EDAIC Part I exam-day guide
EDAIC Part I · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the original, valid photo ID that matches the name on your registration. Check which document types the awarding body accepts and whether a passport is required rather than a national ID card; confirm with the provider before travel, because rules differ by test centre.
Admission or confirmation document
Carry the confirmation of your booking (printed or downloaded) showing your candidate number, test centre and appointment time. Some centres ask to see it at reception; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is expected.
Test centre location and travel plan
Reconfirm the exact building, entrance and arrival time a few days before. Large venues often have several halls, and the EDAIC written paper may be held in a university or conference facility rather than a hospital. Do a dry run or check local transport disruptions.
Arrival time buffer
Plan to arrive well before the stated reporting time to allow for security checks, ID verification and seat allocation. The precise cut-off after which candidates are refused entry is set by the provider; confirm it in your candidate instructions.
Permitted items only
Expect a strict list of what may be taken to the desk (typically ID, admission document, and possibly a pencil/eraser if not supplied). Phones, smart watches, notes and bags normally have to be stored away. Confirm the current permitted-items list with the provider.
No personal electronics at the desk
Leave phones and wearables switched off and stored as instructed. Even possession of a device at the desk can be treated as misconduct, so clarify the storage arrangements in advance.
Know the paper format and timing
Re-read the official format description: number of papers, question style (single best answer and/or multiple true-false), time per paper and whether negative marking applies. Confirm scoring rules with the provider rather than relying on forum posts.
Calculator and stationery policy
Do not assume a calculator is allowed. Check whether one is provided on screen or permitted, and whether the centre supplies pencils and paper for rough work; confirm with the provider.
Medical and access needs
If you need extra time, a separate room, medication access or other adjustments, confirm that approval has been granted and what evidence you must bring. Arrangements are usually fixed in advance and cannot be created on the day.
Food, drink and medication
Check the centre's policy on water bottles and snacks at the desk, and on taking medication during the test. If you have a condition such as diabetes, confirm in advance how breaks and treatment will be handled.
Rest and rehearsal plan
In the last days, prioritise sleep, timed practice under exam conditions and review of your own error log rather than new material. Know how you will pace yourself across the papers.
Emergency contacts and backup plan
Save the provider's contact details and your centre's phone number, and have a plan for delays (earlier train, taxi number, nearby parking). If you cannot attend, confirm the absence and deferral policy with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop broadening your syllabus. Spend the time on high-yield consolidation: physiology and pharmacology applied to anaesthesia, physics and equipment, monitoring, and the statistics and study-design material that recurs in the written papers. Work through your own list of repeated mistakes and write short summaries you can re-read quickly.
Do at least one full timed paper in the exact format you will face, at the same time of day if possible, without interruptions. Use it to practise pacing and to decide how long you can afford on a difficult question before moving on. Review only the answers you got wrong and the reasoning behind them.
Confirm logistics: re-read the candidate instructions, check the venue and reporting time, print or download your admission document, verify your ID is valid and the name matches, and confirm any approved access arrangements. If anything is unclear, contact the provider now rather than on the day.
Protect sleep. Shift bedtime gradually if you have been studying late, avoid starting new topics at night, and keep caffeine use similar to your normal pattern so you do not disrupt sleep in the final nights.
Do light review only: formulas, key values, classification lists and your one-page summaries. No new question banks and no attempting to fill large gaps, which mostly raises anxiety without adding marks.
Prepare everything physically: ID, admission document, permitted stationery, water, snacks, medication, charged phone and a watch if permitted. Lay clothes out and pack the bag. Check travel times and any planned engineering works or strikes.
Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, set two alarms and aim for a full night's sleep. If you cannot sleep, rest quietly rather than studying; alertness on the day matters more than one extra hour of revision.
Eat a proper breakfast and hydrate normally, but avoid excessive caffeine if you are not used to it. Take regular medication as prescribed unless you have been told otherwise; confirm any such instruction with the provider in advance.
Arrive early with time to spare, follow signage and staff instructions, complete ID checks and store belongings as directed. Use the toilet before the paper starts, since break rules may be restrictive.
Read the instructions on the paper carefully, including how many options to select per question and whether wrong answers are penalised. Confirm the scoring rule with the provider beforehand so you know whether to guess on unknown items.
Pace yourself: note the time at which you should be halfway through, and stick to a maximum time per question. Answer the straightforward items first, flag uncertain ones and return to them; never leave a blank if the scoring rule makes guessing worthwhile.
If you take a scheduled break, confirm the return time and where you may go. Use breaks to move, drink water and reset, but avoid discussing questions with other candidates, which may breach conduct rules.
If equipment fails, the room is disturbed or you feel unwell, raise your hand and speak to an invigilator immediately and note the time. Do not attempt to fix computer problems yourself, and record the incident afterwards in case you need to report it.
Note the questions you found difficult while memory is fresh, but do not try to reconstruct or share the content with others. Check the provider's published date and method for results release and what to do if you need to resit.
Rules to check
Bring original photo identification that matches your registered name exactly. Copies, expired documents and documents in a different name are normally refused; confirm the accepted document types with the provider before the test day.
Follow all invigilator instructions and the published candidate regulations. Possession of unauthorised materials or devices, communication with other candidates during the paper, or attempting to remove question material is treated as misconduct and can lead to cancellation of your result.
Do not share, record or reproduce examination content afterwards. The questions are confidential, and discussing specific items online or with later candidates may breach the provider's rules.
Break and toilet arrangements are set by the centre and may be limited during a timed paper. Ask in advance how breaks are handled and whether the clock stops; confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Scoring and any penalty for incorrect answers are defined in the official format description. Check whether negative marking applies before deciding to guess; if you are unsure, confirm with the provider.
Access arrangements and extra time must be approved in advance and supported by the required evidence. They generally cannot be granted on the day, so raise any need well before the test.
If you arrive late, the centre may refuse entry after a stated cut-off. The exact rule is centre-specific; confirm with the provider and plan to arrive early.
If illness or an emergency prevents attendance, contact the provider as soon as possible and ask about deferral, withdrawal or mitigating circumstances procedures. Do not simply fail to appear without notifying them.