EDiR exam-day guide
EDiR · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Booking confirmation / admission document
Bring both a printed copy and an offline copy on your phone (in case the venue has no signal). Check the exact reporting time, venue address and any candidate number on it. Format and delivery of this document are set by the provider - confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Valid government-issued photo ID
The name must match your registration exactly, including middle names and accents. Check the expiry date now. Accepted ID types vary by test centre and country - confirm the accepted list with the provider before travelling.
Second form of identification
Some centres ask for a second document (e.g. a bank card or a copy of the confirmation). This is not universal - confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Travel and accommodation documents
Keep tickets, hotel booking and a local map or offline navigation ready. Plan to arrive the evening before if you are travelling any distance, so a delayed flight or train cannot cost you the exam.
Knowledge of the test format and platform
Re-read the official format description shortly before the exam: number of papers/sections, question type, timings and whether there is an oral/practical component. If a practice or tutorial version of the delivery platform is offered, complete it before exam day.
Timekeeping device that is permitted
Many computer-based centres ban personal watches, and the on-screen clock may be the only permitted timer. Confirm with the provider what, if anything, you may wear or keep at the desk.
Only approved items at the desk
Phone off and stored as instructed; no notes, books, smart devices or loose paper. Pack these away before you enter the room so you are not asked to surrender them at the desk.
Water, snack and any medication
Policies on drinks, food and medication at the desk differ between centres. If you need medication or an adjustement during the exam, request it in advance and confirm the procedure with the provider.
Approved accommodations arranged in advance
Extra time, a separate room, or other adjustments usually require an application well before the exam date with supporting documentation. Confirm both the deadline and the approval in writing.
Light revision material only
Bring a single slim file of high-yield lists - normal values, common patterns, a systematic reporting checklist - for the last hour before entry. Do not bring new topics to learn on the day.
Clothing and comfort planning
Dress in layers; exam halls are often cold or warm unpredictably. Choose something comfortable for several hours of sitting and, if there is an oral component, smart-casual is a safe default.
Emergency contact and contingency plan
Save the provider's contact details and a local emergency number. Know what you will do if you are delayed - who to call, and whether late entry is possible (confirm the cut-off with the provider).
Plan the day
Re-read your confirmation document line by line: venue, reporting time, duration, ID requirements, permitted items, break policy. Re-check the provider's website and your email for last-minute changes. Confirm travel bookings and check the ID you intend to present has not expired.
Complete any available platform tutorial or practice test so the interface is familiar. Decide your exam-day route and note two alternative ways to get there, with realistic journey times.
Stop starting new topics. Switch to consolidation: systematic search patterns, common and critical diagnoses, and reporting structure. Sleep at the times you will need on exam day to shift your body clock early.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, travel documents, permitted water/snack, layers. Charge devices and any permitted watch. Check the weather forecast and set two alarms plus a backup alarm.
Light review only - a couple of hours of high-yield lists, then stop. Walk or visualise the route to the venue if you are local so the morning holds no surprises. Eat a normal meal, avoid a heavy late night, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Lay out clothes and documents in one place by the door. Confirm any medication or accommodation arrangements. If an oral component is on a different day, rehearse your reporting structure out loud once - findings first, then differential, then next step.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate, but do not change your caffeine habits dramatically. Leave earlier than you think necessary - aim to be at the venue well ahead of the reporting time. Re-check your documents before leaving the hotel or home.
Follow registration and ID checks in the order instructed. Store your phone and any non-permitted items as directed. Use the toilet before entering. Do not join discussions about content with other candidates.
Read the on-screen instructions fully, including how to flag, navigate and submit, and whether you can return to questions. Note the total time and calculate your rough per-question budget before you begin.
Answer in passes: take the clear questions first, flag anything long or uncertain, and keep moving so no single item eats your budget. Never leave a blank unless you have confirmed that blanks are not penalised. Re-read the question stem before answering image-based items, and construct your answer before looking at the options.
Check the clock at planned milestones rather than constantly. Raise your hand immediately if there is a technical problem, a distraction or a screen fault, and make sure it is logged before you resume - do not silently lose time.
Use the last minutes to return to flagged items and confirm you have answered everything. Check that your submission is confirmed on screen. Afterwards, note anything you want to verify with the provider (results date, release method, feedback) and then stop analysing the paper with other candidates.
Rules to check
Identification: bring the exact photo ID named in your confirmation, with the name matching your registration. The accepted forms of ID and the procedure if your ID is rejected are set by the provider - confirm with the provider before exam day rather than assuming a passport or national ID will be accepted.
Arrival and late entry: arrive before the stated reporting time. Centres commonly refuse entry after a cut-off, but the exact cut-off and whether any allowance is made for documented travel disruption are provider-specific - confirm with the provider.
Permitted items: assume nothing beyond your ID and confirmation is allowed at the desk. Phones, smart devices, watches, notes and loose paper are typically prohibited and must be stored as instructed. Confirm with the provider whether lockers are available and what may be kept with you.
Breaks: take breaks only when and how the provider permits. Leaving the room during a timed section may stop you re-entering, or the clock may keep running. Confirm the break policy and whether food, water and medication are allowed at the desk.
Confidentiality and conduct: do not record, copy, photograph or discuss examination content with other candidates or online. Attempting to bring in unauthorised material, communicate with others, or have another person sit the exam is misconduct and can result in invalidation of your result. The exact misconduct procedure is set by the provider - confirm with the provider if in doubt.
Technical problems: report any hardware, software or environment problem immediately to the invigilator and ensure it is recorded before you continue, so that lost time can be considered.
Scoring: do not assume either negative marking or a per-question threshold. The scoring method, the pass standard and how the written and oral components combine are set by the board - confirm with the provider, and use that knowledge to decide how to handle uncertain questions and blanks.
Results and appeals: note in advance how and when results are released and what the deadline and process are for any query or appeal. These details are provider-specific - confirm with the provider rather than relying on what other candidates tell you.