Clinical Officers Council Pre-Internship exam-day guide
Clinical Officers Council Pre-Internship · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Original national ID (or passport) used at registration
Bring the original document, not a photocopy. Confirm with the Council/provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a photocopy must also be presented.
Printed admission letter / exam card / index number slip
Download and print from the Council portal if that is the stated process. Confirm with the provider whether a printed or electronic copy is required and whether the document must carry your photograph.
Proof of registration and fee payment receipt
Carry the receipt or reference number for the current exam cycle in case of a query at the registration desk. Confirm with the provider what proof is acceptable.
Two to four recent passport-size photographs
Some centres require photos for ID verification or station sheets. Confirm with the provider whether photographs are needed and in what number and specification.
At least two black or blue ballpoint pens, a pencil, eraser and sharpener
Check each pen writes before the exam day. Use pencil only where instructions allow, for example on answer sheets requiring shading.
Non-programmable calculator (if permitted)
Confirm with the provider whether calculators are allowed and which types are banned. Programmable or stored-data devices are usually prohibited.
Plain wristwatch (no smart features)
Useful if the hall clock is not visible. Confirm with the provider that wristwatches are permitted; smartwatches and phones are not.
Clinical kit for practical/OSCE stations
Stethoscope, pen torch, measuring tape, gloves and a non-digital thermometer are commonly useful. Confirm with the provider which items are permitted or provided at stations, and whether a white coat or scrubs is required.
Water and a light snack for scheduled breaks
Bring water in a clear container if the hall permits drinks. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at your centre.
Transport and accommodation plan
Confirm the exact venue, gate and reporting time from your admission letter, and do a trial route the day before. Plan to arrive well before the stated time to allow for security checks.
Leave phones, smartwatches and study notes at home or in safe storage
Assume no personal devices or unauthorised materials are allowed in the hall. Confirm with the provider whether there is a secure place to leave bags.
Any required personal medication and a medical note
If you have a chronic condition or need accommodation, contact the provider in advance about the process for declaring it and requesting any adjustment.
Plan the day
Re-read your admission letter and confirm venue, date, reporting time and what you are required to bring. Contact the Council/provider directly about anything unclear, including ID requirements, permitted calculators and OSCE kit.
Check that your ID is valid and that your names match your registration details exactly. Resolve any mismatch now rather than at the gate.
Do focused revision only on high-yield, guideline-based areas such as emergency triage and resuscitation, malaria, TB and HIV, common paediatric illnesses, maternal care and wound management. Use the current national clinical guidelines rather than new resource material.
Normalise your sleep schedule, avoid all-night study and stop revision by early evening each day. Adjust caffeine intake so it does not disturb sleep.
Pack your bag using the checklist and place it by the door. Test every pen, confirm your alarm, charge nothing you cannot take into the hall, and lay out your clothes.
Confirm your transport and, if travelling, your accommodation. Do a trial run to the venue at roughly the time you will travel on exam day.
Do light review of summaries only. No new topics. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and aim for seven to eight hours of sleep.
Eat breakfast, take only the items on your checklist and arrive earlier than the stated reporting time to allow for security and registration queues.
Switch off and store your phone as directed before entering the hall. Present your ID and admission documents at registration and go straight to your allocated seat.
Read the instructions on the cover before starting, note the number of questions and the time available, and calculate a rough minutes-per-question budget. Answer the questions you know first and return to difficult ones.
Write legibly, number your answers exactly as the question paper does, and leave space if you may add to an answer later. Do not leave blanks where there is no negative marking - confirm the marking rule with the provider.
Read the station instructions fully before acting, keep to the time signal, and move on when told even if unfinished. Introduce yourself, gain consent, explain what you are doing and maintain the patient's dignity and confidentiality throughout.
Verbalise your findings and your reasoning clearly to the examiner, perform hand hygiene where indicated, and handle equipment safely. Do not remove or photograph any station material.
Hand in all answer sheets and materials as instructed, leave the hall quietly and avoid prolonged discussion of questions with other candidates. Keep your documents safe until results are released.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID document that matches your registration. Photocopies and expired documents may not be accepted; confirm the accepted forms of ID with the Council/provider before exam day.
Do not bring phones, smartwatches, earbuds, notes or any unauthorised material into the examination hall. Possession of such items may lead to disqualification, so confirm the storage arrangements at your centre.
Use only the stationery and equipment permitted for that paper or station. If you are unsure whether an item such as a calculator, pen torch or stethoscope is allowed, confirm with the provider in advance rather than at the door.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and examiners immediately. Do not start writing before you are told and stop writing the moment the paper is collected.
Leave the hall only during officially announced breaks and only with permission. If you feel unwell or need the washroom, raise your hand and inform an invigilator before leaving your seat.
Maintain confidentiality and dignity in all patient-contact stations. Do not photograph patients, station materials or clinical records, and do not discuss patient details outside the station.
Attempt every question unless the rules state that marks are deducted for wrong answers. Confirm the marking and negative-marking policy, and the pass mark, with the Council/provider, as these are set by the examining body and are not published in advance here.
Any irregular behaviour, impersonation, communication with other candidates or removal of examination material is treated as malpractice and may result in cancellation of your results. If approached by another candidate, report it to an invigilator immediately.