Therapeutic Radiographer exam-day guide
Therapeutic Radiographer · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered under. A photocopy or a photo on your phone is almost never accepted. If your name changed, bring the supporting document and confirm with the provider in advance which name must match the booking.
Confirmation of appointment / candidate number
Have the booking confirmation and any candidate or eligibility number printed or saved offline. You may need it at reception before you are admitted to the test room. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Permitted calculator
Check the provider's list of allowed calculator models. Many test centres supply an on-screen or basic calculator and prohibit programmable or graphing models. Confirm with the provider whether you may bring your own.
Arrival plan and travel buffer
Plan to arrive with time to spare before your scheduled start; late arrivals may be refused entry. Check the venue address, transport disruptions and parking in advance. Confirm with the provider the exact latest arrival time and the late-arrival policy.
Know the test format and timing
Re-read the provider's current blueprint: number of papers or sections, item types, time per section, and whether sections are separately timed. Do not rely on memory of an older format.
Rest breaks and refreshments
Bring water and a snack for scheduled breaks only, and check whether food and drink are allowed at the desk. Confirm with the provider what is permitted in the test room.
Personal items plan
Expect phones, smart watches, bags and notes to be stored away or prohibited. Know where you will leave them and switch devices off before entering. Confirm with the provider the secure-storage arrangements.
Medical or access arrangements
If you have approved extra time, a separate room or other adjustments, bring the approval confirmation. Confirm with the provider well before the day that the centre has been notified.
Review core calculation and anatomy facts
Revise the topics you can check quickly: dose and unit conversions, fractionation arithmetic, common treatment sites and standard positioning terminology. Use your own notes rather than unfamiliar new material the night before.
Read the candidate instructions and regulations
Go through the provider's current candidate handbook for conduct rules, prohibited items and scoring or results timeline. Policies change, so use the latest version.
Sleep and travel contingency
Protect the night before for sleep, and have a backup route or contact number in case of transport failure. Note that the provider's policy on rescheduling after a missed appointment must be confirmed with the provider.
Practice under timed conditions
In the final days, complete at least one full timed run using the provider's sample or practice materials so the pacing feels familiar. Review errors by topic rather than re-reading everything.
Plan the day
Confirm venue, start time and what you may bring by checking the provider's current candidate information. Do one or two timed practice runs and review weak topics, especially calculations and treatment-site terminology. Prepare your ID, confirmation and calculator, and sort travel and any access-arrangement paperwork. Stop introducing new material in the last 24 hours.
Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, permitted calculator and any approved adjustment letter. Check the route and journey time, set two alarms, and charge your phone but plan to switch it off at the centre. Eat a normal meal, avoid last-minute cramming, and go to bed at a sensible hour. Skim only your own summary notes.
Eat breakfast and hydrate, allowing for limited toilet access during timed sections. Leave with a generous buffer and re-check the venue entrance. Switch off phones and smart watches before entering the building, store belongings as directed, and present your ID at reception. Use any waiting time for calm breathing rather than new revision.
Read the instructions and check the number of items and time available before starting. Answer the questions you know first, flag uncertain items and return to them, and watch the clock so you leave time to review. For calculation items, check units and show working where permitted. If a technical problem or interruption occurs, raise it with the invigilator immediately and note the time. Do not discuss content with other candidates during breaks.
Rules to check
Bring the original, valid photo ID in your registered name and present it on request. If you have any doubt about which document is acceptable, confirm with the provider before the test day.
Follow all invigilator instructions. Phones, smart watches, notes and other unauthorised items must be switched off and stored as directed; possession at the desk can lead to removal from the test, so confirm with the provider which items are prohibited.
Breaks are normally only at scheduled times, and you may be escorted or supervised. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled toilet breaks are allowed and whether the clock stops during them.
Do not communicate with other candidates about test content during breaks or afterwards if the provider's confidentiality rules prohibit it. Sharing recalled questions may breach the candidate agreement.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider and may be updated between sessions. Do not assume a mark from an older sitting still reflects the current standard; check the current results and scoring information with the provider.
If you feel unwell or a technical fault disrupts your test, tell the invigilator at once and ask for the incident to be recorded. Follow the provider's procedure for any later enquiry about your result.
Any request for special consideration, a rescheduled appointment or an appeal must go through the provider's published process and deadlines. Confirm those deadlines with the provider rather than relying on what other candidates report.