How to Prepare Medicine for FMGE – FMGE aspirant’s Paradox:
The market is bombarded with a massive number of books, study materials, videos, question banks & Apps in Medicine (IM) however most of the FMGE Aspirants are not guided “How to prepare Medicine (IM) for FMGE?” by utilizing these study aids.
In this post, we provide you the complete plan to prepare Medicine (IM) with the least effort.
The strategy of effective preparation of Medicine (IM) for FMGE:
Know your challenger (FMGE): Know your FMGE syllabus + FMGE pattern + high yield & latest trends in the FMGE
Know your self: Identify your learning profile, academic strengths, and weaknesses.
Strategize a time-efficient study plan (Reading/Comprehension + revision/discussion + tests & time management).
Examination taking Skills to be developed:
Approach to MCQs: Conceptualization → Analysis → Recall ability (Increase your recall ability) → reasoning
Confidence & accuracy: Increase your confidence + accuracy in answer selection during the tests.
Handling the software
Time management/MCQs
Know the updated FMGE syllabus of Medicine (IM) prescribed by MCI India:
Clinical Methods in the practice of medicine.
Common symptoms of the disease.
Nutrition/Exposure to Physical & Chemical Agents.
Infections.
Hematology.
Respiratory System
Cardiovascular System.
GartroIntestinal Tract.
Emergency Medicine.
Neurological System.
Nephrology & Urinary system connected to Tissue Disorders.
Endocrine System.
Geriatrics.
Tuberculosis and respiratory diseases: Diagnosis and management of common ailments affecting the chest with special emphasis on management and prevention of Tuberculosis and National Tuberculosis Control Programme.
Analyze the mark distribution + High Yield Topics for FMGE: Important Topics in Medicine (IM) for FMGE:
Choose the best materials for the preparation of Medicine (IM) for FMGE:
Appropriate & good study materials are the most essential component of any exam preparation.
Revision materials: organize your revision notes or acquire some specialized revision materials (QRS for FMGE) exclusively for the revision purpose (should be used parallel with the reading materials & for the revision later).
MCQs: Practice tests in the latest pattern & Past papers (NBE including FMGE & DNB).
Avoid using multiple & unfamiliar materials to prevent confusion, delay in preparation & make your revision easy + effective.
Recommended books to prepare Medicine (IM) for FMGE:
Complete review of medicine for NBE by Deepak Marwa.
Self-Assessment & Review Medicine by Mudit Khanna.
Realistic Schedule / Timetable to prepare Medicine (IM) for FMGE:
Success demands self-discipline, steady commitment, and a sense of humor, therefore construct your schedule so that you intersperse serious times with fun times.
Develop your personal schedule so that you can create a realistic study plan based on:
Time of the day or night are you most alert?
Your preference for large blocks of study time or hourly increments.
How much sleep do you need?
Duration of the breaks & the activities you seek when you take a break.
The very important point to be emphasized: This schedule is not strict/rigid & should be modified according to your happy hours + convenience & high energy slots, however, you need to adhere to an organized study schedule from 9 m to 5 pm daily because this time frame is during which the FMGE will be conducted.
Self-discipline: Success is not possible without strict adherence to the schedule.
Effective timemanagement to prepare Medicine (IM) for FMGE:
Chunking: break down a single task with large blocks with long hours into actionable bitesize (divide time slots with content to be covered with guilt-free breaks).
Study duration/day: 10-14 hours (Be aware that only 2/3 of the total scheduled time shall be effectively utilized for preparing).
Strategy depending on the weightage/difficulty of the chapters/topics of Medicine (IM) for FMGE
Strengths vs weaknesses: Appreciate your strengths, and identify your weaknesses, so that you can fill up the gaps in your knowledge.
Highly yield subjects, chapters & topics should be given more importance.
The time you spend per subject depends upon:
Your basic knowledge in the subject (Cover weak areas first → go to your stronger areas→ returning at the end of your entire review to those subjects you once considered your weak areas).
Tougher subjects/topics first → easier ones later.
Plan to spend more time on those subjects that gave you trouble, and less time on your strong subjects.
Suggested Schedule with Time Distribution to Prepare Medicine (IM) for FMGE
The schedule is not rigid & you can adjust the distribution of the hours based on your knowledge per the chapter:
This schedule is devised for those who prepare for 5-6 months before the exam, therefore, you shall customize this schedule as per your comfort & level of knowledge you have on the appropriate subject or chapter.
Plan to spend more time on those subjects/chapters that gave you trouble, and less time on your strong subjects/chapters.
Highly yield subjects/topics should be given more importance & time.
Topics
Reading
Revision
Tests
GIT & abdomen
5 hrs
2 hrs
2 hrs
CVS
4 hrs
2 hrs
2 hrs
Respiratorysystem
4 hrs
2 hrs
2 hrs
Nervous system
5 hrs
2 hrs
2 hrs
Endocrinesystem
4 hrs
2 hrs
2 hrs
Excretory system
4 hrs
2 hrs
2 hrs
Infectious disease
4 hrs
2 hrs
2 hrs
Clinical oncology
2 hrs
2 hrs
2 hrs
Hematology
4 hrs
2 hrs
2 hrs
Rheumatology + Metabolic and nutritional disorder
4 hrs
2 hrs
2 hrs
40 hrs
20 hrs
10 hrs
Create your own notes to prepare Medicine (IM) for FMGE:
Nothing can replace a good set of your own notes, therefore creating your own text is one of the main goals of note-taking.
Writing short notes will help you to excel in the exam by improving your memorizing power.
It’s proved to be very helpful in quick revision strategy preceding the exam days.
Revise Medicine (IM) effectively for FMGE:
Revision is the key to recall (revise all the older topics in the last 1-2 months & try to avoid reading any new topics before).
Full understanding and knowledge can grow deeper with persistence, routine, and practice.
Revise all topics regularly (5 revisions will be optimal but minimum 3 revisions are essential).
Practice tests regularly & attempt mock tests while preparing Medicine (IM) for FMGE:
Practice tests regularly aid in the following:
Diagnose your competence (strengths and weaknesses) in the subjects & exam-taking skills for FMGE.
To maximize your efficiency of learning (70/20/10 Model of Lombardo and Eichinger) during your FMGE preparation.
To practice time management (speed) in FMGE.
To improve accuracy & increase the confidence level in FMGE.
To desensitize the exam anxiety (increase the familiarity with the online platform) in FMGE.
Tests to be practiced:
Chapter-wise/subject wise/Module-wise practice tests.