General Medicine
Synthesize clinical history, physical examination, and pathophysiological reasoning into an evidence-based differential diagnosis and structured management plan.
A focused guide for planning your study. Follow the current syllabus and teaching guidance from your own institution when deciding what to cover.
What to keep in view
High-Yield Exam Topics & Competencies
A working method
Recommended Focus
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Emergencies: 40% | Endocrinology & Neurology: 35% | Bedside Presentation Skills: 25%
Construct a concise problem representation sentence for every clinical case: include patient age, sex, risk factors, tempo of illness (acute, subacute, chronic), and cardinal syndromic findings. Prioritize differentials into leading, secondary, and 'must-not-miss' life-threatening conditions. Formulate investigations that confirm the diagnosis and assess end-organ severity.
Ask Yourself
What is the single most urgent life-threatening condition to rule out, and what clinical finding points toward the true etiology?
Actionable Study Checklist
- 1Draft 1-sentence case summaries following standard clinical problem representation
- 2Interpret 12-lead ECGs systematically (rate, rhythm, axis, hypertrophy, ischemia/infarction)
- 3Practice staging and treatment protocols for hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure
- 4Review emergency algorithms for shock, severe asthma, status epilepticus, and anaphylaxis
Common Pitfalls & Examiner Red Flags
- !Focusing narrowly on an obscure rare disease while neglecting emergent resuscitation (ABCDE)
- !Presenting disorganized history without establishing timeline of presenting complaints
- !Ordering batteries of non-specific investigations without articulating what each test confirms