OMSB General Surgery Exam 2026: Eligibility & MCQs

Last updated on 21-Sep-2026, by Dr. Muhammad Dr. Muhammad

 

MOH Oman (OMSB) General Surgery Exam Quick Summary

The OMSB General Surgery specialist exam is a two-phase process: a Pearson VUE-delivered written MCQ exam (single-correct-answer format, roughly 150 questions, ~3 hours, 60% passing score), followed by an in-country Oral/Viva examination for candidates who pass the written stage.

MOH Oman (OMSB) General Surgery Specialty Exam

The Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) conducts this specialty exam to assess a general surgeon's clinical knowledge, judgment, and decision-making across the breadth of general surgical practice. It is required for general surgeons applying for an OMSB professional license to practice in Oman.

The exam consists of two phases: a written Prometric-style MCQ exam in single-correct-answer format, followed by an Oral/Viva examination conducted in-country for candidates who clear the written stage.

Eligibility criteria for the OMSB General Surgery exam

Candidates must satisfy OMSB's general requirements before appearing for the General Surgery specialty exam. Based on OMSB's published eligibility framework, applicants are generally expected to meet the following:

Primary medical degree: A recognized MBBS, MD, or equivalent medical degree from an accredited institution.
Specialization in General Surgery: Completion of a residency, MS, MD, DNB, MRCS, FRCS, or equivalent postgraduate qualification in General Surgery from a recognized institution.
Post-specialization clinical experience: Generally at least 3 years of clinical practice in General Surgery after your specialist qualification, though this can range depending on the specific role and application track -- confirm your own precise requirement directly with OMSB.
Valid license & Good Standing Certificate: An active license to practice in your home country (or country of last employment), plus a Certificate of Good Standing typically valid within the last 6 months.
DataFlow Primary Source Verification: All educational, professional, and licensing documents verified through DataFlow. See the full OMSB general eligibility requirements for the complete document checklist.

Confirm your own eligibility status directly with OMSB rather than assuming a general figure applies to you.

OMSB General Surgery exam syllabus

The exam draws from the following subject areas, reflecting the breadth of general surgical practice:

  • Fluid and electrolyte management
  • Shock
  • Sepsis and surgical infections
  • Endocrine and breast surgery
  • Upper GI surgery
  • Vascular surgery
  • Pediatric surgery
  • Skin and soft tissue
  • Hepato-biliary surgery
  • Perioperative care
  • Trauma and critical care
  • Colorectal and perianal surgery
  • Pancreas and spleen
  • Professionalism and ethics
  • Patient safety

Most questions are presented as clinical scenario-based MCQs that test decision-making across pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative surgical care.

OMSB General Surgery study material & questions
Official past papers aren't released publicly, but our Qbank compiles recall-based questions from actual test takers, reviewed by expert doctors.

OMSB General Surgery exam format

150
MCQs
~3 hours
Time allowed
60%+
Passing score (written)

Passing the written exam is not the final step: candidates must then complete an Oral/Viva examination conducted in-country, using case scenarios relevant to general surgery. The exact question count, duration, and passing score can differ from DHA, DOH, and other Gulf authorities' versions of this specialty exam -- always confirm the OMSB-specific figures directly with OMSB.

Preparation tips for the OMSB General Surgery exam

Master surgical decision-making
Most questions are scenario-based -- practice choosing the next best step in management, not just recalling isolated facts.
Prepare for the viva separately
The Oral/Viva tests case-based clinical reasoning verbally -- practice explaining your diagnosis and operative plan out loud, not just recognizing the right MCQ answer.
Prioritize high-yield topics
Trauma and critical care, hepato-biliary surgery, and upper GI surgery are consistently well represented.
Review perioperative fundamentals
Fluid and electrolyte management, shock, and sepsis are foundational topics that appear across many surgical scenarios.

Sample Practice MCQs

Test your knowledge with these original clinical scenario-style questions. Tap a question to reveal the answer.

> Question 1: Acute Abdomen
A 24-year-old presents with periumbilical pain that has migrated to the right iliac fossa, with associated fever and localized tenderness at McBurney's point. What is the most appropriate management?

Answer: Appendicectomy.

Explanation: Migratory periumbilical-to-right-iliac-fossa pain with tenderness at McBurney's point is the classic presentation of acute appendicitis, for which appendicectomy is the definitive treatment.
> Question 2: Hepato-biliary Surgery
A patient presents with right upper quadrant pain, fever, and a positive Murphy's sign. Ultrasound confirms gallstones with a thickened gallbladder wall. What is the most appropriate management?

Answer: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Explanation: Right upper quadrant pain with fever and a positive Murphy's sign, confirmed by ultrasound findings, indicates acute cholecystitis, for which early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now the preferred approach over delayed surgery.
> Question 3: Trauma and Critical Care
A hemodynamically unstable trauma patient has a positive FAST scan showing free intraperitoneal fluid. What is the most appropriate next step?

Answer: Immediate exploratory laparotomy.

Explanation: In a hemodynamically unstable patient with a positive FAST scan, further imaging would waste critical time -- immediate exploratory laparotomy is indicated to identify and control the source of intra-abdominal bleeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

> What does the OMSB General Surgery exam cover?

It covers fluid and electrolyte management, shock, sepsis and surgical infections, endocrine and breast surgery, upper GI surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, skin and soft tissue, hepato-biliary surgery, perioperative care, trauma and critical care, colorectal and perianal surgery, pancreas and spleen, professionalism and ethics, and patient safety.

> Is there a viva or interview component?

Yes. The OMSB General Surgery exam consists of two phases: a written MCQ exam, followed by an Oral/Viva examination conducted in-country for candidates who clear the written stage.

> What is the passing score for the OMSB General Surgery exam?

Candidates generally need to score 60% or above on the written exam to proceed to the Oral/Viva stage. Note that other Gulf authorities running the same specialty exam (DHA, DOH) use different question counts, durations, and pass marks.

> What are the eligibility requirements for the OMSB General Surgery exam?

Candidates generally need a recognized primary medical degree, a postgraduate qualification in General Surgery (MS, MD, DNB, MRCS, FRCS, or equivalent), several years of post-specialization clinical experience, a valid license and Good Standing Certificate, and documents verified through DataFlow.

Ready to prepare with real recall-based MCQs?

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Saumya Mathew
Saumya Mathew

I cleared MOH because of you. The small number of participants meant there was plenty of opportunity to get practical and have one to one assistance. Size matters: in this...

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