Iran Specialty Board - Emergency Medicine exam-day guide
Iran Specialty Board - Emergency Medicine · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
National ID card (kart-e melli) plus a second photo ID
Bring your original national ID card and a second government-issued photo ID (e.g., passport). Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted for identity verification on exam day, since acceptance rules are set by the administering body and can change between cycles.
Printed admission card / exam entry permit
Print the entry permit issued through the official registration portal and check that your name, national ID number, exam site, and session time match your documents. If the permit is not yet released or you cannot download it, confirm the procedure with the provider rather than traveling without it.
Exact exam site address and a pre-walked route
Confirm the venue and hall number from your permit, not from memory or a friend's message. Sites are often university or convention facilities with multiple entrances; locate the correct gate in advance and note that traffic in large cities can add substantial time.
Two or three black or blue ballpoint pens
Bring several identical working pens and test them beforehand. If the exam uses answer sheets that require specific marking (e.g., only black ink, no correction fluid), confirm the requirement with the provider and follow it exactly.
Permitted calculator, if the format allows one
Emergency medicine papers may include dose, fluid, or acid-base calculations. Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is permitted and which models are allowed; if any doubt exists, prepare to do calculations by hand.
Analog watch (no smart features)
Many halls have no visible clock, and phones are usually collected. A simple wristwatch lets you pace sections and reserve time to transfer answers. Smartwatches are typically prohibited; leave them at home.
No phones, smartwatches, or study notes in the hall
Devices are usually collected or must be switched off and stored away from your desk. Bringing notes or a phone into the hall can trigger a misconduct finding; confirm the provider's device policy and comply strictly.
Light layers and a small water bottle
Exam halls are often cold and sessions are long. Wear layers you can remove, and bring water only if the provider permits drinks at the desk; confirm food and drink rules in advance.
Plan for meals, medication, and restroom timing
Eat a normal breakfast, take regular medication as prescribed, and use the restroom before entry. Breaks during the paper are usually not permitted, so confirm the provider's policy on supervised restroom breaks if you have a medical need.
Review logistics for travel and accommodation
If the site is in another city, book accommodation near the venue and arrive the day before. Keep your permit and ID on your person, not in checked luggage.
Confirm scoring and question format with the provider
Ask whether wrong answers carry a penalty, whether questions are single-best-answer or multiple-true-false, and how the pass mark is set. Do not rely on rumors from previous cycles; these rules are set by the administering body.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review high-yield core topics you already know: resuscitation algorithms, shock and sepsis, airway management, trauma primary survey, poisonings, electrolyte and acid-base emergencies, and common ECG patterns. Do timed practice under exam conditions, then review only your error patterns. Confirm the venue, session time, and required documents from your permit, and prepare your bag with ID, permit, and pens.
Do a light review of summary notes and formulas only; avoid long new question sets that can erode confidence. Check transport times and, if traveling, confirm your booking. Set out clothes and your ID and permit by the door. Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy caffeine late in the day, and aim for a full night's sleep rather than last-minute cramming.
Eat a normal breakfast, take prescribed medication, and leave earlier than the map suggests to absorb traffic or transport delays. Recheck that your ID, permit, and pens are with you. Arrive at the venue with time to spare, locate the hall and restroom, and stay away from groups comparing obscure facts, which raises anxiety without adding knowledge.
Read each stem fully and note the exact question asked before looking at options; many misses come from answering a different question than the one posed. Answer clear items first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock and reserve the final minutes to check that every answer is transferred and that no marked item is left blank. If a question is genuinely unknown, apply a structured approach: exclude implausible options, then choose the safest, most standard management step.
Rules to check
Carry your original national ID and the printed entry permit at all times on site; entry is normally refused without them. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted if you lack either one.
Follow the provider's rules on personal items. Phones, smartwatches, and notes are usually prohibited in the hall; unauthorized materials can lead to disqualification.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper begins, and do not look at others' answer sheets. Even accidental contact can be treated as misconduct.
Breaks are generally not allowed during the paper; use the restroom before entry. If you have a medical need for a supervised break, confirm the procedure with the provider in advance.
Mark answers exactly as instructed on the answer sheet, using only the permitted pen and shading method. Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid or erasing is allowed.
Confirm with the provider whether wrong answers are penalized before deciding to guess. If there is no negative marking, leave no question blank; if there is, weigh guessing against the penalty.
Keep track of time yourself; do not rely on invigilators to warn you before the end. Ensure all answers are transferred before time is called.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a disruption in the hall, raise it calmly with an invigilator and follow the provider's complaint procedure rather than arguing during the session.