FSEM MSK Diploma exam-day guide
FSEM MSK Diploma · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring original, current photo ID (for example passport or driving licence) with the name matching your exam booking. Confirm the exact accepted ID and name-match policy with the provider before exam day - needs_review.
Exam confirmation and joining instructions
Bring your booking confirmation and any joining instructions. Check the venue, arrival time, access route, and parking or transport details. Confirm any last-minute changes with the provider - needs_review.
Candidate number and admission details
Have your candidate number, booking reference, or admission details available if the provider issues them. Confirm how they will be checked on the day - needs_review.
Equipment permitted by the provider
Pack only equipment expressly allowed for the practical stations, such as a stethoscope if requested. Do not assume tendon hammers, measuring tapes, pen torches, or other items are permitted; confirm the equipment list with the provider - needs_review.
Comfortable clothing and layers
Wear professional, comfortable clothing that allows you to move and demonstrate examination technique. Bring layers in case the venue is warm or cold. Follow any provider dress code.
Water and a light snack
Bring water and a snack for before or after the exam if permitted. Confirm whether food and drink are allowed in the waiting area or exam hall - needs_review.
Simple watch or timekeeping method
A practical exam is usually tightly timed. Bring a simple watch if permitted, but do not rely on a smart device. Confirm whether watches and phones are allowed in the exam area - needs_review.
Travel and backup plan
Plan to arrive with spare time for registration, security checks, and delays. Identify a backup route and keep the provider’s contact details accessible in case of travel disruption.
Medication and personal essentials
Bring any personal medication you may need and confirm with the provider how to store or access it during the exam. Avoid bringing unnecessary valuables.
Read the candidate regulations
Review the provider’s candidate handbook or regulations for conduct, ID, late arrival, permitted items, and station procedures. If anything is unclear, ask the provider rather than guessing - needs_review.
Plan the day
Re-read the joining instructions and candidate regulations. Confirm venue, arrival time, ID requirements, and permitted equipment with the provider. Practise timed practical stations and rehearse a clear structure for focused history, examination, explanation, and closure. Prepare clothing and equipment, protect sleep, and avoid last-minute changes to technique.
Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, permitted equipment, water, snack, and clothing. Check travel times and backup routes. Do light revision of station frameworks and common musculoskeletal assessment sequences rather than cramming new material. Eat normally, avoid alcohol, and aim for a full night’s sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate. Arrive earlier than instructed to allow for registration and security checks. Keep your phone off and stored as directed. Use the waiting time for brief mental rehearsal of opening lines, consent, hand hygiene, and time management, not for intense last-minute study.
Listen carefully to station instructions and read the candidate prompt fully. Introduce yourself, confirm the patient’s identity and consent, and explain what you are about to do. Use a safe, professional technique, maintain dignity, and follow infection-control requirements. Watch the time, move on when the signal is given, and do not return to a completed station. If a station goes badly, reset mentally and focus on the next one.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID and ensure the name matches your booking. Confirm the provider’s accepted ID and name-change policy in advance - needs_review.
Follow all instructions about mobile phones, smart devices, watches, notes, and personal belongings. If storage arrangements are unclear, confirm them with the provider before the exam - needs_review.
Treat every simulated or real patient with dignity and obtain consent before examination. Use appropriate draping, chaperoning where required, and hand hygiene.
Observe station timing strictly. Stop when instructed, do not re-enter a completed station, and do not communicate with other candidates about station content during the exam.
Breaks and restroom access are usually controlled by invigilators. Confirm the break policy and what to do if you need to leave the exam area - needs_review.
Scoring and the pass standard are set by the provider. Do not assume how individual stations are weighted; check the candidate handbook or ask the provider - needs_review.
Late arrival, absence, illness, and mitigation policies vary. Contact the provider as early as possible if you are delayed or unwell; do not assume a discretionary outcome - needs_review.
Maintain professional conduct throughout. If you are unsure about any rule, ask an invigilator or the provider rather than making an assumption.