PGIM MD Psychiatry exam-day guide
PGIM MD Psychiatry · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admit card / hall ticket printed and checked
Download the admit card from the PGIM portal once released and verify your name, roll number, exam centre address, and reporting time. Print at least two copies. If the release date or download process is unclear, confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Original photo ID matching your application
Carry the original government-issued photo ID you used in your application (typically passport, national ID, or driving licence). A photocopy is usually not accepted. Confirm with the provider which IDs are valid and whether a specific one is mandatory.
Recent passport-size photographs
Carry 2–3 recent photographs matching the specification used for your application, in case a signed attendance sheet or identity slip requires pasting. Confirm with the provider whether photographs are required on exam day.
Transparent water bottle (no label)
Most centres allow a clear, label-free bottle. Avoid opaque flasks or branded bottles. Confirm with the provider whether water is permitted inside the hall.
Simple analogue or basic digital watch
A basic wristwatch helps you pace sections when no visible clock is guaranteed. Smartwatches and any device with communication or storage capability are almost always prohibited. Confirm with the provider which timepieces are allowed.
Black/blue ballpoint pens (if paper-based)
If the exam is paper-based, carry two or three working pens of the permitted colour. If it is computer-based, pens may not be needed. Confirm the exam mode and permitted stationery with the provider.
Know your login/registration details (if computer-based)
For a computer-based test, know your roll number and any candidate ID printed on the admit card. Do not carry written notes into the hall. Confirm with the provider whether any credentials must be entered manually.
Plan the route and arrival time to the centre
Visit or map the route in advance and plan to reach well before the reporting time, allowing buffer for traffic and security checks. Late entry is commonly refused. Confirm the exact reporting and gate-closing times with the provider.
Review the prohibited-items list
Leave phones, smart devices, earphones, bags, books, and loose paper at home or with a companion. There is often no secure storage at the centre. Confirm with the provider what can be brought and whether cloakroom facilities exist.
Read the official instructions/notice for your cycle
Exam-day procedures (biometric capture, frisking, seat allocation, rough-sheet rules) change between cycles. Read the current notice on the official portal. Where anything is unstated, confirm with the provider.
Prepare for medical fitness and conduct declarations
Some postgraduate medical entrance processes require a fitness or conduct undertaking. Check whether any signed declaration must be submitted on exam day. Confirm with the provider whether such documents are required.
Arrange rest, food, and medication for the day
Eat a normal meal before reporting, carry any prescribed medication you may need, and plan for a long day including security and waiting time. Confirm with the provider whether food or medication can be carried into the hall.
Plan the day
Confirm the exam centre location and reporting time from the admit card, and do a dry run of the route. Re-read the official instruction sheet for your cycle and note prohibited items. Do not start new topics; consolidate high-yield areas such as psychopharmacology, classification criteria, and common clinical scenarios. Sleep on a normal schedule and avoid all-night revision.
Print the admit card and ID documents, pack the transparent bottle, pens, and photographs, and set out clothes without metal accessories to speed security checks. Charge nothing that must stay at home - leave the phone behind or with a companion. If any requirement is unclear, contact the provider now, not on exam morning.
Do a light revision of summaries and mnemonics only, then stop early. Check transport arrangements and weather, set two alarms, and confirm the reporting time once more. Prepare the full checklist in one place by the door. Eat a familiar meal, avoid heavy caffeine late in the day, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, take the packed checklist, and leave with generous buffer time. Arrive early for security and identity checks. Use the restroom before entering the hall. Keep the admit card and original ID in hand for repeated verification.
Read the on-screen or printed instructions carefully, confirm the paper/section structure and marking scheme, and check that your name and roll number are correct. Note the total time and number of questions, then set a rough per-question pace before starting.
Work in passes: answer clear questions first, mark uncertain ones for review, and avoid getting stuck on a single item. Track time against your pace at fixed intervals. If negative marking applies, be deliberate about guessing rather than answering randomly.
Reserve the last few minutes to check that all answers are recorded correctly, that no question is left blank unintentionally, and that your responses are submitted as the system or invigilator requires. Do not make last-second changes unless you have a clear reason.
Note the question types and any timing difficulties while fresh, keep your admit card and roll number safe for result and counselling stages, and check the official portal for answer-key, result, and counselling timelines. Confirm all post-exam steps with the provider.
Rules to check
Carry the printed admit card and the original photo ID used in your application; entry is commonly refused without both, and photocopies are usually not accepted. Confirm the exact ID requirement with the provider.
Bring only permitted items into the hall. Phones, smartwatches, earphones, books, and loose paper are typically banned, and possession can lead to disqualification even if unused. Confirm with the provider whether any storage facility exists.
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, biometric capture, and rough sheets. Do not communicate with other candidates or exchange material during the test; suspected impersonation or unfair means is usually dealt with severely.
Break and restroom rules vary by centre and are usually announced on the day. Ask the invigilator rather than leaving your seat unannounced, and confirm with the provider if you have a medical need for special arrangements.
Scoring, negative marking, and section-wise timing differ between cycles and papers. Read the instructions on the paper or screen and confirm the marking scheme with the provider rather than relying on hearsay.
Do not carry written notes, formulae, or any study material into the hall, and do not attempt to record or photograph exam content. Such conduct can invalidate your candidature.
Report any discrepancy in your name, roll number, or booklet/screen at once to the invigilator before starting, and keep your admit card safe after the exam for result and counselling stages.
If you are unwell or unable to attend, check the official policy on absence, re-examination, and refunds with the provider; do not assume a rescheduled attempt will be offered.