Arab Board Pediatrics Clinical Exam exam-day guide
Arab Board Pediatrics Clinical Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo identification
Bring the original government-issued photo ID (passport or national ID) in the name used on your application. Exact accepted ID types are set by the Arab Board; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a copy is needed.
Admission permit / exam notification
Print or save the admission document or exam notification showing your candidate number, date, time, and venue. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Venue and timing confirmed
Re-confirm the exact building, hall, reporting time, and arrival window at least 24 hours before. Plan to arrive well before the reporting time to allow for security and registration.
Stethoscope
Bring your own stethoscope for clinical stations; label it clearly. Confirm with the provider whether any other equipment is supplied at stations.
Professional attire and comfortable shoes
Dress in clean professional clothing suitable for examining patients (short sleeves or sleeves that roll up, closed-toe shoes). Avoid dangling jewellery and strong perfume.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace station timings. Smartwatches and phones are usually prohibited in the exam area; confirm with the provider.
Pen and small notebook
Bring a pen for any written components or candidate details. Confirm with the provider whether notes or paper are permitted in the exam hall.
Water and a light snack
Bring water and a light snack for breaks if permitted. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the waiting area.
Know the station format
Be clear in advance on the number of stations, time per station, and whether there are rest stations or a mid-exam break. Confirm the current format with the provider rather than relying on past candidates.
Personal medication and essentials
Carry any personal medication you may need. Declare it at registration if required; confirm the provider's policy on bringing medication into the exam area.
Travel and backup plan
Plan your route, check traffic and parking, and identify a backup transport option. Keep the venue contact number with you.
Emergency contact and provider contact
Save the exam centre's contact number and your own emergency contact in your phone and on paper.
Plan the day
Re-read the official candidate instructions and exam notification. Confirm venue, reporting time, ID requirements, and permitted items with the provider. Resolve any ambiguity now, not on the day.
Do focused rehearsal of the clinical routine rather than new content: practise a structured history, a systematic examination sequence, and concise presentation of findings out loud with a colleague.
Rehearse communication and counselling scenarios (breaking bad news, explaining a diagnosis to a parent, informed consent) with a timed format matching the station length.
Prepare and pack your bag: ID, admission document, stethoscope, watch, pen, professional clothes, water, snack, medication. Lay everything out early.
Travel to or locate the venue if you are not local, and confirm your accommodation. Check the route and journey time at the time of day you will travel.
Do a light review only: normal examination findings, key developmental milestones, growth chart interpretation, and a few common paediatric presentations. Stop studying early enough to sleep well.
Set two alarms, charge your phone, and confirm transport. Eat a normal meal and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, dress in professional attire, and take only permitted items. Leave with a buffer so you arrive ahead of the reporting time.
At registration, present your ID and admission document, follow staff instructions, and store prohibited items as directed. Note where the toilets and waiting areas are.
At each station, read the instructions carefully, introduce yourself to the patient or simulated patient, and obtain consent before examining. Wash or sanitise hands before and after patient contact.
Use a consistent structure: history, focused examination, then a concise summary and differential or plan. Speak clearly to the examiner when asked.
Watch the time signal, but do not rush the safety essentials (consent, hand hygiene, privacy, draping). If you finish early, use the time to summarise or clarify.
If a station goes badly, mentally reset and move on; do not carry it into the next station. Use any designated break as instructed by staff.
Leave the exam area without discussing station content with other candidates. Follow the provider's instructions on when and how results will be released.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID specified by the Arab Board in the name on your application; entry is normally refused without acceptable identification. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider before the exam.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and exam staff. Do not bring phones, smartwatches, or unauthorised notes into the exam area unless explicitly permitted; confirm the provider's policy on personal items.
Treat patients and simulated patients with dignity: introduce yourself, obtain consent, maintain privacy and confidentiality, and never perform an examination or procedure you have not been asked to do.
Observe standard infection-control practice at every patient contact, including hand hygiene and appropriate use of any provided protective equipment.
Do not discuss, record, or share station content or patient scenarios during or after the exam. Breaching confidentiality may be treated as misconduct under the provider's regulations.
Use only designated breaks and leave the exam area only as directed by staff. Confirm the provider's rules on breaks, rest stations, and leaving early.
If you believe there is a problem with the venue, timing, or a station, raise it with the exam staff at the time and follow the provider's complaints or appeals procedure afterwards.
Confirm the current scoring and pass criteria, and the results timeline, with the provider; do not rely on second-hand accounts of how stations are marked.