Traditional Medicine Doctor Licensing Exam exam-day guide
Traditional Medicine Doctor Licensing Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission permit / hall ticket and a government-issued photo ID
Print the permit if the licensing body requires a paper copy; keep it in the same folder as your ID. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a photocopy is sufficient.
Confirm the exact venue, entry gate, and reporting time
Re-check the notice on the licensing authority's site or your admission document the day before, since venues and reporting times can be changed or corrected after initial issue. If anything is ambiguous, confirm with the provider.
Know the paper structure and timing before you arrive
Write down the number of papers, question count per paper, marks per question, and whether negative marking applies. Base this only on your official information bulletin; confirm with the provider if your bulletin is unclear.
Permitted stationery only
Typically black or blue ballpoint pens and a simple pencil; some boards supply answer sheets or OMR sheets and prohibit any other stationery. Check the banned-items list and confirm with the provider whether pens, pencils, or erasers are supplied at the desk.
No electronic devices
Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth earbuds, and calculators are almost always banned inside the hall. Plan to leave them at home or with a companion; do not rely on a venue cloakroom.
Transparent water bottle and a light snack for the break
Many centres allow only clear bottles with labels removed. Whether food is allowed inside the hall varies; confirm with the provider and keep snacks for the scheduled break only.
Sleep and travel plan for the night before
Book accommodation near the venue if you live more than about an hour away, and set two alarms. Traffic and gate-closing rules are the most common cause of avoidable disqualification.
One-page revision sheet of high-yield facts
Limit this to formulas, classical formula compositions, key dosages, diagnostic criteria, and mnemonics you keep forgetting. Review it in the final 24 hours only; do not start new topics.
Read the instructions printed on the question paper and answer sheet
At the desk, verify the paper code, booklet series, and question count match your admission document, and check how to mark and correct answers before writing anything.
Know your candidate roll number and registration details by heart
You may need them to fill in the answer sheet or to query an entry problem at the desk. Keep a written copy as well in case you are asked to verify identity.
Medical essentials you may legally carry
Prescription medicines, inhalers, or glucose tablets usually require prior permission or a doctor's note. Confirm with the provider well before the exam rather than at the gate.
A plan for after the paper
Note the release window for the answer key and objections, and the date of the next stage (viva, practical, or counselling). Confirm with the provider which stage follows and what documents it requires.
Plan the day
Stop new study. Re-read your one-page high-yield sheet and your own error log from mock papers. Confirm venue, reporting time, and travel route, and print any documents that must be on paper. Check the banned-items list once and set aside the clothes and bag you will carry.
Do one timed paper under exam conditions if you have not already, then spend more time analysing wrong answers than on new questions. Rehearse the marking scheme: how many questions per minute you must answer to finish with time to transfer answers. Sleep at your normal time; do not shift your body clock with a late-night cram.
Pack the bag: permit, ID, pens, water, snacks, and any approved medication. Charge nothing you cannot bring in, and leave the phone behind or with a companion. Do a short review of formulas and mnemonics only, eat a normal meal, and go to bed early. If you are travelling, arrive in the city the evening before.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid heavy caffeine if you are not used to it, and leave earlier than the map suggests. Arrive at the gate before the stated reporting time; late entry is often refused regardless of reason. Use the washroom before entering the hall, and keep only permitted items in your hands.
Fill in roll number and booklet details exactly as instructed, check the paper code and page count, and read the marking instructions. If a page is missing or printing is defective, raise your hand immediately rather than after the clock starts.
Answer in passes: first the questions you know, then the ones needing calculation or reasoning, then the remainder. Mark doubtful answers so you can return to them, and reserve the final ten to fifteen minutes for transferring answers and checking that no response is misaligned. Attempt negative-marked questions only when you can eliminate at least one option.
Verify that the answer sheet is complete, that roll number and booklet code are correct, and that you have signed where required. Hand over the paper and sheet only to the invigilator, and take your belongings with you.
Write down the topics you found hard while memory is fresh, for the next stage or a retake. Note the answer-key and objection window if one is published, and confirm with the provider the schedule and document list for the practical or viva stage.
Rules to check
Carry the admission permit and the photo ID specified in your official instructions; entry is normally refused without them, and the accepted ID types must be confirmed with the provider.
Electronic devices, smart watches, and unauthorised study material are prohibited inside the hall; possession can lead to cancellation of your candidature, so leave them outside.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on timing, seating, and answer-sheet handling; do not begin writing before the start signal or continue after the stop signal.
Breaks are usually not permitted during a paper, so use the washroom before entry; if a break is scheduled between papers, return to your seat by the stated time. Confirm the break policy with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates or exchange material during the exam; suspected impersonation or unfair means is handled under the licensing body's misconduct rules.
Scoring rules, including negative marking and tie-breaking, are set by the licensing authority; rely only on the current official information bulletin and confirm with the provider if it is not explicit.
Raise any problem with the invigilator at the time it occurs and record it in the official record if one is kept; complaints raised after the exam are harder to substantiate.
Keep the admit card and registration details until the entire selection process is complete, as later stages may require them for verification.