What the paper looks like and how it is structured
Compiled from examiner briefing sessions to give Nigerian medical students a transparent, structured roadmap for the Final MB;BS Surgery examination.
How to Use This Guide
This guide comes directly from the examiner's briefing sessions. It is a roadmap to the paper, not a full syllabus. Every question comes from material already taught, so nothing new will appear. Use the timetable topics to quiz yourself, and rely on what you already know.
The Exam at a Glance
Overview of the assessment components and grading weights.
| Component | What to expect |
|---|---|
| MCQ | 100 questions in one combined section. MCQ carries 60% of the written score. |
| Theory | 10 clinical questions on patient management, answered as outline points. Theory carries 40%. |
| Picture test | Image-based questions with typed answers. Forward only: you cannot return to a question once answered. |
| Clinical / OSCE | About 10 to 16 stations, at most 20, with rest stations. |
MCQ Distribution
100 questions total, broken down by surgical discipline.
| Area | Questions |
|---|---|
| Principles of surgery | 10 |
| General surgery | 25 |
| Orthopaedics | 10 |
| Urology | 10 |
| Paediatric surgery | 10 |
| Each special posting (anaesthesia, ENT, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, CTSU, neurosurgery, dental) | 5 each |
| Total Questions | 100 |
Theory Distribution
Structure of the 10 written patient management questions.
| Question # | Content / Subject Area |
|---|---|
| Questions 1 to 4 | General surgery |
| Question 5 | Urology |
| Question 6 | Paediatric surgery |
| Questions 7 to 8 | Orthopaedics, plus one question from CTSU, neurosurgery or plastic surgery |
| Question 9 (A, B, C) | Special postings: plastic surgery, CTSU, anaesthesia |
| Question 10 (A, B, C) | Special postings: ophthalmology, ENT and one further posting |
Examiner Note: Special postings appear as grouped sub-questions (e.g. 9A, 9B, 9C), not standalone whole questions. Answer them concisely with clear, high-yield outline points.