SLE General Surgery Exam 2026: Eligibility & MCQs

SLE General Surgery Exam Quick Summary

The Saudi Licensing Exam (SLE) General Surgery specialty exam is a two-part, computer-based Prometric MCQ exam — Principles of Surgery and Clinical Surgery — totaling roughly 200 questions, with a passing score of approximately 70%.

Saudi Licensing Exam (SLE) General Surgery Specialty Exam

The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) administers this specialty exam as part of its physician classification and licensing process, evaluating a surgeon's clinical judgment, perioperative decision-making, and management of surgical emergencies across the full breadth of general surgical practice.

Eligibility criteria for the SLE General Surgery exam

To apply for SCFHS classification and sit the General Surgery specialty exam, candidates 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 recognized residency or postgraduate qualification in General Surgery — MS, MD, DNB, MRCS, FRCS, or equivalent — from an accredited institution.
Post-specialization clinical experience: Generally 2-4 years of post-specialty experience for Specialist-level classification, with 5+ years (or equivalent) required for Consultant-level classification. The exact figure depends on your qualification and prior classification.
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 confirming no disciplinary action.
DataFlow PSV & Mumaris Plus registration: All educational, professional, and licensing documents must be verified through DataFlow, and your application is processed through SCFHS's Mumaris Plus portal (mumaris.scfhs.org.sa).

SLE General Surgery exam exemption criteria

Possible exam exemption
Surgeons holding an active board certification from a recognized authority — such as a US board certification, a UK Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), a Canadian Royal College fellowship, or an equivalent Australian/New Zealand fellowship — may be considered for exemption from the written Prometric exam during SCFHS classification. Exemption is evaluated case-by-case as part of the classification review and is not automatically guaranteed, so confirm your own status directly with SCFHS through the Mumaris Plus portal rather than assuming it applies.

SLE General Surgery exam syllabus

The exam is split into two papers covering distinct areas of general surgical practice:

Part 1 — Principles of Surgery (~70 questions)

  • Fluid and Electrolytes
  • Shock, Haemostasis and Transfusion
  • Surgical Infection and Antibiotics
  • Trauma and Critical Care
  • Surgical Complications
  • Pre-operative Assessment, Anaesthesia and Pain Management
  • Transplant

Part 2 — Clinical Surgery (~130 questions)

  • The Breast and Endocrine
  • Hernias, Abdominal Wall and Soft Tissue Tumours
  • Upper GI Tract
  • Lower GI Tract
  • Gastrointestinal Bleeding
  • Hepatobiliary
  • Acute Abdomen
  • Surgical Management of Obesity
  • Subspecialties (Vascular, Paediatric, Plastic, Lung and Mediastinum)

Most questions are presented as clinical scenario-based MCQs testing perioperative judgment and management decisions, rather than isolated fact recall.

SLE General Surgery study material & questions
Our Qbank offers high-yield MCQs with detailed explanations, customizable practice sets, and real exam-style simulation, updated for the current exam pattern.

SLE General Surgery exam format

~200
MCQs (2 papers)
~70 / ~130
Questions per paper
~70%
Passing score

The SLE General Surgery exam is delivered as a computer-based test via Prometric, split into a shorter Principles of Surgery paper and a longer Clinical Surgery paper. Each question typically offers 4-5 answer choices with a single best answer.

Preparation tips for the SLE General Surgery exam

Weight your prep toward Clinical Surgery
The Clinical Surgery paper carries roughly double the questions of Principles of Surgery — allocate study time accordingly.
Focus on high-yield emergencies
Acute abdomen, GI bleeding, and post-operative complications are heavily represented — prioritize these over rare presentations.
Practice scenario-based MCQs
Expect clinical vignettes requiring perioperative decision-making, not simple fact recall.
Review current guidelines
Questions reflect current international surgical practice guidelines rather than older textbook protocols — keep your references up to date.

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 68-year-old presents with sudden-onset severe epigastric pain radiating to the back, a rigid abdomen, and a history of long-term NSAID use. Erect chest X-ray shows free air under the diaphragm. What is the most likely diagnosis and next step?

Answer: Perforated peptic ulcer — resuscitate with IV fluids and broad-spectrum antibiotics, then proceed to emergency laparotomy for repair (e.g., Graham patch).

Explanation: Free air under the diaphragm on an erect chest X-ray in a patient with sudden severe epigastric pain and peritonism is classic for a perforated viscus, most commonly a peptic ulcer in this risk profile. Emergency surgical repair follows initial resuscitation.
> Question 2: Hepatobiliary
A patient develops fever, jaundice, and right upper quadrant pain (Charcot's triad) five days after an uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy. What is the most likely diagnosis and appropriate next step?

Answer: Ascending cholangitis, likely due to a retained common bile duct stone — obtain urgent imaging (MRCP or ultrasound) and proceed to biliary decompression (ERCP) after initial resuscitation and antibiotics.

Explanation: Charcot's triad (fever, jaundice, RUQ pain) strongly suggests ascending cholangitis. A retained stone is a recognized complication after cholecystectomy; urgent biliary decompression via ERCP is the definitive management once the patient is stabilized.
> Question 3: Trauma and Critical Care
A trauma patient with a suspected pelvic fracture is hypotensive and tachycardic despite initial fluid resuscitation. What is the most appropriate immediate step to control hemorrhage?

Answer: Apply a pelvic binder for mechanical stabilization while proceeding urgently to further hemorrhage control (angioembolization or surgical fixation as indicated).

Explanation: A pelvic binder reduces pelvic volume and stabilizes fracture fragments, controlling venous bleeding rapidly at the bedside. It should be applied early in a hemodynamically unstable trauma patient with suspected pelvic fracture, before or alongside definitive imaging and further intervention.

Frequently Asked Questions

> What does the SLE General Surgery exam cover?

It's split into two papers: Principles of Surgery (fluid/electrolytes, shock, surgical infection, trauma and critical care, surgical complications, perioperative assessment, and transplant) and Clinical Surgery (breast and endocrine, hernias, upper and lower GI, GI bleeding, hepatobiliary, acute abdomen, bariatric surgery, and surgical subspecialties).

> How many questions are on the SLE General Surgery exam?

The exam totals roughly 200 MCQs across two papers — approximately 70 questions on Principles of Surgery and 130 on Clinical Surgery.

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

Candidates generally need to score approximately 70% to pass.

> Can general surgeons be exempted from the SLE Prometric exam?

Possibly. Surgeons holding an active board certification (e.g. US board certification, UK CCT, Canadian Royal College fellowship, or an equivalent Australian/New Zealand fellowship) may be considered for exemption during SCFHS classification, though this is evaluated case-by-case and isn't guaranteed.

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TESTIMONIALS
Dr. Anjali Tiwari
Dr. Anjali Tiwari

The SLE GP Qbank gave me good coverage overall. Spend extra time on the ethics and communication questions, which I underestimated at first....

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