Iran Specialty Board - Pediatrics exam-day guide
Iran Specialty Board - Pediatrics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm the exact date, reporting time, and venue on your admission card
The Iran Specialty Board (بورد تخصصی) pediatrics exam is administered under the national residency/board examination system; the precise date, session time, and test center are printed on your admission card (کارت ورود به جلسه). Re-check the official announcement a few days before, since schedules and centers can change. If anything on the card is unclear, confirm with the provider.
National ID card (کارت ملی) or other accepted photo ID
Bring the original identification document named in the instructions, plus your admission card. Photocopies are generally not accepted. If your ID is lost, expired, or the name does not match your records, contact the organizing body immediately - do not assume an alternative document will be accepted; confirm with the provider.
Printed admission card (کارت ورود به جلسه)
Print the card from the official system once it is released and check every field: name, photo, exam code, date, time, address. Bring at least one printed copy; keep a digital copy on your phone as backup, but do not rely on the phone alone.
Several black or blue ballpoint pens and pencils
Answer sheets are usually machine-read, so use only the pen/pencil type the instructions specify. Bring spares; borrowing from other candidates during the exam may be restricted. Confirm the required writing instrument with the provider.
A simple analog or basic digital watch
Many centers do not guarantee a visible clock, and phones are typically collected or prohibited at the desk. A noiseless watch with no smart features is safest. Do not bring a smartwatch.
Nothing that could be treated as unauthorized material
Leave notes, textbooks, flashcards, and loose papers outside the hall. Keep pockets empty of anything that could be mistaken for a crib sheet. Confirm the center's policy on bags and where to leave them.
Phone switched off and stored as instructed
Expect phones to be collected or required to be off and out of reach. A phone ringing or vibrating at the desk can be treated as a violation. Plan for how you will check the time and contact family afterward.
Water and a light snack for before/after the session
Eating and drinking inside the exam hall may be restricted, so hydrate before you enter. Confirm whether a break is scheduled and whether water is permitted at the desk.
Plan the route and arrival buffer
Traffic in large cities can be unpredictable. Arrive with a comfortable margin; candidates arriving after the gates close may be refused entry. Scout the building entrance in advance if you can.
Rest, medication, and personal needs sorted the day before
If you take regular medication or have a documented special need, arrange it in advance with the organizing body rather than improvising on the day; confirm with the provider what documentation is required.
A calm review sheet only - no new material
The last day is for light review of your own summaries, high-yield lists, and normal-value tables, not for opening a new reference. This reduces anxiety and protects sleep.
Backup transport and emergency contact
Have a second way to reach the venue (taxi app, metro, a family member) and a contact who can help if something goes wrong. Keep some cash for transport.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: re-read the admission card, verify the venue on a map, plan the route and departure time, and check the weather and any announced transport disruptions. Prepare the ID, admission card, pens, and watch in one bag. Do not start new topics; spend study time only on your own condensed notes, normal laboratory values, and frequently missed points. Protect sleep starting now so you are not compensating on exam morning.
Do a timed mixed practice set or a rapid pass through high-yield pediatric topics (neonatal jaundice, fluid and electrolyte management, growth and development milestones, common infections, emergencies) using your own materials. Review how you will handle difficult items: answer what you know first, mark uncertain items, and return to them. Stop heavy study by early evening.
Pack the bag: ID, printed admission card, pens/pencils, watch, water, snack, cash, and any permitted medication. Lay out clothes. Confirm the alarm and arrange transport. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at your usual time. Do a final 30–60 minute light review of your summary sheet only, then stop.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid excessive caffeine, and leave earlier than your calculated travel time. Arrive at the venue with buffer, locate the hall and the restroom, and follow staff instructions for ID checks and phone storage. Once seated, fill in identifying details on the answer sheet exactly as instructed, check the page count and question numbering, and read the instructions before starting.
Work in passes: first answer items you are confident about, then return to marked items, then make reasoned guesses on anything left - never leave a bubble blank if there is no penalty for guessing, but confirm the scoring rule first. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints (for example, a quarter, half, and three-quarters of the time) and adjust pace. Transfer answers to the answer sheet as you go or in scheduled blocks, checking numbering alignment. If you feel panic, pause, breathe slowly for a few seconds, and resume with an easy item.
Hand in all materials as instructed, retrieve your phone and belongings, and avoid post-exam answer-checking that fuels anxiety. Note anything about the process you want to remember, and rest before any next stage such as an interview or practical assessment; confirm with the provider what comes next and when results are expected.
Rules to check
Bring the original identification document and admission card specified in the official instructions, and present them when requested. Names and photos must match your records; if there is a discrepancy, resolve it with the organizing body before exam day - confirm with the provider which documents are accepted.
Follow all instructions from invigilators about seating, materials on the desk, phone storage, and leaving the hall. Unauthorized material at the desk or a phone that is not stored as required can lead to disqualification; the exact sanctions are set by the administering body, so confirm with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the session, do not look at others' papers, and do not attempt to copy, photograph, or remove exam materials. Report any disturbance to an invigilator rather than handling it yourself.
Ask an invigilator if a question is defective, a page is missing, or the answer sheet is damaged. Do not attempt to fix numbering or printing problems on your own, and do not mark the answer sheet outside designated areas.
If you need to leave the hall for a restroom or health reason, raise your hand and wait for permission; re-entry and time compensation are governed by center rules and are not guaranteed - confirm with the provider.
Scoring and any penalty for wrong answers are determined by the administering body. Ask or check the official instructions in advance so you know whether to guess on unanswered items; do not assume a penalty or its absence.
Breaks, if any, are announced by the invigilators; the clock generally does not stop for individual breaks unless stated. Return promptly and re-check that your answer sheet is intact.
Any special accommodation, medication need, or religious/health consideration should be requested and documented well before the exam through the official channel; arrangements are not made at the desk - confirm with the provider.