FMGE Jan 2026 Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level, Subject-Wise Analysis

FMGE Jan 2026 Exam Analysis: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has organised the FMGE exam on January 17, 2026, in two shifts of Paper 1 and Paper 2. FMGE Jan 2026 Exam Analysis details have been provided based on thecandidates's feedback who appeared in the exam. The overall exam level is a mix of moderate to difficult levels in paper 1 and paper 2. A combination of tricky questions based on clinical gynecology asked in the exam. 

FMGE Exam Difficulty Level 2026: Overall Analysis

FMGE Exam Difficulty Level 2026 for Paper 1 and Paper 2 is expected to be of moderate to difficult levels. Some candidates experienced that paper 1 is of the easy to moderate levels.

• Around 60% to 70% questions were covered from PYQs.

• 20% new and challenging questions aimed at differentiating top candidates.

•  Around 50 image-based questions were included, indicating a shift towards visual and clinical application-based assessment.

• Paper 2 covered clinical gynaecology-based questions.

FMGE Difficulty Level 2026 Subject Wise

FMGE Difficulty Level 2026Subject-wisee for paper 1 and paper 2 is moderate to difficult levels. 

• Surgery: Strong emphasis on neck, thyroid, hernia, and breast carcinoma staging.

• Gynaecology: Favoured by many FMG students, contributing to better performance if well-prepared.

• Medicine and PSM (Preventive and Social Medicine): Reasonable representation; PSM questionsare seen as tougher and twisted, integrating clinical scenarios with pharmacology.

•  Many questions covered subjects like microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, and pathology. It is reflecting a shift to the clinical understanding rather than rote memorisation.

FMGE 2026 Difficulty Level for Foreign Medical Graduates

FMGE 2026 Difficulty Level for Foreign Medical Graduates often feels higher due to the changes in the curriculum and Indian medical practice. Therefore, the MGE exam is one of the challenging medical license exams in India. The qualifying score is 50% marks. Still, the pass percentage is 10% to 25%.

Why FMGE 2026 Is Difficult?

The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) 2026 is widely regarded as one of India's most challenging licensure exams. 

1. Shift Toward Clinical Integration

Recent exam trends show a move away from simple "one-liner" factual questions. The 2026 papers covered concept-heavy and case-based, requiring students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life clinical scenarios.

• Time Management: Questions are often long "stems" (descriptions of a patient's symptoms), which take significant time to read and analyse.

• Image-Based Questions: There is a heavy emphasis on interpreting X-rays, ECGs, and histopathology slides, especially in subjects like Radiology and Pathology.

2. Mismatch in Curriculum and Disease Profile

Foreign medical graduates (FMGs) often study in countries (like Russia, China, or Ukraine) where the disease prevalence and healthcare protocols differ from those in India. FMGE focuses heavily on tropical diseases (Malaria, TB, Dengue) and National Health Programs (NHPs), which may not be emphasised in foreign curricula.

3. Vast Syllabus (19 Subjects)

The exam covers the entire MBBS curriculum, which includes 19 subjects. Managing this volume of information within a short preparation window after returning to India is a major hurdle.

4. Psychological and Regulatory Pressure

The high-stakes nature of the exam creates immense mental pressure. Solving 300 questions in a single day is physically and mentally exhausting, often leading to simple errors in the final hours of the exam