Customisable timetables — Adjust your study plan to match your duty schedule.
• Performance analytics — Track your strengths and weaknesses in real time.
• Rapid Revision series — Perfect for last-mile preparation.

With these tools, even 2–3 hours a day can be enough to stay on track and build exam confidence.

Wrapping Up 

We understand that preparing for FMGE while working full time can be really overwhelming but trust us when we say that it’s not impossible. 

If you have a smart plan, consistent effort, and resources that you can rely on, you can ace the preparation and ultimately the exam like a pro. 

By following a structured timetable, making the most of short study windows, and revising regularly, you can cover the syllabus effectively without burning out.

Stick to your plan, trust the process, and remember — every study session, no matter how small, brings you closer to clearing FMGE. With PrepLadder’s flexible tools and your determination, you can walk into the exam hall prepared, confident, and ready to succeed.

Boost your FMGE prep with Test & Explanation—practice real exam questions, learn from detailed solutions, and master concepts with ease.

Download the PrepLadder app now and unlock a 24-hour FREE trial of premium high-yield content. Access Smarter Video Lectures also in हिंglish, Game Changing Qbank, Audio QBank, Structured Notes, Treasures, Mock test for FREE.

Elevate your study experience with PrepLadder’s FMGE online coaching and gear up for success. Start your journey with PrepLadder today!