Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Sciences Entrance Examination - Second Year, General Medicine exam-day guide
Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Sciences Entrance Examination - Second Year, General Medicine · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification (national ID or passport)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy. Lebanese University entrance procedures normally require identity verification at the door; confirm with the Faculty of Medical Sciences admissions office which document types are accepted for this session and whether the ID number must match the one used at registration.
Printed or downloaded admission/convocation document
If a convocation listing your candidate number, room, and time was issued, bring it. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or whether a digital copy on your phone is accepted, and whether the document must carry a photograph.
Candidate/registration number written down on paper
Write it on a small card kept with your ID so you can fill in answer sheets or headers quickly and correctly. Do not rely on your phone being permitted in the room.
Two or three black or blue ballpoint pens plus a spare
Bring pens you have already tested. Confirm with the provider whether answers must be marked in a specific colour or with a pencil for machine-read sheets; if a pencil is required, bring a sharpener and eraser.
Simple watch without smart features
Many halls have no visible clock. A basic analogue or digital watch helps you pace sections. Confirm with the provider whether any watch is permitted; smartwatches and phones are almost always banned.
Arrival time and route confirmed in advance
Check the exact building and gate the day before, and plan to arrive well before the stated start time to absorb security checks and finding the room. Confirm the reporting time with the provider rather than assuming it equals the exam start time.
No phones, smart devices, or notes in the exam room
Leave them at home or with a companion. If the provider offers a bag-drop, confirm in advance; otherwise assume there is nowhere secure to store them and that possession in the hall may be treated as misconduct.
Water and a light snack for before/after
Bring water for the waiting period and something small to eat afterwards. Confirm with the provider whether water bottles are allowed at the desk; if not, drink before entering.
Transport and backup plan
Identify a second way to reach the campus in case of traffic, road closures, or a missed bus. Build in a buffer for Beirut traffic and for finding the correct building on a large campus.
Rest and normal routine the night before
Sleep at your usual time and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Eat a normal breakfast on the day; the exam is a stamina test as much as a knowledge test.
Medical or access accommodation confirmed in writing
If you need extra time, a separate room, or a medical arrangement, confirm with the provider well before the exam that it has been approved and what documentation you must carry. Do not assume it will be granted on the day.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the Faculty of Medical Sciences admissions or exam-office number on paper as well as in your phone, in case of a delay or an unexpected problem on the morning.
Plan the day
Confirm the logistics: exact campus, building, room if known, reporting time, and the list of permitted items. Re-read the provider's instructions if any were issued. If anything is unclear - ID type, calculator policy, pencil versus pen, water at the desk - contact the admissions office now, not on the day.
Do a final content pass that is active rather than passive: skim your own summary sheets, redo a small set of hard questions, and stop introducing new topics. Focus on the subjects where the exam carries the most weight and where you are closest to competence, not on the hardest material.
Do one timed practice run under exam-like conditions, then stop. Review only your error list and formula or definition sheets. Pack your bag: ID, convocation if required, pens, pencil and eraser if permitted, watch, water for outside the hall, and the written candidate number.
Lay out clothes and bag by the door. Confirm your transport and set two alarms. Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at your usual hour. Do not study past the early evening; sleep is worth more than one more chapter.
Eat breakfast, take your ID and bag, and leave with a buffer that gets you to the campus early. Avoid discussing content with other candidates in the queue, which raises anxiety and can confuse you. Go to the toilet before entering the hall.
Follow staff instructions, place your ID on the desk if asked, and check that your paper and answer sheet carry your correct name and number. Read the front-page instructions fully, including how to mark answers, how many questions there are, and whether there is a penalty for wrong answers.
Scan the whole paper or each section before answering so you know the layout and the mark distribution. Note the end time and divide the time by section. Answer the questions you know first to bank marks, and mark uncertain ones for a second pass rather than stalling.
Work in controlled passes. On multiple-choice items, read the stem carefully, eliminate options, and commit; if there is no negative marking, never leave a blank. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints rather than every minute. If you feel panic, stop, breathe slowly for a few seconds, and restart with an easy question.
Stop new questions with a few minutes left, check that every answer is transferred to the answer sheet in the right place, confirm your name and number, and check for skipped or misnumbered items. Do not change answers on impulse unless you have a clear reason.
Leave the hall without analysing the paper in the corridor with others. Note anything relevant for a possible appeal or for the next session only if the provider allows it. Rest before beginning preparation for any subsequent stage such as an interview or a further written component.
Rules to check
Bring original photo identification and present it on request; without acceptable ID you may be refused entry. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether the name must match your registration exactly.
Do not bring phones, smartwatches, earbuds, or any notes into the exam hall. Assume possession of a device is treated as misconduct, and confirm with the provider whether any bag storage is available.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on seating, starting, and stopping. Writing after the order to stop, or continuing during a pause, may lead to cancellation of your paper.
If the paper carries a penalty for incorrect answers, leave a question blank only when you cannot eliminate any option; if there is no penalty, answer every question. Confirm the marking rule from the paper's own instructions rather than from rumour.
Raise your hand and ask an invigilator if you need to leave the room, feel unwell, or find a defective paper. Do not communicate with other candidates at any point, including during toilet breaks.
Breaks during the exam are usually at the invigilator's discretion and are not normally compensated with extra time. Confirm with the provider whether scheduled breaks exist and how time is handled.
Use only permitted materials. Confirm with the provider whether a calculator, ruler, or any other aid is allowed for this exam, and do not bring one unless it is explicitly approved.
If you believe there was a procedural problem, a misprint, or a disturbance, report it to the invigilator immediately and follow the provider's published complaints or appeals procedure afterwards. Do not attempt to resolve it informally after leaving the hall.