SMLEREVISE

SMLE Exam Guide: Eligibility, Syllabus, Fees and Passing Score

Understand the Saudi Medical Licensure Examination, plan your application and start practising with a clear study plan.

Medically reviewed byDr. Muhammad Salar RazaLast updated September 2026

Questions
200 MCQsTwo sections of 100
Time per section
120 minutes30-minute scheduled break
Passing score
560Reported scale: 200–800
Booking
After approvalWithin your eligibility period

Passing the examination is one part of the pathway. Applicants must also meet the relevant professional classification and registration requirements; an exam pass does not itself issue a medical licence.

What is SMLE

What Is the SMLE?

SMLE stands for Saudi Medical Licensing Exam, the SCFHS examination for doctors seeking to practise or enter postgraduate training in Saudi Arabia.

  • SCFHS sets requirements and assesses clinical competence
  • Prometric provides exam delivery and scheduling

Prometric delivers the computer-based exam according to your scheduling permit instructions.

Your SMLE result can also be used in postgraduate training applications. Selection depends on the current programme criteria and the full application; a passing result or a particular score does not guarantee a residency place.

SMLE exam format and duration

  1. Section 1100 questions · 120 minutes
  2. Scheduled break30 minutes between sections
  3. Section 2100 questions · 120 minutes
Questions
Up to 10% of questions may be unscored pilot questions
Question style
Clinical scenarios with four options and one best answer

Use the instructions on your scheduling permit for arrival time, identification and current test-centre rules.

SMLE syllabus and 2026 blueprint

Medicine
30%
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
25%
Pediatrics
25%
Surgery
20%

The official blueprint divides the examination into four clinical domains. Plan your revision around these weights, then cover diagnosis, investigation, management, prevention, ethics and patient safety within each domain.

SMLE passing score and score interpretation

Official passing score560

Reported scale: 200–800
A raw practice percentage is not an official score conversion.

The applicant guide does not provide a rule that each harder question earns more points.

Competitive residency scores vary by specialty, application year and programme. Use the current selection criteria rather than treating informal score bands as official cutoffs.

Read the Full Scoring Guide

SMLE results and retakes

2–6 weeksResults after the testing window closes

Count from the end of the testing window, rather than your individual exam date.

Before booking another attempt

Attempts are limited. As checked on 30 September 2026, the 2026 guide describes four annual attempts to pass, while the live SCFHS page describes two additional attempts after a failed first attempt. Confirm the opportunities available in your SCFHS account before booking a retake or score-improvement attempt.

Booking and cost

Who is eligible for the SMLE?

  • Saudi university/college studentsFinal-year eligibility is explicitly confirmed
  • Graduates of overseas universitiesCompleted recognised medical degree required; internship alone is insufficient
  • InternsEligibility depends on qualification and SCFHS approval

SCFHS approval determines whether you can book. Final-year or intern status alone does not establish eligibility for every applicant; exam eligibility and professional classification or registration are separate decisions.

Keep your application documents ready

Tick what you have ready. Requirements depend on your application category.

Check your application readiness

Registration Roadmap

  1. Choose your application

    • Use the SCFHS service for your category
    • Check the required evidence

  2. Complete required verification

    • Provide primary-source verification when requested
    • Check requirements before paying

  3. Wait for approval and your permit

    • Retain your application references
    • Check the permit instructions

  4. Book with Prometric

    • Choose a centre and available date
    • Book within your eligibility period

Professional classification and registration have their own document and experience requirements. Keep your name consistent with your passport and check the requested documents before paying for a verification package.

Read the Complete Registration Guide

SMLE exam fees, total costs and dates

Plan your budget

Exam booking and application services are separate costs.

Exam booking (per attempt)Prometric exam fee estimate; confirm the amount when booking.
SAR 1,250
DataFlow verificationDataFlow degree and licence verification, if required. Add SAR 300 per experience document when needed.
SAR 600
Mumaris+ (General rank)The calculator uses SAR 2,300 for Consultant rank. Fees depend on the SCFHS service and category.
SAR 1,420
Other costsAllow approximately SAR 500 for translation and attestation if needed, plus travel. Each repeat exam attempt adds approximately SAR 1,250.
Varies
Estimated base totalOne exam attempt, DataFlow verification, and the General-rank Mumaris+ fee. Excludes experience verification, translation, and travel.
SAR 3,270
Estimate your application budget

Choose an available date

  • Check the testing windows SCFHS publishes throughout the year
  • Check your SCFHS eligibility period
  • Find an available Prometric centre and seat
  • Confirm the booking before arranging travel

A testing window does not guarantee a seat.

View SMLE exam dates and booking guidance

Fees depend on the service and applicant category: confirm the amounts at SCFHS, DataFlow and Prometric checkout before paying.

Preparation

How to Prepare for the SMLE

Five steps for each study cycle. Repeat after reviewing your mock.

  1. Find weak spots

    • Start with a diagnostic question set
    • Record topics that need revision

  2. Cover all four domains

    • Allocate time using the blueprint
    • Revise beyond your strongest specialty

  3. Review every answer

    • Read explanations, including correct guesses
    • Keep and revisit an error log

  4. Practise your pacing

    • Build up to 100-question blocks
    • Work within 120 minutes

  5. Take a full-length mock

    • Review missed clinical decisions
    • Use the review to plan final revision

Mock scores are practice estimates, not a prediction guaranteed by SCFHS.

  • 4,500+ high-yield MCQs with detailed explanations
  • Full-length mock exams with estimated practice scores on a 200–800 scale
  • Concise summaries of the most testable concepts
  • 24/7 AI study assistant for instant doubt resolution

Test-Day Tips

  • Bring valid identificationUse the document specified on your permit
  • Check your arrival timeAllow time for identity and security checks
  • Pace each section100 questions in 120 minutes
  • Follow break and centre rulesCheck return procedures and personal-belongings rules
Read Official SMLE Exam Day Rules

Prepare with SMLE Revise

Official sources

Exam guidance checked on .

SCFHS

Prometric

SMLEREVISE

On SMLEREVISE, connect each practice question to its explanation, study tools, and your next revision. SMLEREVISE brings the learning experience, mock review, and progress tracking together.

Learn from every question

Move from choosing an answer to understanding the clinical reasoning.

Multilayered explanations
Start with the quick takeaway, compare the answer options, then read the detailed reasoning.
Medical entity insights
Clarify medical terms in context while keeping the question in view.
Question-aware AVISINA
Ask why an alternative is less likely or clarify a clinical clue with the question and its answer in context.
Injected flashcards
Reinforce the same concept with a related flashcard. Reveal the answer and rate your recall.

Review more than a mock score

Use a full-length mock to identify the decisions that need more practice.

Scaled scores and raw results
View your estimated practice score on the 200–800 scale alongside your correct-answer count.
Clinical competency breakdown
Compare management, interpretation, and recall, then review individual questions and their explanations.

Know where to focus next

Turn your study activity into a clearer revision plan.

Accuracy trends and topic mastery
Follow accuracy over time and see which topics need attention as your performance changes.
Your wider study picture
Track study consistency, answering speed, mock trajectories, and milestones in the progress dashboard.

Saudi medical licensing exam for doctors

SMLE stands for Saudi Medical Licensing Examination. Searches for “Saudi medical license exam” and “Saudi licensing exam for doctors” often describe this same preparation journey. Start with your eligibility and the examination specified for your application; other health professions have their own licensing pathways.

For general practitioners, passing an examination is one part of the wider process. Keep your SCFHS classification, professional registration and job application plans separate so that each requirement is checked at the right stage.

Common Questions

How long does the registration process take?

Timing depends on your application category, document verification, SCFHS review and available Prometric seats. Check your application status and eligibility period rather than relying on a fixed 3–6-month timeline.

What is the best question bank for SMLE preparation?

Choose a question bank by its clinical explanations, syllabus coverage, study modes and practice examples. Compare those features and try sample questions before subscribing. See our SMLE question bank comparison for a side-by-side review.

Ready to start preparing?

Put your revision into practice with 21 original SMLE-style questions in timed mode, free without signup. Review your answers, then explore the question bank, mock exams and notes.

Try 21 free SMLE questions