MAFP/icFRACGP Part 1 exam-day guide
MAFP/icFRACGP Part 1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration name
Bring the original government-issued photo ID whose name matches your exam registration exactly. If your registered name differs from your ID (for example a maiden name or a shortened first name), contact the provider well before test day to correct it, because name mismatches are a common reason for being turned away. Confirm with the provider which ID types they accept.
Confirmation email or admission letter
Print or download your booking confirmation showing your candidate number, test centre address, and start time. Some centres ask to see it at reception. Keep it offline-accessible on your phone as a backup in case mobile data fails.
Test centre location and travel plan
Rehearse the route to the centre in advance, including parking or public transport timing, and add a 30-minute buffer for delays. If the venue is unfamiliar, check the building entrance and which floor the exam is on. Confirm with the provider if you are unsure whether your venue has changed.
Exam format and timing summary
Write a one-page summary of the paper structure: number of stations or questions, time per station, rest breaks, and how marks are awarded. Re-read it the morning of the exam so you enter with a clear plan for pacing rather than discovering the format on the day.
Analogue watch or timing strategy
Many clinical exams restrict smart devices, so bring a simple analogue or digital watch that is not a smartwatch if timing is permitted. Practise pacing with it during your final-week rehearsal. Confirm with the provider whether watches are allowed at your centre.
Stethoscope and small clinical items
If the exam includes physical examination stations, bring your own stethoscope and check it works. Some centres supply equipment and prohibit personal items; others expect you to bring your own. Confirm with the provider exactly what is permitted and whether personal equipment must be checked in.
Water and a light snack for breaks
Bring a clear bottle of water and a snack you can eat quickly during scheduled breaks. Avoid heavy or unfamiliar food that may make you sluggish. Check the centre's rules on bringing food and drink into the exam room, as some venues restrict this.
Layered clothing and comfortable shoes
Wear layers so you can adapt to a cold or warm room, and flat, quiet shoes if you will be moving between stations. Avoid dangling jewellery, strong perfume, or loose sleeves that could interfere with examination stations or infection-control requirements.
Rest-day plan and sleep routine
Protect the night before the exam: aim for a normal sleep schedule, stop studying by early evening, and prepare everything you need by the door. Cramming late is associated with worse recall and slower reasoning under time pressure.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the provider's contact details and know their procedure if you are delayed or unwell on the day. Have a backup transport option and a contact who can help if something goes wrong. Confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled.
Rehearsed opening and closing phrases
For consultation or communication stations, rehearse a short opening (introduce yourself, confirm identity, explain the purpose) and a closing (summarise, safety-net, invite questions). Practise them aloud so they are automatic and free up attention for the clinical content.
Practice log of weak areas
Bring a short list of your three weakest topics and one key fact or framework for each. Review it briefly in the 24 hours before the exam rather than attempting new material, which tends to increase anxiety without improving performance.
Plan the day
Switch from broad revision to targeted consolidation: review your error log, rehearse the highest-yield frameworks aloud, and do one or two timed practice sets under exam conditions. Stop learning new topics. Confirm your booking, venue, and start time, and check the provider's current rules on ID, equipment, and permitted items.
Do a final timed rehearsal of the full paper or a representative station circuit, focusing on pacing rather than content. Review your one-page format summary and your weak-area list. Prepare and pack your bag with ID, confirmation, watch, stethoscope, water, and clothing, so nothing is left to the last morning.
Keep the day light: a short review of summaries and opening/closing phrases, then stop by early evening. Check transport timings and the weather, set two alarms, and eat a normal meal. Avoid alcohol, heavy caffeine after midday, and late-night cramming. Sleep is more valuable than one more hour of revision.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the centre with time to spare. Re-read only your format summary and weak-area list. Keep conversation with other candidates light and avoid comparing preparation, which tends to raise anxiety. Follow the centre's registration and ID checks calmly.
Read each question or station instruction fully before acting, and keep to the allotted time; if you fall behind, move on and return only if the format allows. For clinical stations, state your findings and reasoning aloud where expected, and use a structured approach. If you blank, take one breath, restate the task, and proceed systematically. Between stations, deliberately reset rather than replaying the previous one.
Note which topics felt weak while memory is fresh, for future study or remediation, then stop analysing the paper with other candidates. Rest and debrief only with people who help you think clearly. Wait for the provider's published results timeline rather than relying on informal estimates.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID with a name matching your registration; if there is any mismatch, contact the provider before test day, as corrections may not be possible at the venue.
Arrive at the time stated in your confirmation. Late arrival may mean you are refused entry or given reduced time; confirm with the provider how lateness is handled at your centre.
Follow all instructions from invigilators about personal items, phones, and smart devices. Phones are typically switched off and stored away from the test room; confirm the provider's specific policy.
Use only equipment the provider permits. Do not bring unauthorised notes, books, or electronic aids into the test room, and declare anything you are unsure about to staff before entering.
Breaks are usually only at scheduled times, and leaving the room may be supervised. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether they count against your time.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not share or record exam content afterwards. Attempting to capture questions or answers can lead to invalidation of your result.
If you feel unwell or believe there is a problem with equipment or timing, raise it with an invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded; issues raised later are harder to resolve.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider and may not be published in detail. Do not assume a particular mark guarantees a pass; confirm the published scoring and results process with the provider.