PGIM MD ObGyn exam-day guide
PGIM MD ObGyn · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission card / exam admission notice
Print two copies of the admission notice once it is released by the PGIM Examinations Branch; check your candidate index number, paper schedule, venue and reporting time against your own records. If the notice has not arrived by the expected date, contact the Examinations Branch rather than assuming the details - the release timetable should be confirmed with the provider.
National Identity Card or valid passport
Bring the original ID document you used on your application - photocopies are normally not accepted. The name and spelling must match the registration list exactly. If the document is lost or being renewed, arrange a temporary ID or affidavit well in advance and confirm with the Examinations Branch that it will be accepted.
Candidate / index number memorised
Write it on a small card in your wallet and learn it. You will enter it on every answer sheet and booklet, and it is easy to copy it wrongly under pressure when you are working from an admission card left on the desk.
Two passport-size photographs and a glue stick
Some papers require a photograph attached to the attendance sheet. Carry two spares and a glue stick rather than a stapler, since staplers and other metal items are often restricted in examination halls; confirm the current requirement with the provider.
Two or three ballpoint pens plus pencil, eraser and sharpener
Test the pens at home so you know the ink flow. Correction fluid, erasable ink and highlighters are commonly prohibited, so confirm what is permitted before you rely on them for a paper.
Plain analogue wristwatch
Examination halls may have no clearly visible clock and phones are banned, so a non-smart watch is the reliable way to pace yourself across a multi-question paper. Smartwatches and any device with memory, calculation or communication functions are not acceptable.
Stethoscope and basic clinical kit
For clinical and viva components bring your own stethoscope; a pen torch, measuring tape and two pairs of gloves are commonly useful. Confirm in advance whether the centre supplies patients and equipment and whether any of these items are restricted in the hall.
Logbook, dissertation or training portfolio (if applicable to your stage)
Candidates sitting clinical and viva components are often asked to produce evidence of training and case records. Confirm the exact documents, format and number of copies with the Examinations Branch well before the examination rather than discovering a gap on the day.
Water bottle, light snack and any regular prescribed medicine
Long days with several papers drain concentration, and hunger and dehydration cost marks. Use a transparent bottle. If you need food, medication or a rest break for a medical condition, inform the provider in writing in advance and keep their reply with you.
Money, a transport plan and a printed contact list
Plan transport with a fallback and carry cash for a taxi plus the examination centre's telephone number, so a delay or cancellation can be reported. Travelling to the locality the day before and walking the route to the venue reduces morning uncertainty.
Written confirmation of venue, reporting time and paper sequence
Venues and timings can differ between papers and between years. Ask the Examinations Branch to confirm in writing, by e-mail, rather than relying on a colleague's recollection or an old notice.
Plan the day
Stop acquiring new material. Do one timed run-through of a past paper or question set under examination conditions, then concentrate the remaining revision on high-yield topics you already know and on the structure of your written answers. Re-confirm in writing that your admission notice, ID and venue details are correct, and chase the Examinations Branch now if anything is missing.
Shift your sleep pattern towards the reporting time. Travel the route to the venue at the time of day you will actually travel, plan a backup route, and confirm accommodation if you are staying near the centre. Pack your bag once and then leave it packed.
Run the documented checks: ID, admission card, pens, watch, clinical kit, snacks. Re-read the examination regulations covering phones, smartwatches, permitted items and lateness. Where a rule is unclear, confirm the policy with the provider instead of guessing.
Light revision only: skim your own summary notes, common drug doses, the guidelines you use routinely, and the structure of clinical stations. Do not start a new textbook. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, set two alarms and go to bed at your usual time.
Lay out clothes, ID, admission card, pens, watch and snacks by the door. Re-check the reporting time and the travel plan, and decide now what you will do if transport fails. Keep the evening short and unremarkable.
Eat a breakfast you tolerate well rather than experimenting. Leave earlier than the calculated travel time. Arrive at the venue ahead of the reporting time so you can locate the hall, toilets and registration desk without rushing.
Switch the phone off before entering the building. Present your ID and admission notice, sign the attendance sheet and check that your index number is correct. Ask the invigilator where the clock is and how a toilet break is handled, before the paper starts.
Read the instructions first: number of questions, choice, mark allocation and time allowed. Allocate minutes per question and keep to them; if an item stalls, write what you know and move on. Attempt every required question - a partly answered paper scores better than one perfect answer followed by three blanks.
Do not review answers with colleagues; it raises doubt and wastes recovery time. Eat, hydrate, walk and reset. Confirm the next paper's start time with the invigilator rather than with another candidate.
Introduce yourself, confirm the patient's identity, obtain consent and keep the examiner informed of your reasoning as you go. If you cannot answer a question, say what you would do or where you would check rather than staying silent.
Note what you would do differently next time. Pass criteria and results are decided by the Board of Examiners and released through the PGIM, so confirm dates and re-sit rules with the Examinations Branch rather than relying on hearsay.
Rules to check
Carry the original photo ID you used at registration for every paper and produce it whenever asked. A candidate who cannot be identified may not be allowed to sit, so confirm the fallback procedure with the Examinations Branch before the examination day.
Phones, smartwatches and any device with memory or communication capability must be switched off and left outside the hall. Mere possession can be treated as malpractice, so leave them at home or with a companion.
Enter only at the permitted times. Arriving after the reporting time may mean exclusion from that paper; confirm the exact cut-off for each paper with the provider, since practice can differ between papers and centres.
Bring no notes, textbooks, annotations on hands or clothing, or unauthorised aids. Water bottles must be transparent and only listed items may be on the desk; ask the invigilator before the paper begins if you are unsure about an item.
During the examination, communicate only with the invigilator. Ask permission before leaving the hall; toilet breaks are usually escorted and may not be allowed in the closing minutes of a paper, so clarify the arrangement at the start.
In clinical and viva stations, patient consent, dignity and safety take precedence over completing the task. Introduce yourself, explain what you are doing, and stop if the patient withdraws consent.
Pass marks, marking schemes and the final decision rest with the Board of Examiners, and results are communicated by the PGIM rather than by individual examiners. Do not request marks or discuss the content of stations with examiners.