Iraqi Board Family Medicine exam-day guide
Iraqi Board Family Medicine · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the original identification document the Iraqi Board requires for admission. Requirements can change between sittings, so confirm the accepted ID type and validity with the Iraqi Board of Medical Specializations or your training centre before exam day; do not rely on a photocopy or an expired document.
Admission permit or exam card
Print or download whatever admission document the Board issues for your sitting and keep a copy on your phone as backup. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Exam venue and reporting time confirmed
Re-check the venue, building entrance, and reporting time in the days before the exam. Arrangements can be posted or changed at short notice, so verify with the Board or your centre rather than assuming the details from a previous sitting.
Clinical tools for the practical stations
A working stethoscope, a pen, and a small notebook are commonly useful in clinical exams. Confirm with the provider which instruments, if any, you must bring yourself and which are supplied at the station.
Watch or timing device
A simple analogue watch without smart features is useful for pacing between stations. Confirm whether smartwatches and phones are permitted in the hall at all.
Professional attire and comfortable shoes
Dress as you would for a real clinic: clean, professional, and modest. You may be standing for long periods and moving between rooms, so choose footwear accordingly.
Water and a light snack for before the exam
Eat a normal breakfast and stay hydrated. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed inside the waiting area or station rooms.
Leave phones and valuables at home or in secure storage
Most practical exams restrict or prohibit phones and smart devices in the assessment area. Confirm the exact policy with the provider and plan secure storage in advance.
Travel and parking plan
Plan the route, allow a buffer for traffic and security checks at the entrance, and identify a backup transport option. Arriving late can mean losing your place; confirm the late-arrival rule with the provider.
Personal medication and health needs
If you take regular medication or have a health condition that may need accommodation, contact the Board well before the exam to ask about the process for special arrangements. Do not assume accommodations will be granted on the day.
Rest and revision materials for the final day
Prepare a short, high-yield revision sheet covering your weak stations and communication phrases. Keep the last evening light and prioritise sleep over cramming.
Emergency contact and contact details of your centre
Save the phone number of your training centre or the Board office in case of travel problems or last-minute questions. Confirm the correct contact channel with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm the venue, reporting time, and ID requirements with the Board or your centre, and resolve any uncertainty now rather than on the day. Check that your stethoscope works, pack your bag, and print your admission document. Review your weakest practical stations, especially history-taking, counselling, and examination sequences, and rehearse them aloud with a colleague if possible. Stop introducing new material after this point and focus on consolidating what you already know.
Do a light revision pass over your summary sheet, focusing on station structure and communication phrases rather than detailed facts. Prepare clothes, ID, admission document, stethoscope, pen, and watch in one place. Check the travel route and forecast, set two alarms, and eat a normal dinner. Aim for a full night's sleep; avoid late-night cramming, which costs more in fatigue than it gains in recall.
Eat a proper breakfast and hydrate moderately. Arrive at the venue with a generous buffer before the reporting time to allow for security checks and locating the waiting area. Keep your phone off and stored as instructed. Use the waiting time for calm, brief mental rehearsal of your opening lines for a station, not for anxious discussion with other candidates.
Read each station's instructions carefully before starting, and note the time available. Introduce yourself to the patient or simulated patient, obtain consent, and explain what you are doing before you do it. Structure your history and examination logically, speak your findings aloud where appropriate, and summarise and safety-net at the end. If a station goes badly, deliberately reset before the next one rather than carrying the mistake forward. Watch the time signal and finish with a concise summary rather than running out of time mid-sentence.
Leave the assessment area without discussing station content with candidates who have not yet sat the exam. Note any concerns about the conduct of the exam and raise them through the official channel with the Board if necessary. Rest, then plan your next steps in training.
Rules to check
Carry the original photo ID required by the Iraqi Board and present it on request. Confirm the accepted document types and validity with the provider before the exam; do not assume a document from a previous sitting will be accepted.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and examiners immediately. The practical exam is a formal assessment, and failure to comply with instructions can lead to removal from the station or the examination.
Do not bring unauthorised materials, notes, or electronic devices into the assessment area. Confirm the exact list of prohibited items with the provider, and store valuables securely before entering.
Treat simulated and real patients with dignity and obtain consent before any examination. Introduce yourself, explain what you intend to do, and use appropriate chaperoning and draping as you would in clinical practice.
Do not discuss station content with other candidates during the exam or with candidates who have not yet been assessed. Breaching confidentiality can invalidate your result.
If you need to leave the assessment area for illness or another urgent reason, inform an invigilator immediately. Confirm the rules on breaks and withdrawal with the provider in advance.
Ask the provider in advance about the scoring and pass criteria, the number and duration of stations, and the process for appeals or special circumstances. Do not rely on informal accounts from other candidates.
If you have a disability, health condition, or other circumstance requiring accommodation, contact the Board well before the exam to ask about the official process. Do not assume arrangements can be made on the day.