Czech Paediatrics Board Examination exam-day guide
Czech Paediatrics Board Examination · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Invitation letter and confirmation of registration
Bring the written invitation or electronic confirmation issued by the organising institution. The exact document name and whether a printout is required varies by term and centre - confirm with the provider.
Valid photo ID
A passport or Czech national identity card (občanský průkaz) is the safest choice. Whether a driving licence is accepted is not guaranteed; confirm with the provider before relying on it.
Proof of completed training / logbook
Your training record (průkaz o specializační přípravě or equivalent logbook) and any required certification of completed rotations. Bring originals plus copies; confirm with the provider which documents the examiners expect to see on the day.
Index of performed procedures and on-call shifts
Examiners may ask you to demonstrate the breadth of your practical experience. Have a clean, dated summary ready; the required format is set by the training programme - confirm with your training supervisor.
Current recommended textbooks and national guidelines list
You will not usually be allowed to consult them during the exam, but knowing which edition of the Czech paediatric recommendations you studied helps you answer consistently. Check which documents are permitted in the room with the provider.
Professional attire and clean white coat
The practical examination is a clinical assessment; dress as you would for a ward round. Whether a stethoscope or white coat is required is centre-specific - confirm with the provider.
Stethoscope and small hand instruments
Bring your own stethoscope; a penlight and measuring tape are useful if you are asked to examine a child. Confirm which personal instruments are allowed.
Written summary of your own cases
Prepare brief structured notes on a few representative cases from your training (presentation, differential, management, outcome) so you can answer follow-up questions fluently. Do not bring patient-identifiable data.
Travel and accommodation plan
Confirm the exact building, floor and arrival time at least a week ahead; Czech medical faculties and hospitals often have multiple entrances. Arrive with a margin for public transport delays.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the examination office phone number and a local contact. If you fall ill, you must notify the provider as early as possible; the rules on rescheduling and fees are set by the organising institution - confirm with the provider.
Refreshments and any regular medication
The practical part can run long with waiting periods. Bring water and a snack for outside the examination room, and your own medication if needed; confirm whether food and drink are allowed in the waiting area.
Printed checklist of the exam structure
Write down the announced structure (which specialties, how many stations or cases, time per section) so you can pace yourself. The current structure is published by the organising body - confirm the version applicable to your examination term.
Plan the day
Re-read the official examination announcement for your term and verify the structure, venue, start time and list of required documents. Resolve every open question with the examination office by phone or email now, not on the day. Confirm your travel and accommodation.
Do a final pass over high-yield areas rather than new material: neonatal jaundice and resuscitation principles, fluid and electrolyte calculations in children, antibiotic dosing, growth and development milestones, and the recognition of the acutely ill child. Practise saying your reasoning aloud, because the practical exam is oral.
Rehearse structured case presentations with a colleague: history, examination findings, differential diagnosis, investigations, management, and follow-up. Aim for two to three minutes per case, then invite questions.
Prepare and print the documents you will hand over (logbook, procedure index, case summaries). Make two copies of everything and keep one set in a separate bag.
Check the route to the venue at the time of day you will travel, including which entrance is open early in the morning. Note the nearest public transport stop and a fallback route.
Stop intensive studying in the evening. Review only your own summary sheets and the list of documents. Pack the bag: ID, invitation, documents, stethoscope, white coat, pens, water.
Confirm the start time once more and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid late caffeine, and sleep a full night; oral examination performance drops sharply with fatigue.
Eat breakfast, arrive at the venue well before the stated time to allow for registration and document checks, and switch your phone to silent or off according to the centre's rules.
Introduce yourself politely to the examiners and to any patient or parent involved. Ask permission before examining a child, wash your hands, and explain what you are doing - these behaviours are part of what is being assessed.
Listen to the whole question before answering. If a case is unclear, state your assumptions explicitly and proceed with a structured approach; examiners generally value safe, systematic reasoning over guessing.
When you do not know something, say so and describe how you would find out or whom you would consult. Never invent a dose, a guideline threshold or a test result.
Manage your time: keep case presentations concise, leave room for the examiners' follow-up questions, and if one section goes badly, deliberately reset before the next. Do not discuss the content of the examination with other candidates in the waiting area.
Ask the examination office when and how results are communicated and what the appeal or re-sit procedure is. Record any feedback the examiners give you while it is fresh.
Rules to check
Bring the identification document specified in your invitation. If your ID is expired, damaged, or bears a name that differs from your registration, contact the examination office before the day; the acceptance criteria are set by the organising institution - confirm with the provider.
Arrive at the announced time. Late arrival may result in exclusion from the examination, and the exact cut-off is centre-specific - confirm with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.
Electronic devices must be switched off and stored away during the examination. Recording, photographing or transmitting examination content, including case material, is prohibited.
Patient confidentiality applies throughout. Do not remove, copy or later disclose any patient records or case documentation you encounter during the practical examination.
Treat examiners and clinical staff with professional courtesy, and treat any patient or parent involved with respect: obtain consent before examination and maintain the child's privacy and dignity.
Breaks during the practical examination are usually at the discretion of the examiners and may not be available between sections. If you need to leave the room for a health reason, ask the examiners; the formal rules on breaks are set by the provider - confirm in advance if you have a medical need.
The examination is assessed by the examiners present, and the pass/fail decision and any grading follow the criteria of the organising institution. Do not assume that a strong performance in one section compensates for a weak one; the weighting is published by the provider - confirm with them.
If you believe the conduct of the examination was irregular, raise it with the examination office in writing within the deadline set by the organising institution. Ask the office for that deadline at registration rather than relying on memory.