MRCPI GM Part I exam-day guide
MRCPI GM Part I · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Appointment confirmation / admission document
Bring the confirmation for your test slot (a printed copy plus a copy on your phone is the safest approach). Whether a printed copy is mandatory varies by delivery format and centre, so confirm the exact requirement with the provider when your appointment is issued.
Primary photo ID
A current passport is the most widely accepted document. The name on the ID must match the name on your exam registration exactly. Confirm which ID types are accepted for your sitting before travelling.
Second form of identification
Some test-centre networks ask for two forms of ID. Check whether a second document is required for your appointment; if so, a signed bank card or driving licence is commonly accepted, but verify with the provider rather than assuming.
Confirmed test-centre location and route
Check the address and entrance on the provider's site, not a map app alone; test centres are often inside office buildings with restricted access. Do a dry run or check transport timings the day before.
Arrival time buffer
Plan to arrive well ahead of your appointment slot - check-in and ID verification take time, and late arrival can mean refused admission. Confirm the recommended arrival time and the late-arrival policy with the provider.
Knowledge of the paper structure
Before the day, note how many papers/questions there are, the time allowed for each, and whether there is a scheduled break. Confirm current format details on the official exam page, as these have changed across sittings.
Plan for personal belongings
Expect phones, smartwatches, notes and bags to be stored outside the testing room. Confirm whether secure storage is provided and travel light; a phone alarm going off in the room is treated as misconduct.
Calculator, pen and paper policy
Most computer-delivered exams provide an on-screen calculator and an erasable note board, and prohibit bringing your own. Confirm what is supplied and what is banned for your format.
Accessibility or medical arrangements
Extra time, separate room, medication, inhalers, insulin, hearing aids or similar must usually be requested and approved in advance with supporting documentation. Do not leave this to the morning of the exam.
Glasses, medication and water
Bring anything you genuinely need to function (glasses, prescription medicine), but check in advance whether water bottles, snacks or medication can be taken into the testing room.
Candidate handbook / exam regulations
Read the official regulations on conduct, ID, prohibited items and misconduct once in the final week - the rules that apply to you are the ones published for your sitting.
Realistic post-exam plan
Do not book a tight train or flight home; check-in delays and a scheduled break make the finish time uncertain.
Plan the day
Re-read the official exam regulations and your appointment confirmation; check that your ID is in date and that the name matches your registration. If anything is wrong (name change, expired passport), contact the provider immediately rather than on the day.
Confirm travel and accommodation, and check the test-centre address and entrance. Shift your sleep schedule towards the exam start time if you have been studying late.
Stop chasing new material. Spend the remaining time on your own error log, high-yield core topics and a small number of timed question blocks to keep pacing sharp.
Pack your bag: ID documents, confirmation, travel tickets, glasses, medication, a snack for before/after. Lay out clothes. Charge nothing you cannot take in - leave the smartwatch at home.
Do a light review of summaries only, finish studying by early evening, eat properly and sleep. A late-night cram session costs more in concentration than it gains in marks.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate, and allow extra travel time for delays. Avoid heavy last-minute cramming in the waiting area; a brief glance at a one-page summary is fine, new topics are not.
Present your ID, store belongings as instructed, and follow staff directions for signing in and seating. If something is unclear about the rules, ask a invigilator before the paper starts, not during it.
Work out a per-question time budget from the total number of questions and minutes available, and stick to it. Read the whole stem before the options; watch for 'most likely', 'next step' and 'EXCEPT'. Flag anything slow and move on, then return with remaining time.
Use breaks to eat, drink and reset rather than to compare answers. Check with staff whether the clock continues to run during breaks in your format.
Note the process and expected date for results release as published by the provider, and do not attempt to reconstruct or share questions; exam content is confidential.
Rules to check
The name on your identification must match your exam registration exactly. If your name has changed, contact the provider in advance; do not turn up expecting the discrepancy to be resolved at check-in.
Phones, smartwatches, fitness bands, notes, and any other unauthorised items must be left outside the testing room. Possession of such an item in the room is normally treated as misconduct regardless of whether it was used.
Arrive by the recommended check-in time. Candidates arriving late may be refused entry or have their time reduced - confirm the specific late-arrival policy with the provider for your sitting.
Breaks are normally only permitted at scheduled points, and the clock may or may not be paused. Confirm the break rules for your format beforehand and assume you cannot leave the room at will.
Do not assume any particular marking convention (for example, absence of negative marking). Confirm the current scoring and pass-standard arrangements with the provider rather than relying on how earlier sittings worked.
Accessibility adjustments, extra time or permission to bring medication must be approved in advance with supporting documentation. Requests raised on the day may not be accommodated.
Exam content is confidential. Do not copy, photograph, reconstruct or discuss questions after the paper; doing so can lead to invalidation of your result.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and test-centre staff. If equipment fails or you believe there is an error in a question, report it to staff immediately rather than attempting to resolve it yourself.