Objective To systematically evaluate the effect of simulation-based medical education in basic surgery teaching. Methods The 2016 clinical medicine students were randomly divided into the traditional teaching group and the simulated medical teaching group. Both groups received the same theoretical lectures, but were given practical exercises in groups. The learning effect is evaluated through the means of usual grades, practical examination and theoretical examination, and the anonymous online survey is used to understand the students' recognition degree to the ability improvement. Results There was no statistical difference between the two groups of students in their usual theoretical scores, but the results of daily operation, final practice, final theory and total scores of the medical simulation teaching group were significantly higher than those of the traditional teaching group (P <0.001). The recognition degree of students in the medical simulation teaching group was significantly higher than that of the traditional teaching group in mastering medical operation methods, providing close to clinical experience, mastering knowledge/skills more firmly, improving the ability to apply knowledge, reducing learning pressure and enhancing confidence (all P values <0.05). Conclusion Simulation-based medical education can significantly improve the teaching effect of basic surgery courses for clinical medical students, and improve their understanding, mastery and learning confidence in surgical practice.