CSHK Part 2 EMQ exam-day guide
CSHK Part 2 EMQ · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the original government-issued photo ID (passport or national ID card) whose name matches your exam registration exactly. A name mismatch is one of the most common reasons candidates are turned away, so check the spelling on your registration confirmation and, if it differs, contact the provider well before exam day. Confirm with the provider which ID types they accept and whether a photocopy or digital copy is ever permitted - assume originals only.
Admission / confirmation document
Print or save offline your registration confirmation, candidate number, and any admission letter the provider issues. Some centres check these at the door alongside your ID. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether an electronic version on your phone is accepted, and note the exact venue address and arrival time stated on the document.
Venue logistics checked in advance
Confirm the exact building and room, the nearest transport stop, and realistic journey time including a buffer for delays. If the venue is unfamiliar, do a trial run or study the map the day before. Check whether the provider has published any site-specific instructions (separate entrance, security screening, registration desk location).
Arrival time and late-arrival policy confirmed
Note the reporting time (usually earlier than the start time) and the provider's rule on late arrivals. Do not assume you will be admitted after the start - many centres refuse entry once the exam has begun. Confirm with the provider the exact cut-off and what happens if you are delayed by transport disruption.
Permitted stationery only
Bring only what the provider lists as permitted - typically a few pens/pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener if pencil-based. Do not bring your own paper, notes, or highlighters unless explicitly allowed. Confirm with the provider the permitted list, since EMQ formats may be answered on paper answer sheets, on-screen, or both.
No prohibited electronic devices
Leave smartwatches, phones, and any other electronic devices switched off and stored as instructed, or leave them at home. Even an unused phone in a pocket can be treated as a conduct breach. Confirm with the provider where devices must be stored and whether lockers are available.
Personal medication and permitted items
If you need medication, an inhaler, or other essential items during the exam, bring them and declare them at registration. Confirm with the provider in advance whether you need approval, a doctor's note, or special arrangements, and how to request them within the published deadline.
Watch or time-management plan
If a wristwatch is permitted, bring a simple non-smart analogue watch; otherwise rely on the clock or on-screen timer. Before the day, decide your pacing plan for the EMQ paper (for example, an average time per question and a checkpoint at the halfway mark). Confirm with the provider whether a watch is allowed and whether the remaining time is displayed.
Hydration, snack, and comfort items for breaks
Bring water and a light snack for before the exam or for any scheduled break, subject to venue rules. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the exam room and whether breaks are scheduled or only permitted on request.
Rest and travel plan for the night before
Plan an early night, a normal breakfast, and a route that gets you to the venue with a comfortable margin. Avoid last-minute cramming that displaces sleep; a rested candidate performs better on long EMQ papers than an exhausted one.
Special arrangements confirmed (if applicable)
If you require extra time, a separate room, or other access arrangements, confirm that these have been approved and will be in place. Keep any approval correspondence with you. needs_review - the exact evidence the provider requires and the approval deadline vary, so confirm with the provider.
Exam-format familiarity
Know the paper's structure before you arrive: EMQ items typically present a clinical scenario, a lead-in question, and an option list from which you select the single best answer. Practise the navigation and answer-entry method (paper or screen) so exam-day mechanics do not cost you time. Confirm with the provider the number of items, time allowed, and whether negative marking applies.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material and switch to consolidation. Review your own summary notes on high-yield topics and your log of previously missed EMQ themes, focusing on why the best answer was best and why the distractors failed. Re-read the provider's candidate instructions in full: venue, reporting time, permitted items, ID requirements, and the conduct rules. Check your ID name against the registration and resolve any mismatch now. Confirm travel and, if needed, accommodation. Confirm any special arrangements. Do one or two timed mixed-topic EMQ sets under exam conditions to rehearse pacing, then review them briefly rather than exhaustively. Protect sleep: aim for normal nights from this point onward.
Do a light review only - skim your high-yield summaries and pacing plan, and avoid new or difficult material that could rattle confidence. Pack your bag: ID, confirmation document, permitted stationery, medication, water and snack, and the venue address written down. Lay out clothes. Charge nothing you cannot bring in - instead plan to leave devices at home or stored. Check transport status and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid excess caffeine or alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. If you feel anxious, write down your top three exam-day priorities (read the lead-in carefully, answer every item, manage the clock) so the morning is simple.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate moderately. Leave earlier than the journey requires so that a delay does not become a crisis. Arrive at the reporting time, not the start time. At registration, present your ID and confirmation, declare any medication, and follow staff instructions on storing devices and personal items. Use the waiting time for calm breathing and a quick glance at your pacing plan - not for last-minute cramming. Visit the washroom before entering the room.
Read the candidate instructions on the paper or screen before starting, and note the total time and item count. For each EMQ, read the clinical scenario and then the lead-in question carefully - the lead-in determines what kind of answer is required - before scanning the option list. Answer the item you are on, mark genuinely uncertain items for review, and keep moving; do not let one difficult item consume several items' worth of time. Track your progress against your halfway checkpoint. Answer every item unless the provider states otherwise, since unanswered items rarely score. If you finish early, use the time to check that your answers are recorded against the correct item numbers, then review flagged items only. If you feel unwell or need to leave, attract the invigilator's attention and follow their instructions rather than acting on your own.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID matching your registration name exactly. If your name or ID details differ from your registration, contact the provider before exam day; do not assume a correction can be made at the desk. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted.
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, materials, and timing. Do not start writing or begin the on-screen paper before you are told, and stop immediately when instructed at the end. Continue writing after the stop instruction is a common conduct breach.
Do not bring unauthorised materials or devices into the exam room. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and any other prohibited items must be switched off and stored as directed, or left outside. Possession of a prohibited device, even unused, may be treated as misconduct. Confirm with the provider the full prohibited list and storage arrangements.
Communicate only with invigilators during the exam. Do not talk to, signal, or exchange materials with other candidates, and do not look at another candidate's screen or paper. If you need assistance, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator.
Breaks: follow the provider's stated policy. Do not assume you may leave the room whenever you wish; some centres allow breaks only on request with supervision, and the clock may or may not stop. Confirm with the provider in advance how breaks are handled and whether any time is deducted.
Scoring: answer the single best option for each EMQ item. Do not leave items blank on the assumption that guessing is penalised - confirm with the provider whether negative marking applies, since most such papers do not penalise incorrect answers. Your score is based on recorded answers only, so ensure every intended answer is entered and matched to the correct item number.
If you believe there is a problem with the paper, the equipment, or your conditions, raise it with an invigilator at the time and ask for it to be recorded. Report it to the provider afterwards as well, following their published complaints procedure. Do not attempt to resolve it yourself or discuss it with other candidates during the exam.
Results, pass standards, and any post-exam procedures are set by the provider. Do not rely on secondhand claims about pass marks or scoring formulas; check the provider's official candidate guidance for the current rules. needs_review - the specific pass standard and result timeline should be confirmed with the provider.