Título de Especialista em Infectologia SBI exam-day guide
Título de Especialista em Infectologia SBI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm the exact test center location, date, and start time with the official provider notice
Log in to the exam provider's candidate area and re-read the convocation. Verify address, floor/room, and reporting time. Confirm with the provider whether the reporting time differs from the start time; do not rely on secondhand information from colleagues.
Printed and digital copy of the admission document (carteira de identidade or passport)
Bring the original photo ID specified in the official rules, plus a photocopy or photo on your phone as backup. Check that the document is valid and not expired. If the name on your registration differs from your ID (marriage, spelling), confirm with the provider before exam day how to resolve it.
Printed confirmation of registration / payment receipt
Some centers ask for proof of enrollment or payment at check-in. Print the confirmation email and save a PDF on your phone. Confirm with the provider which document is actually required.
Review the official candidate handbook for permitted and prohibited items
The rules on phones, smartwatches, notes, bags, food, and water vary by administration. Read the current handbook and confirm with the provider any point that is unclear; assume nothing.
Plan transport and arrival buffer
Do a route check the day before, including traffic patterns and public transport schedules at that hour. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time, since late entry may be refused. Confirm with the provider the cutoff time after which candidates are not admitted.
Bring water and a light snack only if the rules allow
Long exams (often several hours) benefit from hydration and a quick snack during authorized breaks. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are permitted in the exam room or only outside it.
Analog watch or no watch at all
Smartwatches and many digital devices are usually banned. If you want to track time, bring a simple analog watch only if the rules allow it, and confirm with the provider. Otherwise rely on the room clock.
Medication and personal medical needs
If you need regular medication, insulin, an inhaler, or other items, confirm with the provider in advance how to declare and store them. Do not assume you can keep them at your desk.
Sleep and nutrition plan for the 48h before
Protect sleep in the two nights before the exam; avoid all-night cramming. Keep meals familiar and light on exam day to avoid GI discomfort during a long sitting.
Strategy sheet (one page, for the final review only)
Prepare a single page with high-yield numbers, drug doses, and decision rules you tend to forget. Use it only before entering the room; it must stay outside the exam room. Confirm with the provider whether any written material can be brought to the door.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the provider's contact number and a local emergency contact. Have a backup transport option in case of strikes, weather, or vehicle problems.
Confirm post-exam logistics
Check how and when results are released and whether there is an appeal window. Confirm with the provider the official channel for results; avoid unofficial rumor sources.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Do a structured review of your one-page strategy sheet and the topics you historically miss. Re-read the official candidate rules end to end and confirm with the provider any open question (ID, permitted items, break policy, reporting time). Check transport routes and the weather forecast.
Do one timed practice block under exam-like conditions to calibrate pacing, then review only your errors. Prepare and print all documents (ID copy, registration confirmation, any required forms). Pack the bag: ID, confirmation, water/snack if allowed, analog watch if allowed, medication if declared.
Light review only, focused on your strategy sheet. Confirm the alarm, transport, and a backup plan. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not start new topics or debate difficult questions with colleagues, which tends to raise anxiety.
Eat a familiar breakfast and hydrate moderately. Arrive early, well before the reporting time. Leave phones and smart devices stowed as the rules require. Use the restroom before entering the room. Do a brief breathing exercise to settle nerves; do not try to cram in the corridor.
Read the instructions on the cover page carefully, confirm the number of questions and the time limit, and note where the clock is. Write your identification data exactly as instructed. Do a quick scan of the exam to identify easy and hard blocks before starting.
Work in passes: answer confident questions first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints (for example, one-third and two-thirds of the time). For clinical vignettes, identify the syndrome, the most likely agent, and the best next step before reading the options. Change an answer only when you find a concrete reason.
Stop opening new difficult questions. Verify that every item has a marked answer, check that flagged items are resolved or consciously left, and confirm your identification data. Use remaining time for quick sanity checks, not for rewriting long reasoning.
Write down which topics felt weak while memory is fresh, for future study or retake planning. Confirm with the provider the official results timeline and channel. Avoid comparing answers in detail with colleagues, which adds little and increases stress.
Rules to check
Bring the exact original photo ID required by the official rules and keep it visible on the desk if instructed. A name mismatch or expired document can bar entry; resolve any discrepancy with the provider before exam day.
Electronic devices, including phones and smartwatches, are generally prohibited in the exam room. Follow the current handbook and confirm with the provider where devices must be stored and whether any exception applies.
Arrive before the reporting time. Candidates who arrive after the cutoff may not be admitted, and the cutoff varies by administration; confirm with the provider the exact late-arrival policy rather than assuming a grace period.
Break policy differs between administrations. Confirm with the provider in advance whether breaks are scheduled, whether you may leave the room, and whether food, water, or medication are allowed at your desk.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by the provider. Do not rely on unofficial pass marks or question counts circulating online; confirm with the provider the official scoring method and any penalty for wrong answers.
Follow invigilator instructions immediately and completely. Any suspected irregularity, including looking at another candidate's screen or paper, can lead to annulment; if you need something, raise your hand and wait.
If you believe there is a factual error in a question, note it mentally and continue. Do not argue with invigilators during the exam; confirm with the provider the official channel for post-exam challenges or appeals.
Keep your strategy sheet and any study material outside the exam room. Confirm with the provider whether any written material may be carried to the door, and never bring notes to the desk.