FMGE is a crucial part of the journey of every Indian doctor who is studying MBBS abroad. Passing the exam opens the door for internship and later for NEET PG or practicing medicine in India. Whatever the plan, passing FMGE is important. There are plenty of resources available online and offline for the same exam. However, passing the exam itself is perceived as hard by many students. Most of us think that hard things are done with hard work; we believe to differ. It is the combination of hard work and smart work that paves the way for everyone who passes the FMGE in the first or subsequent attempts. Everyone knows how to work hard, but studying smart is often overlooked. Let us see what studying smart means and what works and what doesn’t.
- I want to watch all videos of all subjects: NO, start with the subject of your interest or a topic that excites you. This helps set a routine for studying. Once a studying routine is in place, there is more space for reading, watching, and understanding concepts that seem difficult, impossible, or even boring
- I don’t want to do questions. NO, doing questions is essential. FMGE is a test with multiple choice questions from 19 subjects of MBBS, including physiology, pathology, Anatomy, etc. At least 50% marks are necessary to pass the exam. Avoiding the essential task of doing questions hampers exam preparation.
- I need to isolate myself to study: NO, variety is the essence of life. Family and friends are an essential part of life. We cannot study the whole day or do questions continuously like machines. Taking time to chit-chat, exercise, and socialize with family and friends. Sometimes all we need is a smile or a small, genuine conversation with a friend to feel better. This takes care of mental health too.
- I don’t think I will clear the exam ever: NO, staying positive is the key. Believing that you will clear is the first step towards this journey. A positive attitude boosts not only your confidence but also the confidence of people around you. Positivity flows and it is infectious. The same positivity travels back to you when you need it.
- I cannot remember even a single word: OK, take a deep breath. Remembering facts/names takes time. Do multiple reads to remember names. After you are familiar with names, understanding concepts and processes becomes easy. Most concepts are based on facts with exceptions. First, learn the common concepts and then learn about exceptions.
- I will be a failure if I fail the exam in the first attempt: NO, exams do not define us. Although this exam is essential for FMGs to practice Medicine in India, labeling yourself a failure is the last thing you should do. Failure is part of life. Even for an infant, it takes multiple attempts to walk. So is the life. You take your time to reflect on your failure and try to address your weaknesses.
- I will focus on Medicine because I love it the most. NO, if you like subjects, remember it is a combination of a lot of other subjects. Let us say Medicine; it includes physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and clinical medicine to actually make it whole. Focus on the basics, then advance to the next subject of your interest or schedule.
The above-mentioned points are frequently encountered situations in your FMGE journey. Bouncing back from failures and maintaining a balanced lifestyle while preparing for the exam is the key. It is a tough journey that requires support from family and friends with a positive mind and environment. You cannot just hope to pass the exam. Repetition, revision, and focusing on common principles of different subjects are also crucial. Start with the videos that interest you the most and then focus on difficult concepts and frequently asked questions. And lastly, the exam requires practice, practice, and practice of the multiple-choice questions.
