Iraqi Board Neurosurgery exam-day guide
Iraqi Board Neurosurgery · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo identification
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you used on your application (passport or national ID card). Confirm with the Iraqi Board of Medical Specializations / the examination provider which ID types are accepted and whether a copy is permitted; treat this as needs_review until confirmed in your admission letter.
Admission letter / exam permit
Print the admission notice or hall ticket issued to you and carry a paper copy alongside a digital copy. Verify your name spelling, candidate number, date, time, and venue against your registration; report discrepancies to the provider immediately.
Exact venue and reporting time
Confirm the building, hall, and reporting time with the provider in advance (needs_review: venues and reporting times change between sessions). Do a dry run to the site so you know travel time, security screening, and parking or drop-off points.
Scrubs / professional attire per instructions
The practical/clinical exam typically expects clean professional attire or scrubs. Confirm the dress code, whether white coats are allowed or banned, and whether bare-below-elbow rules apply with the provider (needs_review).
Stethoscope and basic instruments if permitted
Bring your own stethoscope if the provider allows personal instruments. Confirm with the provider whether any instruments, penlights, or reflex hammers are supplied or prohibited (needs_review); do not assume.
Notebook, pen, and pencil
Carry a plain notebook and pens for stations that require written notes or history taking. Confirm whether paper is provided and whether personal notes may be brought into the station area.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital wristwatch helps you track station timing where clocks are not visible. Smart watches and phones are usually prohibited in the exam hall; confirm the provider's device policy.
Personal medication and hydration
Bring any prescribed medication, water, and a light snack for breaks if the provider permits them. Confirm break rules and food/drink policy with the provider (needs_review).
Leave valuables at home
Bring only what you need. Phones, smart devices, and bags are typically stored outside the assessment area; confirm the provider's secure-storage arrangements in advance.
Rehearse the practical skills aloud
Practice full focused examinations and case presentations with a colleague, timing yourself. Rehearse the sequence: consent, wash hands, introduce yourself, examine, thank the patient, present findings and a management plan.
Know the station format
Confirm with the provider whether the practical exam uses OSCE-style timed stations, viva/oral case discussions, or a mix, and the number and length of stations (needs_review: format can vary by year and centre).
Emergency contact and travel plan
Have a contact number for the provider and a plan for delays (traffic, security checks). Arrive early; late arrival rules vary, so confirm the cut-off with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm venue, reporting time, ID requirements, and dress code with the provider in writing. Re-read the admission letter for prohibited items. Do focused revision of high-yield practical topics: focused neurological examination, cranial nerve exam, spine examination, trauma assessment, and common ward scenarios. Practice presenting cases aloud in a structured format (history, examination, investigations, differential, management). Sleep on a normal schedule and avoid cramming new material.
Pack your bag: ID, admission letter, pens, notebook, watch, medication, and permitted instruments. Lay out clothes. Do a light review of examination sequences and presentation templates only. Confirm transport and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and aim for a full night's sleep; avoid late-night study that compromises alertness.
Eat a proper breakfast and hydrate. Arrive at the venue well before the reporting time to allow for security screening and registration. Keep your ID and admission letter accessible. Switch off and stow your phone as instructed. Use waiting time for calm mental rehearsal of examination sequences, not new facts.
Read each station's instructions carefully before starting. Introduce yourself, confirm patient identity, obtain consent, and wash hands where the station requires it. Narrate your findings clearly and keep to time; move on when the station signals. If you are unsure, state your reasoning and what you would do next rather than guessing silently. In viva stations, answer directly, then justify. Stay composed after a weak station; each station is usually scored independently. Note any instructions about scoring or appeals and confirm them with the provider.
Rules to check
Carry the original photo ID used at registration; entry is normally refused without acceptable identification. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider in advance.
Follow the provider's instructions on prohibited items. Phones, smart watches, and unauthorised notes are typically not allowed in the assessment area; confirm storage arrangements with the provider.
Observe patient dignity and confidentiality in every clinical station: obtain consent, explain what you are doing, and avoid unnecessary exposure. Treat simulated patients as real patients.
Respect station timing. Stop when instructed and move to the next station promptly; do not return to a completed station unless told to.
Breaks: confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, their length, and whether you may leave the hall between stations. Do not assume you can leave early.
Scoring: confirm with the provider how stations are weighted, whether there is a pass mark per station or overall, and the appeals or re-sit process. Do not rely on rumour.
Declare any conflict of interest if you recognise an examiner or patient, and follow the provider's procedure for this.
Maintain professional conduct throughout: no communication with other candidates about station content during the exam, and no recording of any kind unless explicitly authorised.