FCPS Part 1 study plan
Four months, two subjects at a time, past-paper-style questions every day and full papers in the last month. It works even with a full house job.
On this page
The plan
| Weeks | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | Physiology and biochemistry |
| 5–8 | Anatomy (gross, histology, embryology, neuroanatomy) |
| 9–11 | Pathology and microbiology |
| 12–13 | Pharmacology, biostatistics, ethics and behavioural sciences |
| 14–15 | Specialty-specific Paper II topics and weak areas |
| 16 | Full timed papers, review, rest |
Daily routine
- Working days: 1.5–2 hours, mostly questions with review.
- Off days: 6–8 hours, reading plus questions.
- Every Sunday: revise your mistakes notebook.
Studying around duties
- Keep a question app or PDF on your phone for short gaps.
- Don't study after a 36-hour call; sleep first.
- Tell your seniors you're preparing; many will help with lighter duties near the exam.
The full-time version (after house job)
If you have finished house job and can protect whole study days, the same four months can be run full-time:
- Months 1–2: core systems, physiology and pathology. Build coverage rather than perfection.
- Month 3: finish the remaining subjects, start serious past-paper practice and find your weak areas.
- Month 4: revision and timed papers only. Stop adding new material.
Six to eight focused hours on study days is plenty. Compressing it into two months only works with a strong foundation and full-time study.
If you are working as a medical officer
Plan around energy, not just free hours: a protected 2–3 hour block on most days, light revision after heavy shifts, and full papers on off days. A 5–8 month timeline is more realistic. More detail is in studying for FCPS Part 1 during house job.
How long each day?
See how many hours a day to study for FCPS Part 1, and for the final stretch, the last 30 days.
Frequently asked questions
Can FCPS Part 1 be prepared in 3 months?
Yes, for many candidates who study consistently, especially if basic sciences are fresh.