OCANZ COE exam-day guide
OCANZ COE · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, current photo identification document that your registration confirmation names. The exact accepted ID types and any secondary-ID requirement are set by the provider, so confirm the list with the provider before travel and carry a backup form of ID if permitted.
Confirmation of registration and appointment details
Carry a printed or offline copy of your booking confirmation showing the date, time, and venue address. Save the provider's contact number in your phone in case of transport delays, and check the address on a map the night before rather than on the morning.
Arrival time and check-in procedure
Note the arrival time the provider specifies, which is usually earlier than the scheduled start to allow identity checks and seating. The exact cut-off after which a candidate may be refused entry is a provider policy, so confirm it with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.
What to wear
Choose neat, comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes suitable for a clinical assessment setting. If the provider specifies dress requirements, such as a white coat, name badge, or flat shoes for practical stations, confirm the details with the provider and pack them the night before.
Equipment and personal items policy
Many clinical examinations restrict or prohibit personal belongings, phones, and smart watches in the assessment area and provide any instruments needed at stations. Confirm with the provider what you may bring into the venue, what must be stored, and whether lockers are available.
Any station-specific instruments you are told to bring
If the provider instructs candidates to bring specific items, such as a stethoscope, pen torch, or tuning fork, label them clearly and check they work. Do not assume instruments will be supplied; confirm the list with the provider.
Refreshments and any required medication
Bring water and a light snack for scheduled breaks if the venue permits, and carry any prescribed medication you may need during the day. If you have a health condition that may affect you during the assessment, confirm with the provider in advance how to manage it.
Approved adjustments confirmed in writing
If you have been granted extra time, a separate room, or another adjustment, bring the written confirmation and arrive early to allow it to be arranged. Adjustments are usually granted only if requested and approved before the examination date, so confirm the process and deadlines with the provider.
Travel and accommodation plan
Plan to arrive in the city the day before if you are travelling, and choose accommodation close to the venue with a reliable route to it. Allow extra time for traffic, parking, and security screening so a minor delay does not become a missed appointment.
A calm pre-examination routine
Decide in advance how you will settle yourself before entering, such as a short breathing exercise, a final review of your station approach, and a toilet stop. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material in the waiting area, which tends to increase anxiety without improving performance.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Have a contact who knows your schedule and can help if transport fails, and keep a charged phone for the journey only. Confirm with the provider the procedure if you are delayed or unable to attend, and whether any documentation will be required.
Review the provider's candidate guide
Read the current candidate handbook or information guide for the examination, since procedures, station formats, and conduct rules can change between sittings. Where this guide and the provider's instructions differ, follow the provider's instructions and confirm any point of doubt with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm your registration status, appointment time, and venue address, and check that your photo ID is current and matches your registration name. Re-read the provider's candidate guide and note anything you must bring or must not bring. Plan travel, parking, and a backup route, and book accommodation if needed. Practise the structure of each station type aloud, focusing on opening, examination sequence, and closing, rather than learning new facts. Protect your sleep, keep meals regular, and reduce caffeine in the evenings.
Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, permitted equipment, water, snack, and any approved medication, and leave it by the door. Lay out clothing and shoes. Check the weather and transport timetables, and set two alarms. Do a light review of your own summary notes only, then stop studying in the early evening. Confirm your route to the venue and the expected journey time. Aim for a normal night's sleep rather than an early one, which can make it harder to fall asleep.
Eat a normal breakfast and drink enough water, since the day is long and breaks may be limited. Arrive at the venue at the time the provider specifies, allowing a margin for delays, and complete identity checks and any declaration forms. Store prohibited items as instructed. Use the waiting time for a brief, familiar warm-up, not for new material, and keep conversation with other candidates light.
Read each station's instructions carefully and use the full time, including the reading time if one is provided. Introduce yourself to the simulated patient, explain what you are about to do, and obtain consent where appropriate. Speak your clinical reasoning aloud where the station expects it, and keep your examination technique safe and respectful. If you lose your place, pause, restate the task, and continue. At the end, summarise and close the station properly. Do not discuss station content with other candidates during breaks, and follow the invigilator's instructions about returning equipment and leaving the area.
Rules to check
Carry the original photo identification specified by the provider and present it at check-in. If your name on the registration does not match your ID, contact the provider before the examination date, as the accepted documents and name-change process are provider policies to confirm with the provider.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and examiners, including where to wait, how to move between stations, and when you may leave. Failure to comply with directions may be treated as misconduct under the provider's rules.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, notes, or other unauthorised materials into the assessment area. Confirm with the provider what is prohibited and what storage is available, and keep any permitted device switched off and stored as instructed.
Do not disclose, record, or share station content, scenarios, or questions with other candidates or online. Confidentiality obligations and the consequences of a breach are set by the provider, so confirm the exact wording of the candidate agreement with the provider.
Breaks are usually scheduled by the provider, and unscheduled breaks may not be possible during timed station circuits. Confirm the break policy, and any arrangements for health needs, with the provider in advance.
Request any adjustments, such as extra time or a separate room, through the provider's process before the deadline. Adjustments are generally not arranged on the day, so confirm eligibility, evidence requirements, and deadlines with the provider.
Scoring is based on the criteria set for each station, and results are released according to the provider's timetable. Do not ask examiners for feedback or scores on the day, and direct any questions about results or appeals to the provider.
If you are unwell or unable to attend, contact the provider as soon as possible and follow their procedure for withdrawal, deferral, or special consideration. Whether a fee is refunded or a transfer is allowed is a provider policy, so confirm the options with the provider.