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About this exam

The Iranian medical residency entrance examination (آزمون پذیرش دستیار تخصصی) is the national gateway for medical graduates who want to enter a hospital specialty training program in Iran. It is aimed at physicians holding a medical degree who intend to compete for a limited number of residency seats across specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and others. The exam is a large multiple-choice test delivered in subject-specific blocks, and it is generally scored with negative marking for wrong answers, so guessing strategy matters as much as knowledge. Content spans the clinical disciplines together with basic sciences, public health and preventive medicine, medical ethics, law and regulations, emergency medicine, and English language proficiency. Preparation normally takes many months of structured review: work through each subject systematically, then shift to timed mixed blocks and error analysis, because the exam rewards breadth and stamina as much as depth. Candidates should confirm the current exam schedule, registration window, permitted aids, and scoring rules directly with the official examining body, since these details change between cycles and are published on its website rather than fixed in advance.

What you'll study

Common questions

About Iran Medical Residency Entrance Exam preparation

What is the format of the exam?

It is a multiple-choice test organized into subject-specific sections covering clinical specialties, basic sciences, public health, ethics and law, emergency medicine, and English. Recent cycles have been computer-based. Negative marking is typically applied, so an incorrect answer can reduce your score. Confirm the current format and scoring rules with the official examining body before the cycle.

How hard is the exam, and is it about memorization?

It is competitive and broad rather than tricky. Most questions test applied reasoning on common clinical scenarios, but the sheer number of subjects means recall speed matters. Candidates who only memorize lists often plateau; those who practice decision-making under time pressure improve steadily.

Can I retake it if I do not get a seat?

Retake and eligibility rules are set by the official examining body and can change between cycles, including conditions related to service commitments and previous attempts. Check the current announcement on the official website rather than relying on what earlier candidates experienced.

How much time should I plan for preparation?

Most serious candidates study over many months, often alongside internship or service duties. A realistic plan starts with a systematic pass through each subject, then moves to timed mixed blocks and review of every error. Consistency across months beats short bursts of intensive study.

In what order should I study the subjects?

Start with the subjects you are weakest in and those with high weight, and keep basic sciences running in parallel rather than leaving them for the end. Interleave clinical topics so you revisit them repeatedly. Reserve the final weeks for full timed simulations and weak-area repair.

What are the most common reasons candidates fail to get a competitive score?

Three recurrences: neglecting negative marking and answering everything blindly, skipping basic sciences until too late, and practicing only untimed questions. A fourth is ignoring English comprehension, which slows reading of long clinical stems and costs time on every section.

When is the exam held and how do I register?

The schedule, registration window, and any fees are announced by the official examining body for each cycle and are not fixed from year to year. Watch the official website and register within the announced window; late registration is usually not possible.

Does the exam test clinical skills or only knowledge?

The entrance exam is written and knowledge-based; it does not assess hands-on procedures. Practical competence is evaluated later during residency training. For the exam, focus on diagnostic reasoning, management decisions, and recognizing typical presentations.

How should I use practice questions?

Use them as a diagnostic tool, not a scoreboard. After each block, classify every error as knowledge gap, misreading, or time pressure, and fix the category rather than just rereading the answer. Track accuracy by subject so your study time follows your actual weaknesses.