CNN Neumología exam-day guide
CNN Neumología · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID
Bring the original, valid photo ID required by the testing provider (typically a national ID card or passport). Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy or digital copy is allowed; do not assume.
Exam admission document / appointment confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your name, exam session, date, time and venue. Some centres require a specific admission letter; confirm with the provider what must be presented at check-in.
Know the exact venue and arrival time
Re-check the address, building, floor and room on your confirmation. Plan to arrive with margin before the stated reporting time. If the venue is unfamiliar, do a route check the day before.
Travel and contingency plan
Identify at least one alternative route and allow extra time for traffic or public transport disruption. Keep the provider's contact details for the day in case of delay.
Permitted personal items only
Bring only what the provider allows into the testing room. Confirm with the provider whether water, snacks, tissues, medication, or a watch are permitted and where bags/phones must be stored.
Medication and personal health needs
If you need medication, food or water during the exam for a health reason, confirm the provider's policy and any documentation required in advance. Do not assume access will be granted on the day.
Clothing in layers
Testing rooms can be cold or warm; wear layers you can remove or add. Avoid clothing with large logos or text that could complicate identity checks.
Rest and nutrition plan for the day before
Protect sleep in the 48 h before the exam, avoid heavy late-night study, and plan a normal meal before the session. These are general good practices, not provider rules.
Confirm break and timing rules
Ask the provider in advance whether breaks are scheduled, whether you may leave the room, and how time is tracked. Policies vary by centre and delivery format; confirm rather than assume.
Confirm scoring and results timeline
Check how the exam is scored, whether there is negative marking, and when and how results are released. Confirm with the provider; do not rely on second-hand information.
Review logistics for computer-based delivery (if applicable)
If the exam is computer-based, confirm the platform, whether a tutorial or practice interface is available, and what to do if the system fails. Confirm with the provider whether a paper format is offered.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the provider's contact number and an emergency contact in your phone or on paper. Know the procedure if you are delayed or unable to attend; confirm the provider's policy on lateness and absence.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Re-read your own summary notes on high-yield respiratory topics (e.g., asthma and COPD assessment and management, pneumonia severity and antibiotics, tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, pulmonary embolism, pleural effusion, interstitial lung disease, respiratory failure and ventilation, sleep apnoea, lung cancer). Do mixed-topic practice questions under timed conditions to rehearse pacing, then review errors by topic rather than re-reading everything.
Confirm logistics: venue, reporting time, ID requirements, permitted items, break policy and results timeline with the provider. Check travel arrangements and prepare the documents you will carry. If you have a health-related access need, confirm it is arranged.
Light review only: skim your one-page summaries of formulas, severity scores, and treatment algorithms you tend to forget. Do not start new topics. Prepare clothes and bag, charge devices, and set two alarms. Aim for a normal night's sleep; avoid caffeine late in the day.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate. Arrive at the venue with margin before the reporting time. Keep phone and notes stored as instructed. Use the waiting time for calm breathing, not last-minute cramming of new facts.
Read each question fully and identify what is being asked before looking at options. Answer the straightforward questions first; flag difficult ones and return. For clinical vignettes, extract key findings (symptoms, signs, gasometry, imaging) and eliminate options that are clearly wrong. Manage the clock: note the number of questions and time available, and keep a steady pace. If negative marking applies, answer only when you can justify the choice; confirm the rule beforehand.
Check that every question has been answered as intended under the scoring rules. Review flagged items only if time allows, and be cautious about changing answers without a clear reason. Submit according to the invigilator's instructions.
Rules to check
Bring the original valid photo ID specified by the provider; entry may be refused without it. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether expired or digital IDs are allowed.
Follow all instructions from invigilators. Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam and do not bring unauthorised materials into the testing room. Confirm with the provider what counts as unauthorised.
Electronic devices must be switched off and stored as directed. Confirm with the provider whether phones, smartwatches or calculators are permitted at all and where they must be kept.
Breaks: confirm with the provider in advance whether scheduled breaks exist, whether you may leave the room, and whether exam time is paused. Do not assume you can leave at will.
Scoring: confirm with the provider whether there is negative marking, how partial credit works (if any), and what the pass standard is. Do not rely on unofficial sources.
Lateness and absence: confirm the provider's policy on arrival after the reporting time and on missed sessions. Contact the provider as early as possible if you are delayed.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a technical problem during a computer-based exam, raise it immediately with the invigilator and follow the provider's incident procedure; confirm that procedure beforehand.
Do not share, reproduce or discuss exam content afterwards in a way that breaches the provider's confidentiality rules. Confirm with the provider what post-exam discussion is permitted.