Facharzt FMH Pneumologie exam-day guide
Facharzt FMH Pneumologie · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission letter and confirmation of registration
Print or download the invitation/registration confirmation from the provider (in Switzerland typically the SIWF/ISFM via the responsible institute). It states the time, place, and rules. If you have not received written confirmation at least a few weeks before the date, contact the organising body directly - do not assume a place. Confirm with the provider which documents they accept in digital form.
Official photo ID plus any second ID requested
Bring a valid passport or identity card with photo and signature. Some examination centres ask for a second piece of identification or a recent photograph; the exact requirement is set by the provider, so confirm with the provider what is accepted and whether a copy is needed.
Diploma/medical degree and specialist-training logbook documents
Depending on the provider, you may be asked to show your medical diploma, certificate of equivalence, or the completed training record (Weiterbildungslogbuch) at registration. Carry originals or certified copies as specified in your admission letter. Confirm with the provider exactly which documents must be presented on the day and which were already checked at registration.
Written confirmation of permitted auxiliary aids
Calculators, reference texts, or other aids are only allowed if explicitly stated. Keep the written confirmation with you; if unsure, ask the provider in advance rather than bringing the item and risking its removal. Do not bring smart devices or notes unless expressly permitted.
Route, parking, and public transport plan
Know the exact building and room, not just the city. Swiss exam venues are often in hospital or university buildings with slow lifts and confusing floor numbering. Plan to arrive well before the stated reporting time and identify a fallback connection in case of a delay.
Layered clothing and water/snack
Exam halls can be cold or overheated and sessions are long. Dress in layers you can remove without disturbing others. Bring water and a small snack only if the provider permits food and drink in the hall; confirm with the provider for the specific venue.
Analogue watch or confirmed permitted timepiece
Many written examinations do not allow phones or smartwatches in the hall, and the hall clock may be hard to see. A simple analogue watch is a safe choice. Confirm with the provider whether any watch is allowed at your seat.
Rest and sleep plan for the preceding night
Avoid new material and late-night cramming in the last 48 hours. A stable sleep schedule and a normal breakfast on the day outperform last-minute revision. If you use medication for sleep or concentration, discuss it with your doctor beforehand; do not start anything new on exam day.
Personal medication and emergency contact
Bring any regular medication you may need during the day, and keep a written emergency contact. If you have a health condition that may require accommodation (extra time, breaks, separate room), this must be requested from the provider well in advance with medical documentation - it cannot be arranged on the day.
Review of the official format and scoring rules
Re-read the provider's information on the number of questions or stations, time per section, and how results are reported. Knowing whether wrong answers are penalised, and whether sections must be passed individually, changes how you allocate time. These details vary by provider and year - confirm with the provider rather than relying on hearsay from colleagues.
Prepared strategy for station-based or oral parts
If the exam includes structured oral or practical stations, rehearse a consistent opening (introduce yourself, confirm the task, state your findings aloud) and a structured closing. Practise speaking clearly to the examiner rather than silently reasoning, since marks depend on what is heard.
Backup plan for travel disruption (needs_review)
Confirm with the provider what happens if you arrive late or cannot attend due to illness or transport failure, and whether a medical certificate is required and by when. The rules on late entry and withdrawal differ between providers and years, so do not rely on assumptions. Mark this as needs_review until you have the provider's written answer.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Use the last three days for consolidation: review your own summary sheets, the scoring format, and the practical logistics. Re-read the provider's candidate information once, cover to cover, and note any unanswered question to send to the organiser the same day. Check that all documents from the admission letter are present and legible, and that your ID is valid and not about to expire.
Do one timed run-through of the question or station format under exam-like conditions, then stop. After this point, additional full mocks mostly add fatigue. Spend remaining study time on high-yield, frequently examined areas of respiratory medicine - for example interpretation of blood gases and spirometry, staging and first-line management of lung cancer, and the approach to acute dyspnoea - rather than on rare detail.
Confirm the journey: check timetables, roadworks, and the exact entrance. If travelling, confirm the hotel booking and check in early enough to sleep properly. Prepare clothing, ID, admission letter, and permitted aids in one bag so nothing is left to the morning. Tell someone at home your schedule and expected return time.
Work only lightly in the morning, if at all. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Set two alarms plus a backup on a second device. Do not attempt to memorise new guidelines the night before; conflicting last-minute facts increase anxiety and error rates.
Lay out everything from the checklist by the door. Re-read only your own one-page summary of the exam format and timing. Confirm the reporting time and the building once more. If you feel unwell, decide now - not in the morning - whether you need to contact the provider about illness, and check their rules on medical certificates.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive at the venue with a comfortable margin, typically well before the stated reporting time. Expect registration, ID check, and a briefing before the start. Switch off and stow your phone as instructed. Use the toilet before entering the hall; do not rely on being allowed out during the session.
Read the instructions and check the number of items, the time allowed, and whether there are separately timed sections. Note the time at which each section must end. If anything about the format is unclear, ask an invigilator before you begin rather than guessing.
Work in passes. Answer the questions or stations you know first, mark uncertain ones, and return to them. Keep an eye on the clock at fixed intervals so you are never surprised by the end. If wrong answers are not penalised, ensure every item has an answer before time is called; if they are penalised, only guess where you can exclude options.
Introduce yourself, confirm the task, and think aloud in a structured way: findings, differential diagnosis, investigations, management, and safety-netting. If you do not know something, say what you would do to find out and how you would keep the patient safe - examiners reward a safe, systematic approach over confident guessing.
Note down any question or station you found unclear while it is fresh, in case the provider offers a feedback or appeals process. Ask the invigilator about the expected timeline and method for results, and confirm how and when you will receive them. Do not spend the following days comparing answers with colleagues; results are determined by the provider's scoring, not by informal consensus.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identification and admission documents exactly as specified in your invitation. If your ID is expired or the name does not match your registration, entry may be refused; resolve any discrepancy with the provider before the exam day.
Arrive at the stated reporting time. Rules on late arrival and whether a late candidate may still start differ between providers and sessions, so confirm with the provider in advance rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Electronic devices, smartwatches, and notes must be switched off and stored as instructed. Using or even accessing an unauthorised device during the examination is treated as a serious breach and can lead to exclusion; if you are unsure whether an item is permitted, ask before the start.
Breaks are taken only as announced by the invigilators. Do not leave the hall during a timed section unless permitted, and expect to be accompanied if you leave. Confirm the break arrangements with the provider for your specific venue.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by the provider and may include a minimum per section as well as an overall threshold. Read the official information for your exam year and confirm with the provider how results are calculated and reported; do not rely on what previous candidates describe.
Any request for accommodation - extra time, separate room, additional breaks - must be submitted in advance with the required medical documentation. Such arrangements cannot normally be granted on the day, so raise any need as early as possible with the provider.
If you are ill on the day, follow the provider's procedure for withdrawal or rescheduling and obtain any required medical certificate promptly. Attending while unwell or leaving without notifying the invigilator may affect your result and your options for a later attempt.
Behave professionally towards invigilators, examiners, and other candidates. Talking, sharing materials, or attempting to see another candidate's work during the examination is misconduct and is handled under the provider's examination regulations.