HERMES Adult Respiratory Medicine exam-day guide
HERMES Adult Respiratory Medicine · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID in the name used on your registration. Check with the test provider which forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required; do not rely on a photocopy or a digital image.
Confirmation of appointment and test-centre address
Save the confirmation email or letter offline on your phone and print a copy. Re-check the arrival time, the exact building address, and any access instructions; confirm with the provider if anything is unclear.
Provider rules on personal items
Most centres restrict bags, phones, and watches to a locker or prohibit them entirely. Confirm with the provider what you may bring into the testing room and whether a locker is guaranteed.
Permitted items list for the exam room
Ask the provider in advance whether tissues, water, or a personal inhaler may be taken to the desk. If you have a medical need, confirm the accommodation procedure before test day rather than at check-in.
Approved accommodation confirmation
If you requested extra time, a separate room, or scheduled breaks, bring the written approval. Confirm with the provider how the accommodation is activated on the day, since front-desk staff may not have the record.
Travel and parking plan
Plan to arrive with a buffer well before the scheduled start; late arrival can mean refused entry. Check public transport disruptions and parking availability the day before. The exact cut-off time is provider-specific, so confirm it.
Rest and medication routine
Keep your usual sleep and medication schedule in the final days. Do not start a new sedating antihistamine, beta blocker, or other agent that could affect alertness or tremor without discussing it with your own clinician first.
Break and hydration strategy
Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are allowed, whether the clock stops, and how to signal an invigilator. Plan fluid intake so you are not distracted by thirst or by frequent toilet trips.
Exam-day logistics contact
Save the provider's customer-service number in case of a transport failure or centre problem. Confirm in advance what documentation is required if you need to reschedule for illness.
Scratch-paper and calculator policy
Ask the provider whether an on-screen or physical calculator and erasable note board are supplied. Do not bring your own unless the provider explicitly permits it.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and your appointment confirmation. Verify the start time, address, ID requirements, and accommodation approval. Do a final review of high-yield topics rather than starting new material: asthma and COPD assessment and inhaler technique, pneumonia severity and antibiotics, pleural effusion and pneumothorax management, pulmonary embolism diagnostic pathways, interstitial lung disease patterns, sleep apnoea, and respiratory failure with oxygen and ventilatory support. Use short question sets and review your errors by topic.
Confirm your travel route and parking, and check for planned engineering works or road closures. Lay out your ID and confirmation documents. Stop intensive study by early evening and protect a full night's sleep; sleep loss costs more marks than one extra hour of revision.
Do a light pass over your own summary notes and the list of mistakes you repeatedly make, such as confusing obstructive versus restrictive spirometry patterns or mixing up anticoagulation durations. Prepare clothes in layers because test rooms are often cold. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and avoid alcohol. Confirm the provider's late-arrival and rescheduling policy one last time.
Eat a normal breakfast and take your usual prescribed medication. Arrive with a generous buffer before the stated arrival time. Leave unnecessary valuables at home. At check-in, present your ID, complete any security screening, and store personal items as instructed. Use the washroom before entering the room, and tell staff immediately if equipment or the workstation is faulty.
Read the instructions and note the number of items and any section timing. Work at a steady pace and flag difficult items to return to rather than stalling. For calculation or data-interpretation items, write the key values down and check units. Re-read the stem for words such as 'most likely', 'initial', or 'contraindicated'. If a scheduled break is offered, use it to stand, hydrate, and reset. If technology fails or you feel unwell, raise your hand and ask the invigilator to log the incident before time resumes.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name on your registration. The list of accepted documents and any secondary-ID requirement are set by the test provider; confirm them in advance, and expect entry to be refused without acceptable ID.
Arrive by the provider's stated arrival time, which is usually earlier than the start time. Late candidates may be refused entry or have time deducted. The exact cut-off and any appeal route are provider-specific, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Personal items such as phones, smart watches, notes, and bags are generally not permitted in the testing room. Confirm with the provider where they must be stored and whether lockers are available; do not carry study notes into the room.
Breaks are governed by the provider's rules. Scheduled breaks may or may not stop the clock, and unscheduled breaks may require invigilation and may not stop the clock. Confirm with the provider before test day if you expect to need a break.
Follow all invigilator instructions and any security screening. Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not attempt to copy, photograph, or remove exam content; misconduct can lead to score cancellation.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the awarding body and may use a scaled or criterion-referenced approach. The number of correct answers needed to pass is not something to estimate on the day; confirm the published standard with the provider.
If you are ill or cannot attend, contact the provider as early as possible and ask about rescheduling, refunds, or documented medical evidence. Do not attend if the provider's illness policy requires you to stay away.
If equipment fails, the room is disruptive, or you believe you were given incorrect timing, ask the invigilator to record the incident at the time. Follow up in writing with the provider afterwards, since post-hoc claims are harder to support.