How we made this
We read the preparation advice candidates shared in our PGMI WhatsApp and Facebook groups — what people who sat the induction test say they studied, and what they wish they had done. It reflects the messages we could read (mostly July 2023–October 2026) and is a guide to what is popular, not an official list. Always check the official PGMI Entrance Test Format & Recommended Books in PGMI's guideline pack at pgmi.edu.pk.
The exam in one minute
- Merit: ETEA test 75% + MBBS marks 20% + periphery / hard-area service 5% (PGMI Induction Policy, January 2026).
- Paper: general and systemic surgery plus the four minors — English, Bioethics, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Communication Skills.
- Advice repeated by candidates: cover the surgical part well. The minors are less predictable, so practise them from past papers rather than over-reading.
If you prefer books on paper
- PGMI & AKU book (Meritorious Series, past papers)
- Past PGMI surgery MCQs and the minors — “Quite a few are repeated from past papers”.
- Dogar — General and Systemic Surgery (both books)
- The standard theory text. Long: most use it for reference, not cover to cover.
- Shahan Saleem — surgery MCQs, or PreTest Surgery
- “Important explanations and tables with all the MCQs”.
If you can study from a screen
MedSurgOnline puts the route above in one place, so you don't jump between books:
- Explained notes for general and systemic surgery, chapter by chapter, written as a summary of the standard textbooks above and updated.
- Every past PGMI recall from the PGMI & AKU book, plus similar-style MCQs, each with an explanation of why the other options are wrong. Every topic is covered with MCQs.
- All four minors (English, Bioethics, Biostatistics, Communication Skills) with notes and MCQs.
- Search any topic or MCQ, track your weak areas, and re-do only what you got wrong.
- Exam Companion Surgery — surgery notes topic by topic, each linked to its MCQs.
Look inside free for 90 seconds at medsurgonline.com, then request access to your exam. If you own the PGMI & AKU book, the online bank builds on it — you are not paying twice.
Step by step
- Get the official papers first. From pgmi.edu.pk download the Induction Policy, the Test Format & Recommended Books and the ETEA sample paper.
- Do past papers first, cold. Attempt one full PGMI surgery paper from the PGMI & AKU book. Mark weak areas: trauma, GI, hepatobiliary, breast, endocrine, urology, vascular, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, ENT/eye.
- Start with general surgery. Wounds, shock, fluids, burns, infection, trauma (ATLS), tumours, perioperative care. Short theory from one source, then MCQs with explanations (MedSurgOnline or Shahan Saleem / PreTest or another online bank), then the past PGMI questions on that topic.
- Then systemic surgery, one system at a time. Same loop: brief theory → 50–100 MCQs → past questions → one-line error log. On MedSurgOnline you have standard textbook notes and links to online resources to read further on your weak topics.
- Do the minors little and often. About 30 minutes a day. Finish the PGMI & AKU minors section twice.
- Switch to exam mode. Mixed timed blocks, two full mocks a week, all past PGMI surgery papers again, error log daily. Nothing new in the last 5 days.
Short on time?
- All past PGMI surgery papers first.
- MCQs with explanations by system — skip long theory.
- Minors from the PGMI & AKU book + timed mocks. This is the “quicker way” candidates keep asking for.
Common mistakes
- Trying to finish the full two-volume textbook first.
- Skipping trauma and general principles — they are high yield.
- Doing MCQs without reading why the other options are wrong.
Screen or paper?
Try one week on screen. If you remember what you read and can keep going for 2–3 hours, stay on screen. If not, use Route 1 and use the website only for MCQ practice.
Prepare for PGMI Surgery on MedSurgOnline
Look inside any exam free for 90 seconds, then request access to your exam.
Request accessDownload this guide (PDF)