Medical education in Bangladesh has earned an impressive reputation over the past few decades. Every year, thousands of students from Bangladesh and other countries—especially India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and various African nations—choose to pursue their MBBS degree in Bangladeshi medical colleges. The education system is structured, affordable, and globally recognized by organizations such as the World Health Organization and the National Medical Commission of India.
A crucial part of this medical training is assessment. Unlike many academic fields that rely heavily on written examinations, MBBS in Bangladesh emphasizes a balanced evaluation system combining theory, viva voce (oral examinations), and practical exams. These assessment components are designed to test not just memorization but also comprehension, clinical reasoning, and hands-on skills.
Understanding the pattern of viva and practicals in the MBBS program of Bangladesh is essential for students who wish to prepare effectively. This article provides a comprehensive overview of how these assessments are structured, what students can expect, and how they can excel in them.
Before exploring the details of viva and practical examinations, it is important to understand how the MBBS course itself is organized.
In Bangladesh, the MBBS program is usually five years of academic study followed by a one-year internship in an affiliated hospital. The course is divided into four professional phases, each concluding with a professional examination conducted under the authority of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) and respective universities.
First Professional Phase:
Duration: 1.5 years
Major subjects: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry
Second Professional Phase:
Duration: 1 year
Major subjects: Community Medicine, Forensic Medicine
Third Professional Phase:
Duration: 1 year
Major subjects: Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology
Final Professional Phase:
Duration: 1.5 years
Major subjects: Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Each phase includes theory classes, laboratory work, ward duties, and tutorials. At the end of each phase, students must pass professional exams that consist of three components:
Written (theory)
Viva (oral)
Practical or clinical examination
In medical education, both viva voce and practical examinations are crucial because they test a student’s application of knowledge rather than mere recall of textbook material.
Viva (Oral Examination):
It evaluates a student’s understanding, reasoning ability, and clarity of medical concepts. Professors ask questions directly, often linked to clinical cases or specimens.
Practical Examination:
This component assesses hands-on skills. Students are asked to perform laboratory tests, demonstrate clinical procedures, identify specimens, interpret findings, or examine patients under supervision.
Together, these assessments simulate real-life medical situations and ensure that future doctors can apply theory to practice.
The nature of viva and practical examinations evolves throughout the MBBS course. Let us explore how these assessments are conducted in each professional phase.
Anatomy
Physiology
Biochemistry
Anatomy is the study of the structure of the human body, and its practical assessment focuses on visual and descriptive identification.
Practical Components:
Identification of bones, muscles, and organs from cadaveric specimens.
Drawing labeled diagrams of anatomical structures.
Surface marking exercises on human models.
Spotting tests: identifying structures on bones, specimens, or histological slides.
Viva Pattern:
Students face oral questioning on:
Human skeleton and muscle attachments
Internal organs and blood supply
Embryology and histology
Radiographic anatomy
The examiner may point to a specimen and ask questions like “What is this muscle’s origin and insertion?” or “Which artery supplies this region?”
Physiology deals with body functions, so practical exams involve functional experiments.
Practical Components:
Recording blood pressure and pulse.
Determining respiratory rate and vital capacity.
Examining reflexes and basic neurological functions.
Performing simple experiments on hematology (counting RBCs, WBCs, estimating hemoglobin).
Viva Pattern:
During viva, examiners test understanding of physiological processes such as:
Mechanisms of respiration and circulation
Functions of the nervous and endocrine systems
Clinical significance of experimental findings
Students are expected to explain the rationale behind each test rather than merely demonstrating procedures.
Biochemistry focuses on chemical processes in the human body.
Practical Components:
Qualitative tests for carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids
Interpretation of laboratory results (blood sugar, urea, creatinine)
Preparation of reagents and understanding biochemical pathways
Viva Pattern:
Questions revolve around:
Principles of biochemical tests
Interpretation of abnormal lab values
Enzyme functions and metabolic pathways
Examiners assess conceptual clarity and correlation with clinical conditions such as diabetes or jaundice.
Community Medicine
Forensic Medicine
This subject focuses on public health, epidemiology, and preventive medicine.
Practical Components:
Conducting surveys and collecting public health data
Calculating health indices like infant mortality rate and birth rate
Preparing charts and interpreting statistical data
Demonstrating immunization techniques
Viva Pattern:
Students are questioned about:
Disease prevention and control programs
Epidemiological methods
Principles of health education
National health policies
Examiners often ask scenario-based questions, such as how to handle an outbreak or counsel patients about hygiene and vaccination.
Forensic medicine involves the application of medical knowledge to legal cases.
Practical Components:
Identification of medico-legal specimens (weapons, bones, poisons)
Demonstration of autopsy findings on models or images
Analysis of injury patterns and estimation of time since death
Viva Pattern:
Examiners ask questions related to:
Legal responsibilities of doctors
Interpretation of postmortem findings
Medico-legal documentation
Students must display both medical understanding and legal awareness.
Pathology
Microbiology
Pharmacology
Pathology deals with disease mechanisms and structural changes in tissues.
Practical Components:
Identifying histopathological slides of diseased organs
Examining gross specimens of organs
Performing simple laboratory tests such as ESR or blood grouping
Viva Pattern:
Questions focus on:
Pathogenesis of diseases
Interpretation of microscopic findings
Correlation of clinical symptoms with pathology
Students are often shown a slide and asked to diagnose the condition based on visible features.
Microbiology explores microorganisms and their role in disease.
Practical Components:
Gram staining and identification of bacteria under a microscope
Preparation of culture media
Performing antimicrobial sensitivity tests
Identifying pathogens from given specimens
Viva Pattern:
Students answer questions about:
Mechanisms of infection
Laboratory diagnosis of diseases
Immunology and sterilization techniques
Practical sessions often require interpretation of culture results and stain characteristics.
Pharmacology is about drugs and their actions.
Practical Components:
Identifying drugs and writing prescriptions
Calculating dosages
Demonstrating routes of drug administration on models
Explaining adverse effects and drug interactions
Viva Pattern:
Examiners assess:
Mechanism of action of drugs
Therapeutic uses and side effects
Rational use of medicines
Students may be given a clinical case and asked to choose an appropriate drug regimen.
Medicine
Surgery
Obstetrics and Gynecology
This is the most crucial phase of MBBS. The practical and viva examinations here are comprehensive and patient-based, integrating all prior learning.
Medicine encompasses diagnosis and management of internal diseases.
Practical Components:
Case presentation: taking patient history, performing examination, and formulating diagnosis.
Interpretation of ECG, X-rays, and lab results.
Demonstrating clinical skills like measuring blood pressure or performing neurological exams.
Viva Pattern:
Examiners ask questions related to:
Differential diagnosis
Disease management protocols
Pharmacological treatment plans
Interpretation of patient findings
Students must demonstrate logical reasoning, clinical judgment, and empathy toward patients.
Surgery involves operative and non-operative treatment of diseases.
Practical Components:
Case presentations: describing surgical cases such as hernia or appendicitis
Demonstration of surgical instruments and suturing techniques
Identifying X-rays or specimens related to surgical conditions
Viva Pattern:
Questions include:
Principles of asepsis and preoperative care
Anatomy of surgical sites
Postoperative management and complications
Students may also be asked to describe steps of common operations theoretically.
This subject focuses on maternal and reproductive health.
Practical Components:
Taking obstetric history and performing antenatal examination
Identifying obstetric instruments
Demonstrating procedures on mannequins, such as delivery techniques
Interpreting investigation reports like ultrasound or lab tests
Viva Pattern:
Examiners question:
Physiology of pregnancy and labor
Complications and their management
Family planning methods
Students are also assessed on their ability to communicate sensitively with patients.
In Bangladesh, professional examinations are conducted jointly by internal (college) and external (university-appointed) examiners.
Internal examiners monitor continuous assessment through class tests and practical sessions.
External examiners participate in final professional exams to ensure fairness and standardization.
Viva and practical marks are jointly awarded after both sets of examiners evaluate the student’s performance. The balance between written and practical components ensures a holistic evaluation.
Although the exact mark distribution varies slightly among universities, the general pattern is as follows:
| Component | Approximate Weightage |
|---|---|
| Written (Theory) | 50% |
| Viva | 25% |
| Practical/Clinical | 25% |
Students must pass both theory and practical sections separately to qualify for the next professional phase. This rule underscores the importance of viva and practical exams in shaping competent doctors.
During examinations, each subject’s practical and viva components are usually held on the same day or consecutive days.
Roll Call and Orientation:
Students are briefed about exam rules and assigned to stations.
Practical Stations:
Students rotate through stations performing experiments, identifying specimens, or conducting patient examinations.
Viva Table:
After practical work, students face a panel of examiners for oral questioning.
Evaluation:
Marks are given immediately based on accuracy, confidence, and logical explanation.
The environment, though formal, is designed to assess understanding rather than intimidate.
Medical knowledge is meaningful only when it can be applied to real patients. Viva and practicals ensure that students move beyond rote learning.
From basic lab tests to complex case presentations, students acquire hands-on experience that forms the foundation of medical practice.
Viva exams encourage clarity in expression and strengthen doctor-patient and doctor-colleague communication skills.
Students learn to analyze cases, interpret data, and make decisions — essential skills for any practicing doctor.
Understand, Don’t Memorize:
Examiners look for conceptual understanding rather than word-for-word textbook answers.
Practice Regularly:
Repetition builds confidence. Regular lab work and patient interactions prepare students for smooth performance.
Be Attentive During Ward Rounds:
Clinical exposure during ward duties offers invaluable real-life learning.
Keep Notes Handy:
Maintaining concise notes of practical procedures helps during revision.
Stay Calm During Viva:
Confidence and politeness impress examiners as much as correct answers.
Work on Presentation:
Neat diagrams, organized reports, and clear speech reflect professionalism.
The balanced structure of viva and practical assessments in Bangladesh ensures that graduates are not only academically sound but also clinically proficient.
By the time they complete the MBBS course and internship, students have undergone extensive exposure to patient care, laboratory work, and problem-solving under real conditions. This holistic training equips them to practice medicine responsibly both within Bangladesh and abroad.
Viva and practical examinations are part of every professional phase of MBBS in Bangladesh.
The pattern evolves from basic laboratory skills in early years to patient-based assessments in final years.
Examinations include oral questioning, specimen identification, laboratory tests, and clinical case presentations.
Evaluation involves both internal and external examiners for transparency.
Equal emphasis is given to theory, viva, and practical components, ensuring all-round development.
WHO
Course Duration:
Average Fees:
Universities:
Medium:
6 years
$3,000 - $7,000 per year
2+
English