FMGE High Yield Topics 2026: The Most Repeated MCQs Across All 20 Subjects
Reflex · 7 August 2026 · 14 min read
The FMGE has 300 questions and no negative marking. Every correct answer is one mark toward the 150 pass mark. The most efficient path to 150 is not covering all 20 subjects equally, it is identifying the specific high yield topics that appear in every session, from previous year papers, and making sure you do not drop marks on them.
This guide compiles the fmge high yield topics 2026 from 10 years of fmge previous year question analysis across all 20 subjects. These are not predictions, they are patterns. The same topics, the same question types, and often the same clinical scenarios appear session after session. Knowing them before you prepare changes where you spend every hour. If you have not already, it is worth understanding the FMGE exam pattern first.
One number to keep in mind before reading: approximately 30% of FMGE questions in any session are direct or near-direct repeats from previous papers. That is 90 marks available to candidates who have practised previous year questions systematically. No other preparation activity has a higher return per hour.
If you are building a full plan for fmge december 2026 preparation, read the complete FMGE December 2026 preparation guide alongside this topic list.
How to Use This High Yield Topic List
This list of fmge important topics is organised by subject in order of marks weightage, so the fmge high yield subjects come first. For each subject the topics are grouped into two tiers. Tier 1 topics appear in almost every FMGE session and represent the fastest marks available. Tier 2 topics appear in most sessions and are worth covering once the Tier 1 list is solid.
Do not read this list as content to memorise. Use it as a filter for your PYQ practice: when you attempt previous year questions, prioritise the sets from Tier 1 topics first. Questions from these topics are the ones where you should aim for 80% or better accuracy before exam day. Tier 2 topics require 60% or better.
Image-based questions now account for 15 to 20% of the FMGE paper, which is 45 to 60 questions per session. ECGs, chest X-rays, histopathology slides, fundoscopy images, and dermatology photographs appear across multiple subjects. A dedicated section on fmge image based questions appears at the end of this post with the specific images that repeat most.
High Yield Topics by Subject: All 20
Each section below lists the fmge most repeated topics for that subject, tiered by how often they appear across sessions.
General Medicine: 33 Marks
Tier 1, appears in every session. These are the fmge medicine high yield topics:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Cardiology, ECG interpretation | Identify rhythm, STEMI, LBBB, complete heart block |
| Cardiology, MI management | STEMI protocol, drugs, door-to-balloon time |
| Diabetes mellitus | Diagnostic criteria, DKA protocol, HbA1c targets |
| Thyroid disorders | Graves vs Hashimoto, management algorithm |
| Tuberculosis | ATT regimen, MDR-TB, drug side effects |
| Rheumatic fever | Jones criteria, Aschoff bodies, penicillin prophylaxis |
| Endocarditis | Duke criteria, organisms, management |
| Meningitis | CSF findings, empirical treatment by age |
| Pneumonia | CURB-65, organisms, treatment |
| Malaria | Drug of choice by species, resistance patterns |
Tier 2, appears in most sessions: renal failure (AKI vs CKD, indications for dialysis), liver disease (Child-Pugh score, hepatic encephalopathy), Cushing syndrome (diagnostic algorithm, dexamethasone suppression test), anaemia (types, peripheral smear patterns), HIV and AIDS (CD4 thresholds, prophylaxis), rheumatoid arthritis (criteria, DMARDs), SLE (ANA patterns, drugs), thyroid storm, DKA vs HHS.
Image types in Medicine: ECG tracings (every session), peripheral blood smear (anaemia, malaria, CML), chest X-ray (cardiac silhouette, effusion, consolidation), CT brain (stroke, bleed, hydrocephalus), fundoscopy (diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy).
What this tells you: Medicine questions reward cross-subject knowledge. A single cardiology question often tests Pathology (Aschoff bodies), Pharmacology (drug of choice), and clinical reasoning at the same time. Study Medicine in integration with Pathology and Pharmacology for maximum return.
General Surgery: 32 Marks
Tier 1. The fmge surgery high yield topics cluster tightly around eight areas:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Thyroid swelling | Solitary nodule workup, toxic goitre, surgical indications |
| Hernia types | Inguinal vs femoral, direct vs indirect, complications |
| Breast cancer | Staging, FNAC vs biopsy, modified radical mastectomy |
| Burns, Rule of Nines | TBSA calculation, fluid resuscitation formula (Parkland) |
| Fractures, Colles' | Mechanism, dinner fork deformity, management |
| Appendicitis | Alvarado score, perforation signs, management |
| Intestinal obstruction | Closed loop vs simple, imaging findings |
| Colorectal cancer | Duke's staging, screening age, CEA |
Tier 2: cholecystitis (Murphy's sign, Charcot's triad), portal hypertension (Child-Pugh, variceal management), oesophageal cancer (most common type by location), pancreatic cancer (Courvoisier's sign, CA 19-9), wound healing (types, factors that delay), DVT and PE (risk factors, Homan's sign, management).
Image types in Surgery: surgical instruments (every session: scalpel handles, retractors, needle holders), X-rays of fractures, CT abdomen (free air, obstruction pattern, pancreatic mass), barium swallow (oesophageal pathology).
What this tells you: Surgery at FMGE tests clinical approach more than operative detail. Questions focus on diagnosis, investigation sequence, and management decisions, not surgical technique. The instrument identification questions are entirely visual. Practise 30 to 40 surgical instrument images before exam day.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology: 30 Marks
Tier 1. The fmge obg important topics are dominated by labour and antenatal care:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Partogram | Interpretation, action line, alert line |
| Mechanism of normal labour | Cardinal movements, engagement definition |
| Antepartum haemorrhage | Placenta praevia vs abruption, differentiating features |
| Eclampsia | MgSO4 dose and toxicity, management protocol |
| Contraception | Failure rates, absolute contraindications of OCP |
| Antenatal care | Schedule, investigations at each visit |
| Preterm labour | Definition, tocolytics, steroids |
| PPH | Causes (4 T's), management, uterotonics |
| Cervical cancer | FIGO staging, colposcopy findings, Pap smear |
Tier 2: ectopic pregnancy (risk factors, beta-hCG levels, management), PCOS (Rotterdam criteria, management), endometriosis (chocolate cyst, infertility), gestational diabetes (screening, management), hydramnios and oligohydramnios (causes, AFI), TORCH infections.
What this tells you: OBG questions in recent FMGE sessions, including January 2026, have heavily emphasised antenatal care and contraception. Every ANC visit protocol and every contraceptive failure rate is a potential MCQ. Create a one-page ANC schedule table and review it weekly.
Community Medicine (PSM): 30 Marks
Tier 1:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| National Immunization Schedule | Vaccine, age, dose, route: every entry |
| Biostatistics | Sensitivity and specificity, PPV and NPV, attributable risk |
| Epidemiology terms | Incidence vs prevalence, case fatality rate, attack rate |
| National Health Programmes | RNTCP, NVBDCP, NPCDCS: objectives and milestones |
| Nutrition | PEM (kwashiorkor vs marasmus), vitamin deficiencies |
| Demographic cycle | Phases, India's current stage |
| ASHA, ANM, health worker roles | Functions, coverage areas |
| Maternal mortality | Definition, causes, India's current MMR |
Tier 2: screening tests (criteria, types), water purification (chlorination doses, methods), vital statistics (registration, reporting systems), disability assessment, immunisation cold chain, smallpox eradication history, DOTS categories.
What this tells you: the fmge community medicine important topics are almost entirely India-specific. Candidates who studied in Russia or China have zero exposure to the Universal Immunisation Programme or the National Health Mission in their MBBS curriculum. Allocate specific study time to this subject from week one, not as an afterthought.
Anatomy: 17 Marks
Tier 1. The fmge anatomy important topics are tested clinically, not descriptively:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Brachial plexus | Roots, trunks, cords, branches; injury patterns (Erb's, Klumpke's) |
| Cranial nerves | Nuclei, foramina, clinical palsies |
| Femoral triangle | Contents, boundaries, clinical relevance |
| Rotator cuff | Four muscles, most commonly torn (supraspinatus) |
| Lumbar plexus | L1 to L4 branches, femoral and obturator nerves |
| Spinal cord | Cross-sections, tracts, level-specific deficits |
| Embryology | Neural tube defects, heart development, gut rotation |
| Histology slides | Identify tissue type: lymph node, spleen, thyroid, testis |
Tier 2: thoracic duct (tributaries, termination), lymph node groups (drainage areas), diaphragm (openings and the structures through each), coronary arteries (supply, dominance), portal circulation, microscopic anatomy of kidney and liver.
What this tells you: Anatomy questions in FMGE are clinical. A question about Erb's palsy is testing the brachial plexus through a clinical scenario, not a diagram. Practise clinical application of anatomical knowledge rather than rote identification.
Physiology: 17 Marks
Tier 1:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Cardiac cycle | Events, pressure curves, valve timing |
| Cardiac output | Fick's principle, Starling's law, factors affecting |
| Renal physiology | GFR, tubular reabsorption, JG apparatus |
| Respiratory physiology | FVC, FEV1, TLC: obstructive vs restrictive |
| Nerve physiology | Action potential, nerve conduction velocity |
| Endocrinology | Insulin mechanism, thyroid hormone effects |
| Blood, ABO and Rh | Grouping, transfusion reactions, universal donor and recipient |
| Thermoregulation | Hypothalamus role, fever mechanism |
Biochemistry: 17 Marks
Tier 1:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Enzymes | Km, Vmax, competitive vs non-competitive inhibition |
| Vitamins | Fat-soluble vs water-soluble, specific deficiency diseases |
| DNA replication | Enzymes involved, Okazaki fragments, proofreading |
| Metabolism, Krebs cycle | Key enzymes, yield of ATP |
| PKU and metabolic disorders | Enzyme defect, accumulating substance, diet |
| Glycogen storage diseases | Von Gierke, Pompe, McArdle: specific features |
| Haemoglobin | Types, oxygen dissociation curve, factors affecting |
Pathology: 13 Marks
Tier 1:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Neoplasia | Benign vs malignant features, metastasis routes |
| Tumour markers | AFP, CEA, CA 125, CA 19-9, PSA: specific associations |
| Inflammation types | Acute, chronic, granulomatous: morphology |
| Amyloidosis | Types (AL, AA), Congo red stain, apple-green birefringence |
| Thrombosis | Virchow's triad, types of thrombi, fate |
| Leukaemia types | Morphology, surface markers, specific translocation |
| Histopathology slides | CML smear, Reed-Sternberg cells, psammoma bodies |
What this tells you: Pathology questions at FMGE are frequently image-based. Expect histopathology slides where you identify the diagnosis from the appearance. The tumour marker table is a reliable source of direct-recall marks. Create a one-page marker table and revise it weekly.
Microbiology: 13 Marks
Tier 1:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Bacterial toxins | Mechanisms: cholera, diphtheria, tetanus, botulinum |
| Antifungals | Mechanism and clinical use: fluconazole, amphotericin B |
| HIV | CD4 count thresholds, AIDS-defining illnesses, ART |
| Tuberculosis | Ziehl-Neelsen, culture media (LJ), RNTCP protocols |
| Hepatitis | HBsAg, anti-HBs, window period interpretation |
| Meningitis organisms | By age group, CSF findings, Gram stain patterns |
| STIs, causative organisms | Gonorrhoea, syphilis (VDRL, TPHA), chancroid |
Pharmacology: 13 Marks
Tier 1. The fmge pharmacology drug of choice list that must be memorised:
| Condition | Drug of choice |
|---|---|
| Malaria (P. vivax) | Chloroquine |
| Malaria (P. falciparum) | Artesunate-based ACT |
| TB meningitis | Rifampicin + INH + PZA + Ethambutol (2 months) |
| MDR-TB | Bedaquiline-containing regimen |
| Pneumocystis pneumonia | Cotrimoxazole (TMP-SMX) |
| Cholera | Doxycycline (adults) — single dose 300mg |
| Typhoid | Azithromycin or ceftriaxone |
| Herpes simplex encephalitis | Acyclovir IV |
| Cryptococcal meningitis | Amphotericin B + flucytosine |
| Antiepileptic in pregnancy | Lamotrigine |
| NSAID contraindicated in pregnancy | Indomethacin (premature ductus closure) |
| Status epilepticus | IV lorazepam |
| Organophosphate poisoning | Atropine + pralidoxime |
Additional Tier 1 topics: beta-blocker pharmacology (selective vs non-selective, clinical uses), ACE inhibitors (side effects, mechanism, contraindications), antibiotics (mechanism of action by class), pharmacokinetics (half-life, Vd, bioavailability).
Forensic Medicine: 10 Marks
Tier 1:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Rigor mortis | Onset, peak, resolution: hours post death |
| Cadaveric lividity | Onset, colour changes, significance |
| Wounds, types | Incised, lacerated, contused: distinguishing features |
| Decomposition stages | Putrefaction stages, cadaverine, putrescine |
| Hanging vs strangulation | Mark level, groove features |
| Medico-legal certificates | MLC, dying declaration: requirements |
| Poisons, general | Arsenic, organophosphate, carbon monoxide: features |
Paediatrics: 15 Marks
Tier 1:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Developmental milestones | Motor, social, language by age in months |
| Immunization schedule | India's UIP schedule: age, vaccine, route |
| Malnutrition classification | Gomez, Waterlow, MUAC: grading systems |
| Kawasaki disease | Diagnostic criteria, aspirin use, aneurysm risk |
| Congenital heart disease | ASD vs VSD vs PDA: features, murmur, management |
| Neonatal jaundice | Physiological vs pathological, exchange transfusion thresholds |
| Febrile seizures | Simple vs complex, management |
Ophthalmology: 15 Marks
Tier 1:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Glaucoma | Open vs closed angle, optic disc cupping, tonometry |
| Cataract | Types, Morgagnian, surgery (ECCE, phaco), IOL |
| Retinal detachment | Risk factors, prophylactic treatment, surgery |
| Diabetic retinopathy | Stages, laser photocoagulation indications |
| Trachoma stages | Herbert's pits, MacCallan classification |
| Refractive errors | Myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism: corrective lens type |
| Fundus image findings | Identify disc pallor, papilloedema, cotton wool spots |
ENT: 15 Marks
Tier 1:
| Topic | What is tested |
|---|---|
| Otitis media types | ASOM vs CSOM: features, complications, management |
| Cholesteatoma | Epitympanic perforation, attic recess, treatment |
| Epistaxis | Kiesselbach's plexus (Little's area), management |
| Laryngeal carcinoma | Supraglottic vs glottic: lymph node spread, hoarseness |
| Sensorineural vs conductive hearing loss | Rinne and Weber test interpretation |
| Foreign body larynx | Café coronary, Heimlich manoeuvre |
Psychiatry: 5 Marks
Tier 1: schizophrenia (positive vs negative symptoms, first-line antipsychotic), depression (diagnostic criteria, SSRIs, ECT indications), bipolar disorder (lithium monitoring, side effects), substance use disorders (CAGE questionnaire, alcohol withdrawal, Wernicke-Korsakoff), ICD-10 vs DSM-5 differences.
Dermatology and STD: 5 Marks
Tier 1: lichen planus (Wickham's striae, the 5 P's: purple, pruritic, papules, plaques, polygonal), psoriasis (Auspitz sign, Koebner phenomenon, Munro microabscesses), leprosy (types, nerve involvement, treatment regimen), pemphigus vulgaris vs bullous pemphigoid (layer of blister, IgG target), secondary syphilis (condylomata lata, maculopapular rash on palms and soles).
Anaesthesiology: 5 Marks
Tier 1: stages of general anaesthesia (Guedel's classification), malignant hyperthermia (triggering agents, dantrolene), spinal anaesthesia (level for surgery, complications including post-dural puncture headache), drug reversal agents (neostigmine for NDNMB, flumazenil for benzodiazepines, naloxone for opioids).
Orthopaedics: 5 Marks
Tier 1: fractures, Colles', Smith's, Monteggia, Galeazzi (mechanism and associated injury), compartment syndrome (the 6 P's, fasciotomy), osteosarcoma vs Ewing's sarcoma (age, location, X-ray appearance), bone tumours (benign vs malignant markers), congenital dislocation of the hip (Ortolani and Barlow tests).
Radiodiagnosis: 5 Marks
Tier 1: chest X-ray interpretation (consolidation, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, cardiac enlargement), CT brain patterns (acute vs chronic bleed, midline shift), ultrasound (hepatic cysts, gallstones and acoustic shadow), barium swallow (achalasia with rat-tail appearance, carcinoma oesophagus with rat-bite appearance).
Radiotherapy: 5 Marks
Tier 1: radiation units (Gray vs Sievert vs rad), radiosensitivity (tissues ranked from highest to lowest), fractionation principles, brachytherapy vs external beam, radiation injuries (acute vs late effects).
FMGE Image-Based Questions: The 15 to 20% You Cannot Ignore
Image-based questions have increased significantly in recent FMGE sessions. The January 2026 analysis showed approximately 50 to 60 image-based questions across both parts. These are not guessable, but they are learnable from a finite set of recurring images.
| Subject | Recurring images |
|---|---|
| Medicine | ECG (STEMI, AF, complete heart block), peripheral smear (target cells, ring forms, blasts), CT brain (stroke, bleed) |
| Surgery | Surgical instruments, X-rays (Colles' fracture, femur fracture), CT abdomen (free air, obstruction) |
| Pathology | Histology slides (Reed-Sternberg cells, Aschoff bodies, psammoma bodies, signet ring cells) |
| Ophthalmology | Fundus photos (diabetic retinopathy grades, papilloedema, glaucomatous disc) |
| Dermatology | Leprosy patches, psoriatic plaques, pemphigus blisters, lichen planus papules |
| Radiology | Chest X-ray (consolidation, pleural effusion, tension pneumothorax), barium studies |
| ENT | Tympanic membrane (perforation sites, central vs marginal), audiogram patterns |
Practise at least 50 images per high-yield subject category before the exam. A dedicated 30-minute daily session on image-based MCQs in the final six weeks converts these from lost marks into reliable marks.
Practice these topics in Reflex FMGE
12,000+ FMGE previous year questions organised by subject, with subject-wise analytics showing your accuracy across all 20 subjects. The score calculator shows your pass or fail status after every session.
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Topic Revision Checklist: The 80-20 Rule for FMGE
80% of the marks in any FMGE session come from 20% of the syllabus content. The tables above represent that 20%. Before the exam, verify that you have covered the Tier 1 list for every subject by tracking your accuracy per topic in practice sessions, not just per subject. These are the fmge mcq repeated topics worth auditing yourself against.
| Subject | Tier 1 topics to nail | Target accuracy | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Medicine | Cardiology, DM, TB, Thyroid | 75%+ | 33 marks |
| General Surgery | Thyroid, Hernia, Burns, Fractures | 70%+ | 32 marks |
| OBG | Partogram, APH, Eclampsia, Contraception | 70%+ | 30 marks |
| Community Medicine | NIS, Biostatistics, NHPs | 80%+ | 30 marks |
| Anatomy | Brachial plexus, Cranial nerves, Embryology | 65%+ | 17 marks |
| Physiology | Cardiac cycle, Renal, Respiratory | 65%+ | 17 marks |
| Biochemistry | Enzymes, Vitamins, DNA | 65%+ | 17 marks |
| Paediatrics | Milestones, NIS, CHD | 65%+ | 15 marks |
| Ophthalmology | Glaucoma, Cataract, Fundus | 65%+ | 15 marks |
| ENT | CSOM, Cholesteatoma, Epistaxis | 65%+ | 15 marks |
| Pathology | Tumour markers, Amyloidosis, Histology slides | 60%+ | 13 marks |
| Microbiology | Toxins, TB, HIV, Hepatitis | 60%+ | 13 marks |
| Pharmacology | DOC list, Beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors | 70%+ | 13 marks |
| Forensic Medicine | Rigor mortis, Wounds, COD | 60%+ | 10 marks |
Use the FMGE score calculator after every practice session to see whether your subject-wise accuracy is on track against these targets.
Practise this on Reflex FMGE
12,000+ FMGE previous year questions, subject-wise analytics, and a score calculator built for the 300-question no-negative-marking format.