Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 exam-day guide
Arab Board Psychiatry Part 1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the exact ID type and name spelling your admission permit requires (typically a passport or national ID). Confirm the accepted ID type with the exam provider in advance, since rules vary by sitting.
Admission permit / exam entry document
Print or download the admission document issued to you. Check that your name, candidate number, exam centre, and date match; contact the provider immediately if anything is wrong.
Confirmation of exam venue and reporting time
Confirm the exact building, hall, and reporting time with the provider. Do not rely on memory or a colleague's schedule.
Travel and accommodation plan
Know your route and allow buffer time for traffic, security checks, and finding the hall. If travelling, stay close to the venue the night before.
Permitted stationery only
Bring only what the provider allows (commonly pencils, eraser, sharpener, and a non-programmable pen). Confirm the permitted list; many centres ban pencil cases, notes, and loose paper.
Watch (non-smart, non-audible)
A simple analogue or basic digital watch helps you pace yourself if the hall clock is not visible. Smart watches and phones are typically prohibited; confirm with the provider.
No prohibited electronics
Leave smart watches, phones, and earbuds at home or in the designated storage area. Possession in the hall can lead to disqualification.
Water and a light snack for breaks
Bring water in a clear container if allowed, and a snack for scheduled breaks. Confirm whether food and drink are permitted in the hall.
Medication and personal essentials
Bring any prescribed medication and a small amount of cash for transport. Declare medication to invigilators if required; confirm the declaration process with the provider.
Rest and logistics plan
Protect sleep in the final week and plan meals and hydration so you are not distracted on the day. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material.
Emergency contact and provider helpline
Save the exam provider's contact number and your emergency contact in your phone and on paper, in case of delay or illness.
Backup plan for transport failure
Identify a backup route or taxi option and a person who can help if transport fails. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time.
Plan the day
Stop adding new material. Review high-yield summaries, your own error log, and core topics (psychopathology, psychopharmacology, ethics and law, basic sciences applied to psychiatry). Confirm venue, ID, permit, and travel details with the provider.
Do timed practice under exam conditions to rehearse pacing, then review only the explanations for items you got wrong. Keep sessions short and stop early enough to sleep well.
Pack your bag with ID, permit, permitted stationery, watch, water, and snacks. Lay out clothes. Check transport timings and set two alarms. Do a light review of formulas, key classifications, and ethical/legal principles, then stop.
Eat a normal meal, avoid excessive caffeine or alcohol, and aim for a full night's sleep. Do not attempt an all-night review; fatigue costs more marks than extra facts gain.
Eat a proper breakfast, hydrate moderately, and leave with generous buffer time. Re-check that you have ID and permit before leaving. Arrive early rather than on time.
At the venue, follow invigilator instructions, store prohibited items, and settle in. Do not discuss content with other candidates; it raises anxiety and may breach conduct rules.
Read instructions carefully, note the total time, and allocate roughly one minute per question as a starting pace. Answer easier items first if the format allows, flag uncertain ones, and return to them.
For each item, identify the key stem words (most likely, initial, contraindicated) before choosing. Eliminate clearly wrong options, commit to an answer, and avoid changing answers without a clear reason. Reserve the final minutes to check that no items are blank and that your answer sheet matches your intended responses.
Rules to check
Follow all invigilator instructions and the provider's written regulations. If a rule is unclear, ask an invigilator before the exam starts rather than assuming.
Bring and display the required photo ID and admission permit. If your ID is missing or does not match, the provider may refuse entry; confirm the exact ID requirements with the provider beforehand.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, notes, or unauthorised materials into the hall. Possession may be treated as misconduct regardless of intent.
Breaks are usually only at scheduled times and may be supervised. Confirm the provider's break and toilet policy in advance, and expect to be escorted or monitored.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not share or request exam content afterwards. Report any suspected irregularity to an invigilator.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider. Confirm the marking scheme, pass mark, and whether wrong answers are penalised; do not guess these rules.
If you feel unwell or face an emergency, notify an invigilator immediately and follow the provider's documented procedure for illness or special consideration.
Confirm all policies (ID, permitted items, breaks, scoring, misconduct) directly with the Arab Board or your training programme, as regulations can change between sittings.