The FMGE Dec 2022, which was conducted on 12th Jan 2023 had announced the result on 3rd Feb 2023. However, what was outstanding this year was the passing percentage of 39.6%. 

Historically, the passing percentage of the FMGE has always been low, often ranging between 10 to 20%. However, this year witnessed a maximum number of students qualifying for the exam. The high pass percentage has also been reasoned with the supposed uncertainty and fear of the National Exit Test (NExT) that is scheduled to be introduced in the next academic year. 

As the students are more sure of the FMGE pattern then NExT, they seem to have worked hard and thus given out a splendid result this time

Source: https://news.aglasem.com

An unnamed official from the Union Health Ministry in conversation with a reputed daily stated, “Students have worked hard and the difficulty index may also have been slightly lower this time. A high pass percentage is an aberration rather than the norm; students have made the last-ditch effort to clear the FMGE. Usually, Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Maldives are able to do well because their syllabus is quite similar to that of the Indian medical education system. Most FMGs have to spend at least a year learning a foreign language and the MBBS course is often more theoretical as the patient connectivity is less, and the FMGE does not test the practical training of students. Testing practical components may further reduce the pass percentage. The NExT will have a practical component, not just FMGs; even the quality of training among Indian students in private colleges will be tested for the first time. It will help reveal the medical colleges’ rankings automatically and people will not go to colleges where the maximum number of students fail.”

The said source further stated that, “All students cannot travel to metro cities to prepare at good coaching centers, so many took online subscriptions of apps to prepare for FMGE. Some students had the support of both online and offline coaching classes and that made a lot of difference to the pass percentage,” says Dr Pritesh Singh, faculty, Surgery, PrepLadder, pointing out that 30% of those who pursued medical education in Ukraine, appeared in the FMGE and among them, one third were able to clear it. “Most students who scored well began their FMGE preparation from the first year of MBBS itself and spent four to six hours every day preparing for the exam. Students are now more aware of what to study and where to study. The difficulty level of the exam was the same as NEET PG and despite clinical questions being asked, Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) were able to do well. Students were afraid that if they do not clear it this time, they will have to appear in NExT later with which they are unfamiliar. They pushed themselves to clear FMGE in one go; this year’s pass percentage is the best.”

Further, it also seems plausible that the downtime due to the pandemic and high awareness about the online platforms had helped the students to start early and meticulously.  The lockdowns during the Covid pandemic provided much-needed downtime to students to prepare for FMGE. 

No matter what the reason for this glamorous jump in the passing percentage in the medical licensing exam of India, it sure seems promising and assuring for all Indian medical students who are studying abroad and are preparing for their turn to excel in the FMGE/NExT.