Focus on inter-disciplinary questions

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Combined Medical Services (CMS) Examination 2025 is scheduled to be held on July 20, 2025. The UPSC CMS Notification 2025 has been released for 705 vacancies of Medical Officers and Assistant Divisional Medical Officers under various departments.

There have been some changes in the UPSC exam pattern for 2025.

While the overall structure remains the same with written exam, and personality test, there are adjustments to the focus areas within each stage.

The syllabus has been updated to reflect current events and issues, and there's a stronger emphasis on inter-disciplinary questions in the Mains exam.

Topics that would be tested

The written test would carry 500 marks and comprise 2 papers.

Paper 1 would test General Medicine, Paediatrics and Paper 2 would test Surgery, Gynaecology, and Preventive Social and Community Medicine.

If you get selected in NEET PG and CMS both, you can get an extension. If you clear CMS but are unable to clear NEET PG, you can get government aid to appear for NEET PG later.

Here are some tips to prepare for the exam:

Create a time table

With almost three months to go before the exam, create a monthly plan. Set specific goals for each period and allocate sufficient time for revision. You would have completed doing individual subjects by now. Revise them at least twice. Now is the time to create a plan for taking mock tests and previous years questions. Try focusing on the past five years' questions at least.

Simulate by taking mock tests

Mock tests simulate the actual exam environment and help you gauge your preparation. Take them regularly to assess your strengths and weaknesses. This practice not only improves your speed and accuracy but also builds your endurance for the long exam. Since the question paper is multiple choice and they also give mixed bag as an option, you can practice elimination to arrive at the right option.

Best books for preparation:

Choosing the right UPSC CMS study material is critical. You need resources that are comprehensive, concise, and aligned with the syllabus.

If you have made notes for NEET PG those would be very helpful.

Some of the recommended books and resources for the UPSC CMS preparation are Prasad  Comprehensive Guide to Combined Medical Services by Dr Rajeev Kumar that comes in an updated edition every year.

Besides, there are other books like Human Anatomy by B D Chaurasia, Textbook of Pathology by Harsh Mohan Saradhi.

For Paper 2 preparation, some of the well known books are: Illustrated Synopsis of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases by Dr. Neena Khanna, Clinical Methods in Medicine by Chugh,Practical Aspects of Pediatrics by Cheeda.

Observe the pattern

If you believe that practicing previous years papers would help you crack CMS, it's not enough. You need to observe the pattern. Almost 70% of the topics are repeated but there is always a surprise element in the remaining 30%. Some repeated topics are contraception, tuberculosis, chromosome disorder and the like. Over the past five years, the topics that are being asked have become more and more cross disciplinary.

Revise regularly

Regular revision is key to retaining what you have studied. Make concise notes of important points and revise them periodically. Also, make a list of the questions you are getting wrong repeatedly and revise them regularly.

While the UPSC CMS exam mainly focuses on medical knowledge, staying ahead of the curve in terms of being aware of the latest developments in the medical field can be helpful. This can aid you in answering application-based and case based  and demonstrate your awareness of the field's current trends.

Summing up

To sum up, if you prefer a stable, administrative career with good benefits and work-life balance, and are not as interested in clinical practice and specialization, CMS is a  good option for you. To qualify for the UPSC Combined Medical Services Exam requires constant practice, the right resources, and  strategic planning.

With just 3 months left, you keep the end goal in mind and start working in iterative sprints that factor and feed upon each other!