Iraqi Board Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery exam-day guide
Iraqi Board Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID and admission permit
Bring the original identification document and the admission/entry permit the examining body issued to you. Confirm with the provider which specific ID types are accepted (national ID, passport, or both) and whether a printed copy of the permit is required. needs_review
Exam venue and reporting time confirmed
Confirm the exact building, hall, and reporting time with the Iraqi Board or the training center administering the exam at least a week ahead. Venues and timings can change between sessions, so rely only on the current official notice. needs_review
Stationery and non-programmable items
Bring several blue or black pens, a pencil, an eraser, and a simple non-programmable watch if permitted. Do not assume the hall supplies anything. Confirm with the provider whether watches, highlighters, or calculators are allowed. needs_review
Know the format before you arrive
Establish in advance whether the sitting is written MCQ, short-answer, OSCE/clinical, oral/viva, or a combination, and how many papers and how long each lasts. This determines how you rehearse timing. Confirm the current structure with the provider rather than relying on past candidates. needs_review
Leave prohibited electronics behind
Mobile phones, smart watches, earbuds, and any recording or communication device are almost always banned in the hall. If you must carry a phone for travel, plan where to leave it, as secure storage may not be provided. Confirm the provider's device policy. needs_review
Personal medication and necessities
Carry any prescribed medication you may need during the day, plus water and a light snack for scheduled breaks. Declare medication to invigilators if required. Confirm the provider's rules on bringing food, drink, and medication into the hall. needs_review
Rehearse the route and travel time
Do a dry run of the journey or check traffic and parking options the week before. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time so a delay does not cost you the paper.
Prepare clinical materials if the exam is practical
For an OSCE or clinical component, bring a clean white coat, stethoscope, and any instruments the notice specifies. Confirm the dress code and equipment list with the provider, as some centers supply everything and prohibit personal instruments. needs_review
Review the instructions and scoring notice
Read any candidate handbook or instructions issued with your admission documents so you know the number of questions or stations, negative-marking policy, and pass criteria before exam day.
Plan for rest and a normal routine the night before
Protect sleep in the last 48 hours. Cramming overnight reliably costs more marks than it gains in a long, high-stakes sitting.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Consolidate high-yield material: cardiac and thoracic anatomy, physiology, and pathology; perioperative management; trauma and emergency presentations; and the common operative procedures and their complications. Work through timed practice papers or station practice under realistic conditions to calibrate your pace, and review errors rather than re-reading notes passively.
Re-confirm logistics: venue, reporting time, ID requirements, permitted items, and the exam format. Print or download your admission permit and store it with your ID. Check the provider's current notice for any last-minute change.
Prepare your kit in one bag: ID, permit, pens, pencil, eraser, watch if allowed, white coat and stethoscope if the practical component requires them, medication, water, and a snack. Lay it out early so nothing is assembled in a rush.
Do light revision only: skim summaries, lists of complications, and key management algorithms. Do not start a new topic or attempt a full mock at night. Eat normally, avoid excessive caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time.
Set two alarms, confirm your transport plan, and check the weather and traffic outlook. If travelling from another city, stay near the venue the night before rather than commuting on the morning.
Eat a proper breakfast, take your medication, and leave with your kit checked against the list. Arrive early enough to find the hall, complete any registration or identity checks, and settle without rushing.
Read the instructions and check the question or station count and time allocation before starting. For written papers, answer the questions you know first, flag difficult items, and return to them; keep an eye on the clock so you leave time to transfer answers and check that every item is attempted. For OSCEs, read each station's instructions carefully, introduce yourself, and keep to the time signal.
If you finish early, use the remaining time to check for misread negatives, missed items, and transcription errors rather than leaving. If a station or question goes badly, reset immediately and give the next one full attention, since marks are spread across many items.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo identification and admission permit specified by the examining body. Candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry, and the accepted document types are set by the provider, so confirm them in advance. needs_review
Electronic devices, smart watches, and any communication or recording equipment are normally prohibited in the examination hall. Do not rely on being able to store them at the venue; confirm the provider's device policy before the day. needs_review
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, materials, and start and stop times. Any irregularity, including talking during the paper or possession of unauthorized material, can lead to invalidation of your result.
Clarify the break policy before the exam: whether breaks are scheduled, whether you may leave the hall, and whether time stops during them. Do not assume you can leave and return freely; confirm with the provider. needs_review
Understand the scoring and pass rules in force for your sitting, including whether negative marking applies and what the pass standard is. These are set by the examining body and are not uniform across sittings, so confirm with the provider. needs_review
For clinical or oral components, behave as you would with a real patient: introduce yourself, obtain consent where relevant, maintain professional conduct, and follow infection-control and dress requirements. Unprofessional conduct can be assessed and penalized.
Raise any problem during the exam, such as a misprinted question, faulty equipment, or a disturbance, with an invigilator immediately rather than after the sitting, when it is harder to address.
Report any illness or special circumstance that affects your performance through the official channel the provider specifies, as soon as possible. Do not assume allowances will be made retrospectively without an application.