MFOM Written exam-day guide
MFOM Written · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring the original, valid photo ID the provider requires (commonly a passport or photocard driving licence). The name must match your exam registration exactly. Confirm the accepted ID types and validity requirements with the provider before travel.
Admission confirmation / candidate number
Bring your exam confirmation email or admission document, printed or downloaded offline, plus your candidate number if one has been issued. Save a screenshot in case venue Wi-Fi is unavailable.
Confirmed venue, date and arrival time
Re-check the venue address, reporting time and which entrance/registration desk to use. Venues occasionally change - verify against your most recent provider communication, not an older email.
Stationery that the provider permits
If the exam is paper-based, bring black pens, pencils, an eraser and a sharpener. If it is computer-based, you may be given everything or permitted nothing. Confirm which format applies to you and what you may bring to the desk.
Calculator (only if permitted)
Some written papers allow a non-programmable calculator and some prohibit all calculators. Check the current candidate instructions; if calculators are allowed, bring a simple non-programmable model with no case wording or notes on it.
Wristwatch
A plain analogue or digital watch helps with pacing if clocks are not visible and watches are allowed. Some computer-based venues prohibit watches and display a timer on screen - confirm the local rule.
Water and a snack
Bring water in a clear container if the venue permits drinks at the desk, and a snack for any scheduled break. Confirm the venue's rules on food and drink and whether breaks are built into the timetable.
Layers of clothing
Exam halls are often cold or draughty and you may be seated for several hours. Dress in layers you can remove; avoid items that will distract you if the room is warm.
Travel plan with a buffer
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time, allow for delays, and identify a backup route. Check live travel updates on the morning. Late arrival rules vary - confirm the cut-off with the provider.
Reasonable adjustments confirmed in writing
If you need extra time, a separate room, a reader or other adjustments, confirm that these have been approved and will be in place. Bring the approval correspondence with you.
Personal medication and essentials
Bring any medication you may need during the day, in its original labelled packaging, and tell the invigilator if you may need to access it during the exam. Keys, wallet and phone will normally be stored away from the desk.
Syllabus and format refreshed
In the final days, re-read the published exam blueprint and question format so that you know the paper's structure, the number of questions and the time per question. Do not rely on memory of older formats.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics in writing: venue, reporting time, exam format (paper or computer), permitted items and ID requirements. Print or download your admission documents and check travel and accommodation. Do one final timed practice paper under exam conditions, then stop introducing new material. Protect your sleep schedule over these three nights rather than trading sleep for last-minute revision.
Reduce volume and switch to consolidation: high-yield lists, common clinical scenarios, guidelines you keep confusing, and a quick pass over your own error log from practice questions. Practise the mechanics - how you will allocate time per question, how you will flag and return to difficult items, and how you will record answers.
Pack your bag with ID, admission documents, stationery and any approved aids, then leave it by the door. Charge devices and set two alarms. Check travel updates and the weather. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not attempt a full mock exam the day before.
Eat a proper breakfast and hydrate. Leave with a generous buffer and arrive early. Switch your phone off and store it as instructed at registration. Present your ID, find your seat and check your equipment before the start. Listen carefully to the invigilator's briefing, especially instructions on breaks, toilet visits and how to summon help.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions and total time. Write down your time-per-question target. Scan for any instruction about negative marking or whether unanswered items score zero, since this determines whether you should guess.
Work at a steady pace against your time target. Answer the questions you know first, flag anything uncertain and move on rather than losing minutes on one item. Ensure every question has an answer recorded before you leave a section, subject to any negative marking rule. In the final minutes, review flagged items and confirm that your answers have been saved or transferred to the answer sheet correctly.
If the timetable includes breaks, use them to stand, drink water and reset rather than to review material. Check with the invigilator how much time remains before you leave the hall, and return early. Do not discuss the paper with other candidates.
Note down any question topics you found difficult while they are fresh, for future study or training feedback, but respect any confidentiality rule about disclosing exam content. Confirm with the provider when and how results will be released.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID matching your registered name. Candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry - confirm the accepted ID types with the provider in advance.
Switch off phones, smart watches and any other devices and store them away from your desk as instructed. Possession of an unauthorised device at the desk is typically treated as misconduct.
Take only permitted items to your desk. Notes, textbooks, unauthorised electronic aids or annotated materials are not allowed unless the provider's instructions explicitly permit them for an open-book component.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times, including on seating, speaking, toilet visits and leaving the hall. Raise your hand rather than attracting attention in any other way.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not share, record or reproduce question content afterwards if the provider requires confidentiality.
Check the scoring rules before you start: whether unanswered questions score zero, whether there is negative marking for wrong answers, and whether sections are weighted. Guess only according to those rules - confirm the specifics with the provider.
If you believe there is a problem with your paper, equipment or conditions, tell the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded; raise it with the provider afterwards in writing.
If you are unwell or unable to attend, contact the provider as early as possible to ask about withdrawal, deferral or extenuating circumstances procedures, since these are time-limited.