Hello i am an Indian student studying MBBS in russia. I just finished my 3rd in Russia and now i have 2 months holidays so i am planning to study and finish my academic subjects. My target behind study is to gain knowledge and also do the preparation of FMGE. I started with the pharmacology subject with the help of an app called Marrow on which i am watching video lectures and then studying notes provided by teachers of Marrow. Is it a right approach or i should start with 1st year subjects like anatomy, physiology and biochemistry? Honestly i have some knowledge of anatomy but i have very few knowledge of physiology and Biochemistry so please suggest me what should i do in order to be a good doctor and Crack FMGE in first attempt
Searching the Web
FMGE 2024 2025 subject wise weightage syllabus preparation strategy
Reading Web Page
https://www.pw.live/neet-pg/exams/fmge-subject-wise-weightag…
Great question - and good on you for planning ahead. Here is a detailed, honest breakdown of what you should do:
Your Situation in a Nutshell
You are after 3rd year in Russia, so you have covered:
- 1st year: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry (weak in Physio & Biochem by your own admission)
- 2nd/3rd year: Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology (started Pharmacology on Marrow - good)
You have 2 months and two goals: genuine medical knowledge + FMGE in first attempt. These goals align well, so one good plan serves both.
Should You Start with Pharmacology or Go Back to 1st Year Subjects?
Short answer: Do NOT go back to Anatomy/Physiology/Biochemistry as your starting point. Continue with Pharmacology, then follow a strategic order. But - fill Physiology gaps in parallel, not as a separate phase.
Here is why:
Pharmacology is a smart starting choice because:
- It carries 20 marks in FMGE (same as Microbiology, more than Forensics)
- It directly connects to Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics - the high-yield clinical subjects (150 marks total in FMGE)
- You are already mid-stream on Marrow - stopping now means wasted momentum
- Pharmacology is one of the highest-retention subjects when studied with clinical context
The risk of going back to 1st year subjects first:
- Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry together carry only 50 marks out of 300 in FMGE
- They are also the most vast and time-consuming subjects
- Spending 2 months only on these 3 will leave you with no time for the clinical subjects which carry 150 marks
- Russia teaches these subjects well anyway - you have a foundation even if it feels shaky
FMGE Subject-Wise Marks at a Glance
| Phase | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-clinical | Anatomy | 17 |
| Pre-clinical | Physiology | 17 |
| Pre-clinical | Biochemistry | 16 |
| Para-clinical | Pathology | 25 |
| Para-clinical | Microbiology | 20 |
| Para-clinical | Pharmacology | 20 |
| Para-clinical | Forensic Medicine | 10 |
| Para-clinical | PSM/Community Medicine | 25 |
| Clinical | Medicine + Radiology | 40 |
| Clinical | Surgery + Ortho + Anaesthesia | 40 |
| Clinical | OBG | 30 |
| Clinical | Paediatrics | 10 |
| Clinical | Ophthalmology | 10 |
| Clinical | ENT | 10 |
| Clinical | Dermatology + Psychiatry | 10 |
| TOTAL | 300 |
Passing mark: 150/300 (50%) - no negative marking.
Recommended 2-Month Study Plan for You
Guiding principles
- Finish what you started - complete Pharmacology on Marrow first
- Parallel revision, not sequential - do not finish one subject before touching another
- Marrow is the right tool - video lectures + notes is the correct approach for FMGE, it is specifically designed for it
- High-yield over exhaustive coverage - 2 months is not enough to master everything; aim for breadth + high-yield depth
Week-by-Week Framework (8 weeks)
Weeks 1-2: Finish Pharmacology (already in progress)
- Complete remaining Pharmacology videos on Marrow
- Revise notes, do MCQs daily (Marrow test series or previous FMGE questions on Pharmacology)
- Pharmacology is also your bridge to understanding clinical medicine - do not rush it
Weeks 3-4: Pathology + Microbiology
- These two together = 45 marks - the highest single investment you can make
- Pathology (25 marks) - focus on General Pathology, Inflammation, Neoplasia, and Organ-wise pathology
- Microbiology (20 marks) - Bacteriology, Virology, Immunology basics
- Use Marrow for both - video + notes + MCQs
Weeks 5-6: Community Medicine (PSM) + Forensic Medicine
- PSM = 25 marks, heavily high-yield, mostly fact-based - very scoreable
- Forensic = 10 marks, small effort for guaranteed marks
- These two are often neglected and give easy marks to prepared students
Weeks 7-8: Physiology + Biochemistry (targeted revision)
- You do NOT need to cover these exhaustively - cover only the high-yield FMGE topics
- Physiology high-yield: Nerve-muscle physiology, CVS physiology, Renal, Respiratory, Endocrine
- Biochemistry high-yield: Enzymes, Metabolic pathways (glycolysis, TCA), Vitamins, Molecular biology
- This is enough for the ~33 marks these two subjects carry collectively
- For Anatomy (17 marks): Use only Marrow rapid revision notes - do not watch full anatomy lectures, it is too time-consuming
For Being a Good Doctor (Not Just Cracking FMGE)
FMGE preparation and becoming a competent doctor are not the same thing, and you are right to mention both. Here is the honest difference:
- FMGE tests factual recall - MCQ-based, single best answer
- Clinical competence requires understanding mechanisms, not just memorizing facts
To serve both goals simultaneously:
- When studying Pharmacology - understand why a drug works (mechanism), not just what it does. This will help you for life.
- When studying Pathology - connect every disease to how it presents clinically. Marrow's faculty typically does this well.
- After your FMGE preparation, when you return to Russia for 4th and 5th year clinical rotations, the groundwork you lay now in Pathology and Pharmacology will make you a much better clinical student.
Is Marrow the Right Platform?
Yes, Marrow is one of the best platforms for FMGE preparation. It is built specifically for Indian medical licensing exams. The video + notes approach you are using is the correct method. A few tips:
- Do not just watch videos passively - pause and recall after each topic
- After every subject, do previous FMGE question papers from that subject (last 5-7 years)
- Use the Marrow test series - timed mock tests build the exam temperament
- Previous FMGE question papers are freely available on sites like DAMS and NBE's official archives
Summary Recommendation
- Keep going with Pharmacology on Marrow - you made the right call
- Follow the order: Pharmacology → Pathology + Microbiology → PSM + Forensics → Physio + Biochem (targeted) + Anatomy (rapid revision only)
- Do MCQs from day one alongside each subject - do not wait until you "finish" a subject
- Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry together are only ~50/300 marks - do not let them consume the majority of your 2 months
- Marrow is the right tool - stick with it
This order will give you the maximum marks-per-hour return on your 2 months, while also building a solid clinical foundation for your remaining MBBS years in Russia. Good luck!
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.