Cuba General Surgery Specialty State Exam exam-day guide
Cuba General Surgery Specialty State Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo identification (carné de identidad)
Bring your Cuban national identity card (carné de identidad) as primary ID; carry a second photo ID if you have one. Exact accepted ID documents and any additional credential required for the specialty exam should be confirmed with the provider (the university faculty or health institution organizing the exam) before exam day.
Exam admission or registration confirmation
Carry any printed or digital proof of registration, sede assignment, and candidate number issued to you. If you were not issued one, confirm with the provider how admission is verified.
Written confirmation of exam site, date, and reporting time
Venue and start time can change; verify the assigned sede and reporting time directly with the organizing institution in the final week. Do not rely on secondhand information from classmates.
Blue or black ink pens (at least two)
Bring spare pens for written or multiple-choice answer sheets. Confirm with the provider whether answers must be marked in ink or pencil and whether correction fluid is permitted.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful if any section uses machine-read answer sheets. Confirm permitted materials with the provider, since some exams restrict what may be on the desk.
Any permitted reference materials
Most specialty exams are closed-book, but confirm with the provider whether any printed protocols, formulary, or calculators are allowed. If not explicitly permitted, leave them outside the exam room.
Analog watch (no smart functions)
Phones are usually prohibited at the desk, so a simple watch helps you pace sections. Confirm with the provider whether wristwatches are allowed.
Light layers and water
Exam halls are often cold or poorly ventilated, and the sitting can be long. Bring a removable layer and water only if the provider confirms it is allowed at the desk.
Plan for transport and arrival buffer
Arrive with a margin before the reporting time to absorb transport delays. Confirm with the provider what happens to candidates who arrive after the exam has started.
Leave phones and smart devices secured or at home
Devices are typically collected or banned from the room. Confirm the provider's device policy in advance so you are not disqualified for an accidental violation.
Review the exam format and scoring rules
Know the number of questions, time limit, question style (single best answer, case-based, oral/practical stations), and whether wrong answers are penalized. Confirm these details with the provider, as they vary by sede and year.
Personal medication and snacks if medically necessary
If you need medication or food during a long sitting, confirm with the provider in advance how to declare and access it during the exam.
Plan the day
Confirm the sede, date, reporting time, and required documents directly with the organizing institution. Re-read the official exam notice for permitted and prohibited materials. Stop starting new topics; instead review high-yield general surgery content: acute abdomen, trauma resuscitation and damage control, wound and surgical-site infection, hernia, biliary and pancreatic disease, colorectal emergencies, thyroid and breast disease, and perioperative management. Practice timed case-based questions to build pacing.
Prepare your documents and materials in one bag: ID, admission proof, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, and any confirmed permitted items. Check transport routes to the sede and plan an arrival buffer. Protect sleep; avoid all-night study sessions in the last three days.
Do a light review of summaries and your own error list only. Reconfirm the reporting time and location with the provider if you have not received a final notice. Lay out clothes and your bag, charge nothing that needs charging (leave smart devices behind), set two alarms, and sleep at a normal hour. Eat normally and avoid unfamiliar food or alcohol.
Eat a normal breakfast, take any routine medication, and leave early with your documents checked against the checklist. Arrive before the reporting time, locate the room and your assigned seat, and follow invigilator instructions for depositing devices and bags. Use the minutes before the start to settle, not to cram new material.
Read the instructions and check the number of pages or questions and the time limit. Write your name and candidate number exactly as instructed. If there is a choice of questions, decide quickly and mark your choices before starting to write.
Answer single-best-answer questions in order but flag uncertain ones and move on; do not let one case consume disproportionate time. For case-based or clinical-reasoning items, identify the key finding, the most likely diagnosis, and then the best next step, in that order. For oral or practical stations, state your reasoning aloud and structure answers as assessment, differential, and plan.
Reserve time to transfer or verify answers, ensure no question is blank if there is no wrong-answer penalty, and check that your identifying details are correct. Stop writing immediately when instructed and hand in materials as directed.
Note any questions you found ambiguous and, if the provider offers a review or appeal channel, confirm the procedure and deadlines. Do not discuss content with other candidates during the sitting.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identification document required by the provider; candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry. Confirm the exact accepted documents with the organizing institution in advance.
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, materials on the desk, and timing. Do not begin before the signal to start or continue after the signal to stop.
Mobile phones and smart devices are generally prohibited in the exam room; keep them off and stored as directed. Confirm the provider's specific device policy before exam day.
Do not communicate with other candidates, pass materials, or attempt to view others' answers during the sitting. Suspected cheating can lead to removal and invalidation of your result.
Use only writing materials and references explicitly permitted by the provider. If a calculator, formulary, or printed protocol is not confirmed as allowed, do not bring it to the desk.
If you need to leave the room for a medical or personal reason, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; confirm the provider's rules on breaks and readmission before the exam.
Scoring rules, including whether incorrect answers are penalized and how oral or practical stations are weighted, are set by the provider. Confirm these rules from the official notice rather than from classmates.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a problem with the sitting, report it to an invigilator at the time and ask the provider how to record a formal observation; confirm any appeal deadlines afterward.