MRCSI (Ophth) Written exam-day guide
MRCSI (Ophth) Written · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the same original, government-issued photo ID you used to register. Check the provider's accepted ID list and whether a signature is required. Confirm with the provider whether a photocopy or expired document is acceptable (typically not).
Appointment / admission letter
Carry the confirmation email or admission ticket with your candidate number, date, time and venue address. Print a copy if the provider requires it; confirm the format with the provider.
Venue and travel plan
Confirm the exact building and entrance, not just the city. Do a trial run or map the route the day before and allow buffer for delays. Check any security screening at the entrance with the provider.
Arrival time
Plan to arrive well before your scheduled start; registration and ID checks take time. The exact cut-off after which you may be refused entry is set by the provider, so confirm it with the provider and note it in your plan.
Permitted equipment
Confirm with the provider what you may bring (e.g. stethoscope or other clinical tools, pen, plain water, permitted calculator). Ask about anything you intend to use, including any medical device, before the day.
Prohibited items plan
Assume phones, smart watches and other electronic devices must be switched off and stored as directed. Confirm with the provider the storage arrangements and what happens if a device is found on you.
Personal medication and access needs
If you need medication, food for a medical condition, or adjustments (extra time, separate room, physical access), confirm the approved arrangements with the provider in advance and bring any supporting documentation they require.
Clothing and comfort
Wear comfortable, professional clothing in layers, as room temperature varies. Avoid items that set off security screening if possible. Bring nothing that could be seen as giving an unfair advantage.
Break and timing expectations
Ask the provider in advance whether breaks are scheduled, whether they are timed, and whether you can leave the room mid-test. Do not assume a policy; confirm with the provider.
Scoring and results
Confirm with the provider how the paper is scored, whether there is negative marking, the pass standard, and when and how results are released. Do not rely on second-hand accounts.
Rest and logistics the night before
Sleep, eat a normal breakfast, and plan hydration around the break policy. Avoid last-minute cramming that displaces sleep.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the provider's contact details and a local emergency contact. Know what to do if you are delayed or unwell; the procedure for late arrival or illness is set by the provider, so confirm it with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-confirm date, time, venue and ID requirements with the provider. Print or save your admission documents. Do a final review focused on weak areas rather than new material. Prepare and lay out clothing, ID and permitted items. Check travel and weather. Protect sleep.
Stop heavy study. Re-read the provider's candidate instructions, including prohibited items, break rules and arrival cut-off. Pack your bag with ID, admission letter and permitted items only. Charge nothing you cannot bring in; leave devices at home or plan storage. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Eat breakfast and hydrate sensibly. Re-check you have ID and admission documents. Leave with buffer time. On arrival, follow registration and ID checks, store prohibited items as directed, and locate the room and facilities. Switch off your phone before entering the test area.
Read the instructions and check the time allowed and number of questions before starting. Pace yourself and note the time at which you should be at the halfway point. Answer the questions you know first, flag uncertain ones and return. Read each question fully, watch for negatives and 'best answer' wording, and transfer answers as the provider instructs. If you need to leave the room, follow the invigilator's instructions exactly. If something is unclear or you feel unwell, raise your hand and speak to the invigilator.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID matching your registration; entry may be refused without it. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider.
Arrive by the time stated in your admission documents. The cut-off for late entry is set by the provider, so confirm it with the provider rather than assuming.
Electronic devices, smart watches and unauthorised materials must be switched off and stored as directed; possession in the test area may be treated as misconduct. Confirm the exact policy with the provider.
Follow all invigilator instructions. Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not read or copy from others.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Whether and how leaving affects your time is set by the provider, so confirm it with the provider.
Breaks, if any, are governed by the provider's rules; confirm in advance whether breaks are scheduled, timed, or supervised.
Declare any approved adjustments or permitted items to staff on arrival, and bring any documentation the provider requires.
Scoring, negative marking and the pass standard are determined by the provider; confirm these and the results timeline with the provider rather than relying on informal sources.