FMGE October 2026 Exam Pattern: 300 Questions, No Negative Marking, Two-Part Structure

FMGE October 2026 consists of 300 multiple choice questions divided into two equal parts of 150 questions each, with no negative marking and a passing score of 150 out of 300.

The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) for Indian nationals who hold an MBBS degree from a foreign medical institution and wish to practise medicine in India. The October 2026 session follows the same standardised CBT format that NBEMS has maintained across all recent sessions. Understanding the exam pattern and marking scheme in full before exam day is essential for building the right strategy.

• FMGE October 2026 is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted entirely in English.
• The exam has 300 MCQs split into Part A (150 questions) and Part B (150 questions).
• Each correct answer earns 1 mark; there is no negative marking for wrong answers.
• You must score 150 out of 300 (50%) to clear FMGE October 2026.
• Total exam duration is 5 hours — 150 minutes for Part A and 150 minutes for Part B.
• The exam is scheduled for October 13, 2026.

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FMGE October 2026 Exam Overview

FMGE October 2026 is the screening test that foreign medical graduates must clear to obtain NMC registration and practise medicine in India. NBEMS conducts the exam at designated test centres across the country. The table below captures the key parameters of the October 2026 session at a glance.

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FMGE October 2026 Exam Pattern

FMGE October 2026 uses a standardised MCQ format where every question has four options and you select the single best answer. There is no pen-and-paper component — the exam runs entirely on a computer terminal at the test centre. The structural pattern for Part A and Part B is identical; only the subject content differs between the two halves.

You get exactly 1 minute per question in both parts. Regular timed practice using previous FMGE papers is the most reliable way to build the pace you need to complete all 300 questions comfortably within the allotted time.

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Two-Part Structure of FMGE October 2026

FMGE October 2026 is divided into Part A and Part B, both held on the same day with a short break in between. You must complete both parts. This two-part structure allows NBEMS to assess competency across the full spectrum of medical education — from foundational pre-clinical sciences in Part A to applied clinical specialties in Part B.

• Part A covers pre-clinical and para-clinical subjects: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, and Community Medicine (PSM).
• Part B covers clinical subjects: Medicine (including Psychiatry and Dermatology), Surgery (including Orthopedics and Anesthesiology), Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, ENT, and Radiology.
• A break of approximately 30 minutes is scheduled between Part A and Part B at the test centre.
• The combined score from both parts determines your final result. There is no separate minimum for each part — you only need 150 marks in total across the full 300-question paper.

The combined-total pass criterion means that even if Part A goes poorly, a strong performance in Part B can still carry you past the 150-mark threshold, and vice versa.

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FMGE October 2026 Marking Scheme

Every correct answer in FMGE October 2026 earns 1 mark and there is no deduction for a wrong answer. This no-negative-marking rule is one of the most student-friendly features of the FMGE, and it directly determines how you should approach questions you are unsure about.

Because leaving a question blank and getting it wrong both result in zero marks, you should attempt all 300 questions without exception. A guess on an unknown question gives you a 25% chance of gaining a mark at zero cost. If you can eliminate even one wrong option, your odds improve to 33%. Students who skip questions are simply reducing their expected total without any strategic benefit.

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Subject-wise Question Distribution for FMGE October 2026

NBEMS does not officially publish a fixed per-subject question count before the exam. The distribution below reflects consistent patterns observed across previous FMGE sessions. Treat these figures as expected estimates based on past trends, not as confirmed numbers for October 2026.

Medicine and Surgery together account for nearly half of Part B, making them the highest-priority clinical subjects. In Part A, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Community Medicine each typically carry around 20 questions, so these five subjects should form the core of your pre-clinical preparation.

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Preparation Tips Based on the FMGE October 2026 Marking Scheme

The no-negative-marking policy and equal weight of both parts should directly shape your study plan for FMGE October 2026. The strategies below follow logically from the marking scheme itself.

• Attempt every single question. With no penalty for wrong answers, leaving any question blank is a strategic error. Build the habit of always marking an option before moving on.
• Split your preparation equally between Part A and Part B. Each part carries 150 marks. Over-preparing one part at the expense of the other reduces your total expected score by the same amount.
• Prioritise high-weightage subjects first. Medicine, Surgery, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Community Medicine cover the bulk of the paper. Secure these before spending significant time on lower-weightage subjects.
• Practise under timed conditions. At 1 minute per question, you must maintain a consistent pace across 300 questions. Regular timed mock tests help you identify the subjects where you slow down.
• Use elimination before guessing. Ruling out even one wrong option raises your probability of a correct guess from 25% to 33%. With no negative marking, the expected score gain from an educated guess is always positive.