Título de Especialista em Gastroenterologia (FBG) exam-day guide
Título de Especialista em Gastroenterologia (FBG) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm the exact exam date, start time and venue with the provider
Log in to the official candidate area or reread the admission letter. Do not rely on memory or on what colleagues told you. Confirm the address, floor, room and which entrance will be open. If anything is unclear, ask the provider in writing and keep the reply.
Print or download the admission card / exam voucher
Many Brazilian specialty exams require an admission card (cartão de confirmação de inscrição). Print two copies if printing is allowed and keep a digital copy on your phone. Check whether the provider requires a photo on it.
Bring an official photo ID valid on the exam date
Use the document you registered with. Check the expiry date now. A document that expires before the exam day may be refused; confirm the accepted document types with the provider.
Bring a black or blue ballpoint pen and a spare
Most answer sheets are filled in by hand. Test both pens on scrap paper before packing. Some providers ban pencil and correction fluid; confirm the allowed writing instruments.
Check the provider's rules on electronic devices
Assume phones must be switched off and stored as instructed. Do not wear a smartwatch. Ask the provider whether phones must be left outside the room or can be sealed in a bag.
Check the rules on food, water and medication
Long exams often allow a transparent water bottle and a snack during breaks, but rules vary. If you take regular medication, ask the provider in advance whether you may keep it with you and how to declare it.
Confirm whether any reference material is allowed
Most specialty exams are closed-book. Do not bring books, notes or printed guidelines unless the provider explicitly permits them. Confirm this in writing.
Plan the route and travel time
Do a dry run or check traffic patterns for that weekday and time. Aim to arrive well before the doors close. Confirm the door-closing time with the provider, since late arrivals are often excluded.
Confirm the total duration, number of questions and scoring
Know how many questions there are, whether wrong answers penalise you, and whether there is a minimum score per area. These facts change your pacing strategy; obtain them from the official notice.
Prepare a small clear bag with essentials
ID, admission card, pens, water, snack, tissues, and any permitted medication. Keep it separate from study material so you do not carry banned items into the room.
Arrange sleep and meals for the final night
Do not plan a late study session the night before. Book accommodation near the venue if you live far away, and confirm the check-in time.
Have a backup plan for transport failure
Save a taxi or ride-hailing app, know the nearest metro or bus alternative, and keep the venue phone number. Leave a margin for delays.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Review only your own condensed notes, high-yield lists and previously missed questions. Confirm venue, time, admission card and ID one final time. Check the weather forecast and plan clothing in layers. Protect sleep: aim for your normal schedule rather than an all-night push.
Do one timed mock block of the same length as the real exam to rehearse pacing and answer-sheet technique. Review errors briefly, then stop. Pack the clear bag with ID, admission card, pens, water and snack. Charge your phone and any permitted device.
Light review only, limited to summary sheets. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy alcohol and caffeine late in the day. Set two alarms. Reconfirm the route and departure time. Go to bed at your usual hour; do not try to force extra sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast you tolerate well, avoiding unfamiliar food. Leave with a generous margin. Arrive early, find the room and the toilets, and sit quietly rather than joining anxious group discussion. Switch off and stow your phone exactly as instructed before entering.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions and pages. Write your identification as instructed. Scan the whole paper briefly to gauge difficulty, then start with questions you can answer confidently rather than grinding on a single hard item.
Keep a steady pace based on questions per minute. Mark doubtful items and return to them. Transfer answers to the answer sheet in blocks and check alignment of numbering. Leave time at the end to verify that no item is blank and that the answer sheet matches the question booklet.
Stop reviewing endlessly; make a final decision on marked items and confirm the answer sheet is complete and correctly identified. Hand in materials as instructed. Do not discuss specific questions with colleagues in a way that breaches the provider's confidentiality rules.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID document used at registration; a different document may be refused. Confirm accepted document types and validity with the provider.
Arrive before the stated door-closing time. Candidates arriving after that time are commonly excluded; confirm the exact cut-off with the provider.
Electronic devices must be switched off and stored as instructed. Do not keep a phone or smartwatch on your person unless the provider explicitly allows it.
Do not bring notes, books or unauthorised reference material into the room. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, leave it outside or ask the invigilator before the exam starts.
Ask the invigilator before the exam begins about toilet breaks and whether they are supervised. Do not assume you can leave and re-enter freely; confirm with the provider.
Read the scoring rules in the official notice. Check whether wrong answers are penalised and whether there is a minimum score per area; if this is not stated, confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Follow all invigilator instructions and any confidentiality agreement about exam content. Do not photograph, copy or share questions.
If you need special accommodation for a disability or medical condition, request it well before the exam through the provider's official channel; last-minute requests may not be granted.