Arab Board IM Final Written exam-day guide
Arab Board IM Final Written · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you registered with. Confirm with the provider which specific document types are accepted and whether a copy is permitted.
Admission permit / exam entry document
Print or download whatever entry document the provider issues. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy is acceptable.
Confirmation of venue, date, and reporting time
Re-check the venue address, session date, and the reporting time printed on your admission document. Confirm with the provider if any detail is ambiguous.
Travel and accommodation plan
Know your route to the venue and allow a buffer for traffic, security screening, and finding the correct hall or building.
Permitted stationery
Bring only what the provider lists as allowed (for example, a black or blue pen and a simple pencil). Confirm with the provider whether pencils, erasers, or highlighters are permitted.
No prohibited electronics
Leave smart watches, phones, and other electronic devices at home or stored as the provider directs. Assume they are not allowed at your desk unless told otherwise.
Personal medication and necessities
If you take regular medication or need food or water for a medical reason, confirm with the provider in advance how this is handled on the day.
Light refreshment for breaks
Bring a small snack and water only if the provider permits them in the hall; otherwise plan to use them during scheduled breaks.
Rest and logistics for the night before
Plan a normal night's sleep, set two alarms, and confirm your transport for the morning.
A calm pre-exam routine
Decide in advance how you will settle yourself in the final minutes before the paper starts, such as slow breathing and a quick read of the instructions.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summary notes and high-yield lists only, and do a small number of timed practice questions to rehearse pacing rather than to discover new facts.
Confirm all logistics: venue, reporting time, ID, admission document, transport, and accommodation. Resolve any uncertainty with the provider now rather than on the day.
Protect sleep. Keep the last two nights as normal as possible and avoid late-night cramming, which costs more in fatigue than it gains in marks.
Pack your bag with ID, admission document, permitted stationery, and any approved personal items. Lay out clothes and check your transport plan.
Do a light, confidence-building review of your own notes only. No new topics, no long question sets.
Eat normally, avoid excess caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive at the venue with time to spare, and re-check that you have your ID and admission document before leaving.
Follow the provider's instructions for registration, security checks, and seating. Keep conversation with other candidates light and avoid last-minute fact debates.
Read the instructions and scoring rules carefully before starting, and note the total time and number of items so you can set a pace.
Work in passes: answer the questions you know first, mark uncertain items, and return to them. Do not let one difficult item consume a disproportionate share of the time.
For each item, read the stem fully and identify what is being asked before looking at the options. Answer every item unless the provider penalises wrong answers, which you should confirm in advance.
Use scheduled breaks as instructed, and in the final minutes check that you have transferred or recorded all answers as the format requires.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID you registered with; confirm with the provider which document types are accepted and what happens if your ID does not match your registration.
Bring and present your admission or entry document exactly as the provider requires; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, or other electronic devices into the testing hall unless the provider explicitly permits them; follow their storage instructions.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and comply with any security screening, seating, and materials rules; ask an invigilator if anything is unclear.
Take breaks only when and how the provider allows; confirm with the provider the rules on leaving the hall, food, water, and medication.
Understand the scoring rules before you start, including whether unanswered or wrong answers are penalised, and confirm this with the provider if it is not stated in the instructions.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not share or discuss question content afterwards in any way the provider prohibits.
If you feel unwell or face an unexpected problem during the test, raise it with an invigilator immediately rather than waiting until the end.