Iraqi Board OB/GYN exam-day guide
Iraqi Board OB/GYN · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification and admission documents
Bring the original photo ID and admission letter or confirmation listed in your invitation. Confirm the accepted ID type and whether photocopies are permitted with the exam provider.
Candidate number and exam schedule
Write down your candidate number, reporting time, venue, and station schedule if provided. Keep them in one folder so you are not searching at check-in.
Stethoscope and any permitted instruments
Bring a working stethoscope if the provider allows personal equipment. Confirm in advance whether instruments, gloves, or examination aids are supplied at the venue.
Pen, pencil, eraser, and small notebook
Carry simple stationery for any written notes or candidate instructions. Use only if the provider permits notes during the examination.
Watch with a seconds display
A plain analogue or digital watch helps with timing pulse, respiratory rate, and station tasks. Confirm the provider's rule on smartwatches before wearing one.
Professional attire and comfortable shoes
Follow the dress code in your invitation. Wear neat, comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for standing through clinical stations; bring a white coat only if explicitly instructed.
Logbook, procedure list, and original certificates if required
Some boards ask candidates to present training records or original certificates. Check your invitation and confirm the exact list with the provider before travelling.
Travel plan and venue contact details
Confirm the exact building, entrance, and reporting time. Save a contact number for the venue and plan a backup route in case of traffic or transport delays.
Water and a light snack
Bring water and a small snack only if the provider permits items in the waiting area. Confirm break and refreshment rules in advance.
Practice case presentations aloud
Rehearse a structured history, focused examination sequence, and concise verbal presentation for common obstetric and gynecologic scenarios. Practise saying what you are doing and why.
Rest and sleep plan
Protect sleep in the final nights. Fatigue worsens communication and clinical judgment more than one extra hour of late revision helps.
Plan the day
Confirm the date, reporting time, venue, and document requirements with the exam provider. Plan travel and backup transport. Review high-yield practical topics such as antenatal history, gynecologic examination, safe prescribing, postpartum hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, and instrument or specimen recognition. Stop adding new topics after your final structured review.
Practise aloud with a colleague: introduce yourself, take consent, explain each examination step, present findings, and state a safe management plan. Prepare clothes and pack your bag. Check that your ID and invitation match your name exactly.
Recheck documents, route, weather, and reporting time. Do a light review of your own summary notes only. Avoid alcohol and late screen use. Set two alarms and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate. Arrive earlier than the stated reporting time to allow check-in and orientation. Switch off your phone before entering the test area. Use slow breathing to settle nerves and review only a one-page summary.
Read or listen to instructions carefully. Ask for clarification only if the provider permits it. Use a systematic approach, verbalize your findings and reasoning, and state safe next steps when uncertain. Do not bluff or invent findings.
Introduce yourself, confirm patient identity and consent where relevant, maintain privacy, and thank the patient or examiner. Keep to time; if a station ends, move on rather than dwelling on a mistake.
Do not discuss station content with candidates who have not yet sat the exam. Record any legitimate concerns about conduct or conditions through the provider's official channel.
Rules to check
Bring the identification and admission documents specified by the exam provider; confirm accepted ID and document rules before the exam day.
Follow the provider's instructions on mobile phones, smart devices, notes, and personal equipment. If storage is not provided, confirm where devices must be left.
Obtain consent and explain each step before examining a patient or simulated patient. Examiners assess communication, professionalism, and safety as well as diagnosis.
Verbalize your clinical reasoning and findings clearly. If you do not know an answer, say so and outline a safe approach rather than guessing.
Respect patient privacy and confidentiality. Do not discuss identifiable patient information outside the examination.
Confirm the break policy, timing, and whether food or water is allowed in the waiting area with the provider.
Manage time deliberately: read instructions, prioritize essential tasks, and move on when a station ends. Confirm whether questions during stations are permitted.
Scoring is likely to reflect clinical judgment, communication, and professional conduct in addition to factual knowledge; confirm the exact scoring and appeals policy with the provider.