BSMMU Residency Phase-A
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The BSMMU Residency Phase-A examination is the written screening step used by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for entry into its postgraduate residency (FCPS-style) training programmes. It is aimed at medical graduates who hold a recognised MBBS degree, have completed their internship, and are competing for a limited number of training posts in hospital specialties. The paper is entirely multiple choice and samples broadly across the undergraduate curriculum rather than testing subspecialty depth: pre-clinical sciences, medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, community medicine, forensic medicine, and a small component of ethics and recent advances. Because the syllabus is broad, preparation should be built around revision of standard MBBS textbooks and lecture notes, not around a single guidebook. A practical plan is to work domain by domain, keeping pre-clinical facts in regular rotation while giving the largest clinical subjects repeated passes, and to practise timed mixed-question sets so that recall speed and accuracy under pressure improve. Candidates should confirm the current question count, time allowance, fee, eligibility rules and any retake conditions with BSMMU directly, since the university publishes these details for each admission cycle. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the university.
What you'll study
About BSMMU Residency Phase-A preparation
What is the format of the Phase-A paper?
It is a single written paper made up entirely of multiple-choice questions, with one best answer per item and no negative marking scheme published as standard. Questions are mixed across all domains rather than grouped by subject, so you move from a biochemistry item to a surgical item without warning.
How difficult is the exam?
Difficulty comes from breadth and speed rather than from obscure facts. Most items sit at undergraduate level, but the paper covers the whole curriculum in one sitting, so candidates who revised only their intended specialty tend to lose marks. Comfort with rapid recall across all subjects is the main differentiator.
Can I retake the exam if I do not qualify?
Retake and re-application rules are set by BSMMU for each admission cycle and can change between sessions. Check the current prospectus or the university's official website for the applicable policy rather than relying on what earlier candidates experienced.
How much time do I get, and how many questions are there?
The number of questions and the time allowance are published by the university for each cycle and are not fixed permanently. Confirm the current figures from the official BSMMU admission notice before you build a timing strategy around them.
In what order should I study the subjects?
Start with pre-clinical sciences while your basic recall is fresh, then move to medicine and surgery as your core clinical blocks, adding obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics alongside them. Keep community medicine, forensic medicine and ethics in short weekly slots so they are not left for the final weeks.
What causes most candidates to fall short?
Three patterns dominate: neglecting pre-clinical subjects because they feel irrelevant to clinical practice, leaving community and forensic medicine until too late, and practising untimed so that accuracy collapses under pressure. A fourth is over-reading one textbook instead of covering the full syllabus at least once.
How should I practise for a timed MCQ paper?
Do mixed-subject sets under strict timing, then review every wrong answer and every lucky guess. Track accuracy by domain so weak areas are visible, and repeat short timed sets weekly. This builds the switching speed the paper demands far better than reading notes alone.
Does this page or any coaching material guarantee selection?
No. This page is an independent study resource with no affiliation to BSMMU, and no preparatory material can guarantee a training post. Selection depends on your rank in the merit list against the number of posts available in your chosen specialty.
Where do I confirm eligibility, fees and dates?
All official details, including eligibility, application fee, deadlines and seat numbers, are published by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University through its admission notices and website. Always treat the current official notice as authoritative over any third-party summary.