HERMES Paediatric Respiratory exam-day guide
HERMES Paediatric Respiratory · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID type and name spelling used on your registration. If your registration name differs from your ID, contact the provider before test day; do not assume staff can amend it on site.
Confirmation or admission letter
Print or download the scheduling confirmation showing test date, time, and venue. Confirm the exact arrival time with the provider, as it may be earlier than the stated start time.
Venue and travel plan confirmed
Check the address, building entrance, and parking or transit options the day before. For remote delivery, confirm the platform, system check requirements, and permitted room setup with the provider.
Permitted stationery only
Bring only what the provider lists as allowed (commonly pencils and eraser for paper formats). Do not bring notes, textbooks, or unauthorised electronic devices into the test area; confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Personal medication and aids
If you need medication, inhalers, food, or a medical device during the test, request approval in advance. Do not assume access will be granted on the day; confirm the process with the provider.
Approved accommodations arranged
If you require extra time, a separate room, or other adjustments, confirm approval status and any supporting documentation deadline well before the test. Bring the approval confirmation if the provider issues one.
Calculator and reference materials policy checked
Paediatric respiratory exams may involve spirometry values, gas exchange, or oxygen calculations. Confirm whether a calculator, formula sheet, or normal-value table is supplied or prohibited; do not bring your own unless explicitly permitted.
Break and refreshment policy checked
Confirm whether breaks are scheduled or on request, and whether water or snacks are allowed at the desk. Plan hydration and a light meal around the stated rules rather than assuming flexibility.
Watch or timekeeping
Check whether a wristwatch is permitted, since phones and smart devices are usually banned. If no clock is visible, ask the invigilator how remaining time will be signalled.
Rest and logistics the night before
Sleep adequately, set two alarms, and lay out ID, confirmation, and permitted items the evening before. Aim to arrive with buffer time rather than cutting it close.
Scoring and result-release details understood
Know the pass standard, whether scoring is criterion- or norm-referenced, and how and when results are released. If this is not stated in your candidate handbook, confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the candidate handbook for permitted items, ID rules, break policy, and scoring. Confirm venue, arrival time, and any accommodation approval. Resolve any name or documentation discrepancy with the provider now, not on test day.
Switch from new content to consolidation: review your own summary sheets on paediatric respiratory physiology, common presentations, and interpretation frameworks. Do short timed question sets rather than marathon sessions, and note recurring error patterns.
Do one full-length practice run under realistic timing, including the break pattern you expect. Afterwards, review only the questions you got wrong and the reasoning behind the correct answer.
Light review only: key normal values, formulas if permitted, and your personal error list. Pack ID, confirmation, permitted stationery, and approved aids. Check transport times and set alarms. Avoid intensive cramming and prioritise sleep.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the venue or log in early as instructed. Leave prohibited items such as notes, phones, and smart watches outside the test area. Use the restroom before the test begins.
Read each question fully and note whether it asks for the single best answer or multiple selections. Answer straightforward items first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock at planned checkpoints rather than continuously. For calculation items, check units and significant figures. If a technical or procedural problem occurs, raise your hand and inform the invigilator immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Ensure no flagged questions remain unanswered unless the format penalises guessing (confirm the guessing policy with the provider). Check that your answers are recorded correctly before submitting.
Note which topic areas felt weakest while memory is fresh, for any future retake or continuing education. Follow the provider's stated process and timeline for results.
Rules to check
Bring the ID type specified by the provider, with names matching your registration exactly. If they do not match, contact the provider before test day; on-site resolution is not guaranteed.
Do not bring notes, textbooks, phones, smart watches, or other unauthorised electronic devices into the test area. Store them as directed; possession during the test may be treated as misconduct.
Follow all invigilator instructions, including seating, starting and stopping, and leaving the room. Do not communicate with other candidates once the test has begun.
Confirm the break policy with the provider in advance. If breaks are permitted, expect that leaving and re-entering may involve ID checks and that lost time may not be restored unless the policy states otherwise.
Request any medical, dietary, or access needs in advance through the provider's accommodations process. Do not assume these can be arranged on the day.
Understand the scoring and pass standard before you sit. If the handbook does not state whether incorrect answers are penalised or whether items are weighted, confirm with the provider.
Report any suspected error in a question, or any disruption, to the invigilator during or immediately after the test. Do not attempt to resolve it yourself or discuss it with other candidates.
Keep your registration, confirmation, and result correspondence. If you plan to appeal or retake, the provider's deadlines and procedures apply, so confirm them rather than relying on assumption.