MDCG Medical Exam exam-day guide
MDCG Medical Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a second form is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy will be accepted.
Admission or confirmation document
Print or save the confirmation email or admission ticket showing your test date, time, and location or testing window. Check whether the provider requires a printed copy rather than a phone screenshot.
Know your exact reporting time and arrival buffer
Arrive at the time stated on your admission document, not the nominal start time. Confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled; many testing programs refuse entry after a cutoff.
Confirm the test format and delivery method
Verify whether you sit a computer-based test at a test centre, a remote proctored test, or a paper exam. Each has different rules for devices, room setup, and permitted materials.
Permitted calculator or reference materials
Check the current candidate handbook for whether a calculator is provided on screen, whether you may bring your own approved model, and whether any formula sheet is supplied. Do not bring unapproved materials into the test room.
Review the permitted and prohibited items list
Read the provider's list of what may be worn or carried into the test room (for example outerwear, jewellery, watches, medical devices, medication, and food or drink for documented needs). Ask about accommodations in advance if you need an exception.
Plan travel and a backup route
Check the route, parking, and public transport timetables the day before. Identify a fallback route and leave a margin for delays. For remote testing, confirm your internet connection and a backup option such as a mobile hotspot.
Prepare for the test-room environment
Dress in layers, since room temperature varies. Bring only what is permitted; most centres provide lockers or a secure area for personal belongings. Confirm whether storage is available and how large it is.
Sleep, food, and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the final nights, eat a normal meal before the test, and limit caffeine if you are sensitive to it. Plan a light snack for after the test if the session is long.
Know the break policy before test day
Confirm how many breaks are offered, whether they are timed or untimed, and whether you may access food, medication, or your locker during them. Rules differ between centres and remote delivery.
Know the scoring and result timeline
Find out whether the score is reported immediately, how it is scaled, and when official results are released. Confirm how to request a score review or retake if needed.
Remote-testing setup, if applicable
If testing remotely, complete any system check and identity verification in advance, close other applications, clear your desk, and confirm the camera and microphone work. Check the provider's room and behaviour rules for remote sessions.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summary notes, formulas, and a short list of recurring errors. Take at most one timed practice set to check pacing, then review it briefly rather than chasing a new score. Re-read the candidate handbook for permitted items, ID rules, and the break policy, and confirm your reporting time and location or remote-session link. Prepare your bag and documents now so the last evening is free of logistics.
Confirm the route and travel time, or run a full system and connection check for remote testing. Lay out ID, admission document, and permitted items by the door. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and late caffeine, and set two alarms. Do a light review of high-yield summaries only, then stop. Aim for a full night's sleep rather than last-minute cramming, which usually costs more in fatigue than it gains in recall.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Recheck that your ID and admission document are with you. Leave earlier than the route requires and allow for delays. Avoid discussing content with other candidates, since it raises anxiety and may breach conduct rules. At the centre, follow staff instructions for check-in, ID verification, and secure storage of belongings; for remote testing, complete identity checks and room scans as instructed and keep your desk clear.
Read the instructions and note the time allowance before starting. Work at a steady pace and track time at natural checkpoints rather than watching the clock continuously. Answer every question, since unanswered items usually score zero; mark uncertain items and return to them if the format allows navigation. Use only the breaks permitted by the provider and follow all proctor instructions. If a technical problem occurs, stop and alert the proctor or support channel immediately rather than trying to fix it silently.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name used at registration. Expired, photocopied, or digital IDs are commonly refused; confirm accepted ID types with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor and invigilator instructions. Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not attempt to view, copy, or share test content; such conduct is typically treated as a serious violation.
Keep only permitted items at your desk. Watches, phones, notes, and unapproved calculators usually must be stored away or left outside the room; confirm the exact list with the provider.
Use breaks only as the provider allows. Timed and untimed breaks carry different rules about accessing belongings, notes, food, and medication, so confirm the policy in advance and ask about accommodations if needed.
Report any technical failure, interruption, or irregularity to the proctor or support channel immediately and note the time. Do not continue silently and assume it will be corrected later.
Understand how the test is scored before you sit it: whether wrong answers are penalised, whether sections are weighted, and when results are released. Confirm these details with the provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
If you need to reschedule, withdraw, or request accommodations, follow the provider's published deadlines and process. Policies and fees vary, so confirm them directly and keep written confirmation.
Do not rely on recalled questions or leaked content. Preparing from unverified recollections is unreliable and may expose you to conduct violations; use only official or original study material.