Iran Medical Residency Entrance Exam exam-day guide
Iran Medical Residency Entrance Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed admission card / exam entry permit (کارت ورود به جلسه)
Print the entry card from the registration portal (Sanjesh/related system) once it is released, typically a few days before the exam. Verify your name, national ID number, photo, exam group (گروه), language, and test center city on it. If any detail is wrong, contact the organizing body immediately - do not wait until exam day. Confirm the exact release date and printing steps with the provider, since procedures change year to year.
Original national ID card (کارت ملی) or the accepted alternative ID
Bring the original, valid identification document named on your admission card. Expired or damaged documents are a common reason for being turned away. Confirm with the provider which alternatives (e.g., a temporary ID receipt) are accepted if your card is lost or being renewed.
Multiple black ballpoint pens and 2-3 sharpened pencils with an eraser
Answer sheets are usually machine-read, so bring spare black pens and pencils. Practice filling sample bubbles neatly and completely. Confirm whether the answer sheet must be completed in pen or pencil - rules differ by year - with the provider.
Simple analog wristwatch (no smart features)
Many test halls lack a visible clock, and phones are not allowed at your desk. A basic analog watch helps you pace the sections. Smart watches and any device with communication or storage capability are almost always prohibited; confirm the exact list of banned items with the provider.
Water bottle and a light snack for after the exam
The exam is long and mentally taxing. Keep hydration modest before the test to avoid bathroom interruptions. Check whether food and drink are permitted inside the hall - this varies by center - and confirm with the provider.
Printed list of your target specialties and their approximate last-year cutoff ranks
Knowing your realistic range before exam day reduces panic when choosing a field later. Write down 3-5 specialties ranked by preference with rough cutoff figures from published results. Treat cutoffs as approximate, since they shift each year with competition and quota changes.
Plan for reaching the test center with a large time buffer
Visit or map the route the day before. Gates typically close before the start time, and late arrivals are usually barred from entering. Confirm the exact gate-closing time and center address on your admission card or with the provider.
Arrangements for overnight stay and meals if the center is in another city
Book accommodation near the center well in advance; exam-period hotels fill quickly. Avoid unfamiliar food the night before. Keep your admission card, ID, and pens in one bag the night before so nothing is forgotten.
A calm pre-exam routine and adequate sleep in the final week
Do not attempt to learn new material in the last 48 hours. Review summaries, formula sheets, and your own error log instead. Sleep at your normal time the night before; sleep deprivation costs more marks than one extra hour of review.
Checked list of prohibited items to leave at home
Phones, smart watches, calculators, notes, and books are generally banned in the hall; possession can lead to disqualification even if unused. Confirm the exact prohibited-items list with the provider before exam day.
Emergency contact and backup transport plan
Save the center's contact number and a family member's number on paper in your bag in case your phone is collected. Have a backup route or taxi plan if public transport fails.
Mental plan for handling difficult questions
Decide in advance how long you will spend on a hard question before marking it and moving on. A fixed rule prevents one question from consuming time meant for several easier ones.
Plan the day
Switch from learning to consolidation. Review only your own summary sheets, formula lists, and error log. Take one full timed mock under exam-like conditions, then analyze mistakes rather than chasing a score. Confirm your admission card details, test center address, gate-closing time, and transport plan. Prepare the bag with ID, admission card, pens, pencils, and watch. Keep sleep and meal times regular.
Stop intensive study by early evening. Do a light review of high-yield summaries in the morning, then stop. Visit or confirm the route to the center and estimate travel time, adding at least an hour of buffer. Lay out clothes, ID, admission card, and stationery by the door. Eat a familiar dinner, avoid heavy caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not discuss difficult topics with other candidates.
Eat a normal breakfast and avoid trying new foods or excessive coffee. Leave home earlier than your estimate. Recheck that the admission card and original ID are in your bag before locking the door. Arrive at the center with time to spare, find the hall and your seat, and use the waiting time only for calm review of a short summary - not for new material. Follow staff instructions on phones and personal belongings.
Read the instructions on the answer sheet carefully and fill in identifying information exactly as on your admission card. Work in passes: answer confident questions first, mark uncertain ones, and return to them. Keep to your pre-planned time limit per question and watch the clock. Transfer answers to the answer sheet as you go or in scheduled blocks so you never run out of time to transfer. Leave a few minutes at the end to verify that every answer is marked in the correct row and that no stray marks confuse the scanner.
Do not attempt to reconstruct every answer with other candidates; it increases anxiety without changing the result. Note your approximate performance for later comparison with published results. Wait for the official answer key and results announcement through the provider's official channel, and prepare your specialty preference list in the meantime.
Rules to check
Bring the original identification document named on your admission card; photocopies and expired documents are typically not accepted. Confirm the accepted alternatives with the provider before exam day.
Arrive before the gate-closing time printed on your admission card. Candidates arriving late are generally not admitted, and no extra time is given for lost time.
Phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices must be left outside the hall or handed in as instructed. Possession at your desk can lead to disqualification even if the device is switched off.
Follow all invigilator instructions. Any communication with other candidates, looking at another answer sheet, or use of unauthorized notes is treated as cheating and can void your result.
Fill the answer sheet exactly as instructed, using the specified pen or pencil. Answers marked outside the designated boxes or with ambiguous marks may not be read by the scanner.
If you need to leave the hall for any reason, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; leaving without permission may end your exam. Confirm the center's policy on breaks and bathroom visits with the provider.
Scoring and negative marking: confirm with the provider whether wrong answers carry a penalty in your exam group, since this changes guessing strategy. Do not assume a rule from a previous year still applies.
Results, cutoffs, and specialty selection procedures are announced only through official channels. Treat cutoff ranks circulating on social media as unofficial estimates and verify all dates and rules with the provider.