Iraqi Board ENT exam-day guide
Iraqi Board ENT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm the exact exam venue, date, and reporting time with the Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations (confirm with the provider)
Venue and timing for the practical/clinical (oral) exam are communicated by the Board and can change; verify in writing shortly before the date rather than relying on a colleague's memory.
Bring your primary photo identification and Board admission documents
Carry the ID and any admission letter or candidate card the Board issues. Accepted ID types and any additional documents are set by the Board, so confirm the exact list with the provider.
Bring several copies of your CV and logbook/surgical case summary
Examiners may ask about your training, operative exposure, and case numbers. A concise typed CV and a summary of your logged cases help you answer precisely and consistently.
Bring a notebook and pen
Useful for jotting a structured answer before speaking and for noting any instructions given on the day. Confirm whether any materials are restricted.
Revise your own operative and clinical logbook cases
Practical exams often start from your own experience. Be ready to describe indications, steps, complications, and management of cases you personally logged.
Prepare concise, structured oral answers
For each topic, practise a short framework: definition, clinical assessment, investigations, management, and complications. Rehearse aloud with a colleague.
Practise interpreting common ENT investigations from memory
Be ready to describe audiograms, tympanometry, CT/MRI of the temporal region, and endoscopy findings verbally, since you cannot rely on images being shown clearly.
Rehearse a standard clinical examination sequence
Practise the ENT examination (ear, nose, throat, neck) and presenting findings in a systematic order, including relevant cranial nerve and neck examination.
Plan travel, accommodation, and arrival buffer
Allow extra time for traffic and security checks. Arrive early; late arrival rules are set by the provider, so confirm them.
Dress professionally and comfortably
Formal clinical attire is appropriate. Confirm whether a white coat or any specific dress code is required.
Confirm the allowed personal items and storage arrangements (confirm with the provider)
Phone and bag policies vary; ask in advance whether devices must be handed in and where belongings are kept.
Review the exam format and scoring with the provider (needs_review)
The number of stations or oral tables, time per station, and pass criteria are set by the Board. Confirm the current format directly rather than assuming.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Re-read your logbook summaries and rehearse structured oral answers on high-yield areas: chronic suppurative otitis media and cholesteatoma, hearing loss, vertigo, epistaxis, sinonasal disease, head and neck masses, airway emergencies, and paediatric ENT. Do two or three mock oral sessions with a colleague who questions you firmly and times you.
Confirm venue, reporting time, and required documents in writing with the Board. Check transport and accommodation. Prepare your CV, logbook summary, ID, and clothing. Get a full night's sleep.
Do a light review only: common operative steps, complication lists, and emergency algorithms. Pack your bag with documents, CV, notebook, and pens. Avoid cramming new material. Eat normally, avoid heavy late meals, and sleep early.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive well before the reporting time, and re-check your documents. Skim only your own one-page summaries. Stay calm and avoid last-minute discussion of uncertain facts with other candidates.
Listen to the full question before answering. Pause briefly to structure your response, then present it in order. If you do not know, say what you do know and reason aloud rather than guessing confidently. If an examiner prompts you, take the cue. Manage time per station and leave a clear, concise final answer.
Rules to check
Attend with valid photo identification and the admission documents the Board requires; if your ID is missing or expired, contact the provider immediately, as entry rules are set by the Board.
Follow all instructions from examiners and invigilators, including where to wait, how stations rotate, and when you may enter or leave.
Electronic devices and personal belongings are usually restricted; confirm the exact policy with the provider before the exam day.
Breaks between stations or oral tables are set by the provider; ask on arrival how breaks are managed and whether you may leave the area.
Scoring and pass criteria are determined by the Board. Do not rely on rumours about cut-offs or station weighting; confirm the current criteria with the provider.
Maintain professional conduct: answer only what is asked, do not argue with examiners, and do not discuss or share exam content with other candidates during the session.
If you have a documented need for special arrangements, request it from the provider well in advance; approval is at the Board's discretion.
If you feel unwell or face an emergency on the day, inform the examiners or invigilators immediately and follow their instructions.