Cambodia Health Entrance Exam

More study resources

About this exam

The Cambodia Health Entrance Exam is the competitive subject-based written examination used by Cambodian public higher-education institutions to select candidates for health-science programmes such as medicine, pharmacy, nursing, midwifery, medical laboratory technology and dentistry. It is intended for students who have completed upper-secondary schooling (typically the national Grade 12 examination) and who want to enter a health-professional training pathway. Because places are limited and demand is high, the examination is a ranking instrument as much as a pass/fail test: your score relative to other candidates in the same intake matters, so a strong performance in your best subjects can offset a weaker one.

The paper is built around upper-secondary science and mathematics - biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics carry the greatest weight, with smaller components in logical reasoning and general aptitude and in Khmer literature and general knowledge. Questions are predominantly multiple choice, testing recall of core concepts alongside the ability to apply formulas and interpret short data or experimental descriptions.

Preparation is best treated as a long project rather than a last-minute review. Work through the Grade 11–12 syllabus topic by topic, keep a formula and definition notebook, and practise timed mixed-subject sets so you can move quickly between biology vocabulary, chemistry calculations and physics problems. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with any government ministry or university; always confirm current rules with the official examining body.

What you'll study

Common questions

About Cambodia Health Entrance Exam preparation

Who is eligible to sit the exam?

Candidates generally need to have completed upper-secondary education and hold the relevant Grade 12 results, and some programmes add subject or health requirements. Eligibility rules, required documents and deadlines are set by the official examining body and the individual institutions, so check their current announcements before you register.

What is the exam format?

It is a subject-based written examination, predominantly multiple choice, split into the science and mathematics subjects plus smaller reasoning and Khmer literature/general knowledge sections. Expect short standalone questions rather than long essays. Confirm the exact paper structure and any subject weighting for your year on the official body's site.

How difficult is it?

The content sits at upper-secondary level, so nothing is beyond the syllabus; difficulty comes from competition and speed. Students who lose marks usually do so through careless calculation, weak recall of terminology, or running out of time rather than through unseen material. Consistent practice under timed conditions is the most reliable way to raise your score.

How long is the exam and how many questions are there?

The official examining body publishes the current question count, time limit and sitting schedule for each intake, and these can change between years. Do not rely on figures from older candidates. Check the official announcement for your examination year and plan your practice timings to match it.

What score do I need to pass?

There is no fixed published threshold to quote, because selection is competitive and cut-offs vary by institution, programme and year according to the number of places and the strength of the applicant pool. The official body publishes results and any stated criteria; aim to maximise your total rather than targeting a specific number.

Can I retake the exam if I am not selected?

Retake rules depend on the current regulations and on the institution, and they are not uniform across programmes. Some candidates sit again in a later intake. Check the official body's policy on repeat attempts, and any limit on the number of attempts, before you plan a second preparation cycle.

In what order should I study the subjects?

Start with the two heaviest domains, biology and chemistry, because they reward steady accumulation of vocabulary and reactions. Add mathematics early so formula practice runs in parallel, then physics, which depends on mathematical fluency. Leave reasoning and Khmer general knowledge for short, regular sessions near the end; they are small but easy marks.

How should I prepare in the final months?

Shift from learning to testing: do full mixed-subject papers under strict time, mark them honestly, and keep an error log categorised by topic and mistake type. Re-study only the topics that keep appearing in your log. Review definitions and formulas daily in short bursts, and practise skipping and returning to stubborn questions.

What are the most common reasons candidates fall short?

Running out of time because they linger on one hard calculation; shallow coverage that leaves whole syllabus topics untouched; memorising without practising application; and ignoring the small reasoning and general-knowledge sections. Poor exam-day logistics - wrong documents, late arrival, no plan for the answer sheet - also cost places every year.

Is this page officially connected to the exam?

No. This is an independent study resource written to help candidates prepare, and it is not affiliated with any ministry, university or examining body. Always treat official announcements as authoritative for dates, fees, eligibility, format and results.