NZ Intern Pharmacist AC exam-day guide
NZ Intern Pharmacist AC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, current photo ID in the exact name used on your registration. If your name differs slightly from your registration record, contact the exam provider before test day to confirm acceptable documentation rather than assuming it will be accepted.
Printed or downloaded admission/confirmation notice
Have your registration confirmation, candidate number, and any admission ticket the provider issues available. If the provider does not issue one, confirm with the provider what proof of registration you should carry.
Know your exact test venue, building, and room
Write down the address, building entrance, floor, and room. Confirm with the provider which entrance candidates should use and whether the venue requires sign-in at reception before reaching the test room.
Arrival time and check-in window
Record the reporting time and the latest arrival time the provider allows. Arriving after the cut-off may mean exclusion, so plan to be present well before the stated reporting time. Confirm the exact cut-off with the provider.
Permitted items list confirmed with the provider
Ask in advance whether calculators, pens, water bottles, tissues, or a clear bag are permitted, and whether the provider supplies these. Bring only what is expressly allowed; do not assume any item is permitted.
Any approved reference material or formula sheets
If the exam permits reference material, bring only the version the provider authorises. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, contact the provider before the exam day rather than bringing it and risking removal.
Personal medication and hypoglycaemia supplies
If you need regular medication, an inhaler, or glucose supplies during the test, tell the provider in advance about access arrangements. Bring only what has been approved and be ready to declare it at check-in.
Transport and backup plan
Plan the route, check public transport disruptions, and identify a backup option. Build in a buffer for delays so a single cancellation does not make you late.
Rest, food, and hydration routine
Sleep adequately in the days before, eat a normal meal before reporting, and carry water only if the provider permits it. Avoid trying new caffeine or supplement routines on exam day.
Review logistics for any station-based or practical component
If the assessment includes practical or oral stations, confirm with the provider what clothing, footwear, or equipment is expected and whether you must bring your own. Do not assume clinical uniform requirements.
Emergency contact and provider contact details
Save the provider's contact number and your own emergency contact in your phone and on paper. If something goes wrong on the day, call the provider as early as possible.
Confirm accessibility or special-consideration arrangements
If you have an approved adjustment, confirm in writing what will be in place and who to speak to on arrival. Confirm with the provider if you have not received written confirmation.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Review your own summary notes, high-yield calculations, and common counselling frameworks, and practise explaining aloud at a steady pace. Re-read the provider's candidate information for rules, timings, and permitted items, and email the provider about any unresolved question such as ID name matching or permitted equipment.
Do a dry run of the journey at the same time of day you will travel, and note the actual door-to-door time. Check the venue location on a map, confirm the entrance, and identify nearby quiet space and food options. Prepare your bag with ID, confirmation notice, and only permitted items, and set it aside.
Protect your sleep: aim for a normal night rather than an early one, and avoid late-night cramming. Eat regular meals, limit alcohol, and do a light review of calculation methods and your own weak spots. Lay out clothes, ID, confirmation notice, and transport tickets, and charge your phone.
Confirm the reporting time and venue one last time, check transport status, and set two alarms. If you feel unwell, check the provider's policy on illness and deferral now rather than on the morning.
Eat a normal breakfast, take regular medication as prescribed, and leave with buffer time. Carry only permitted items. Arrive early, sign in as directed, and keep conversation with other candidates light rather than comparing preparation.
Read instructions and station or question requirements fully before answering. Allocate time deliberately, flag difficult items, and return to them rather than stalling. For calculations, show working, check units and significant figures, and sanity-check the magnitude of your answer. For counselling or communication stations, introduce yourself, confirm the patient's understanding, and state key safety points clearly.
If equipment fails, a station is unclear, or you need to leave the room, raise your hand and follow the invigilator's instructions. Do not attempt to fix problems yourself. If you believe an error affected your performance, note the details afterwards and ask the provider about the incident-reporting process.
Note down anything you want to follow up, such as an incident or an unresolved question about results timing. Confirm with the provider when and how results will be released rather than relying on rumour.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name used for registration. If the name or document type does not match, contact the provider before test day to confirm what will be accepted; do not rely on a digital copy unless the provider has confirmed it is acceptable.
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, materials, and movement. Keep only permitted items at your desk, and place bags and phones where directed; phones should be switched off unless the provider specifies otherwise.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the test has started, and do not share or discuss test content afterwards. Treat all exam material as confidential; confirm the provider's specific confidentiality requirements before the test.
If you need to leave the room, including for the toilet, raise your hand and wait to be escorted. Confirm with the provider in advance whether breaks are scheduled, whether unscheduled breaks are allowed, and whether time is stopped.
If you need to take medication or manage a health condition during the test, arrange this with the provider beforehand. Declare any permitted items at check-in and keep them accessible as approved.
Understand what is being scored before you enter. Confirm with the provider the structure of the assessment, whether stations or sections are weighted, whether negative marking applies, and how communication and professionalism are judged.
If you arrive late or cannot attend, contact the provider immediately and follow its documented process. Do not assume a deferral, refund, or extra time will be granted; these depend on the provider's policy.
If something goes wrong during the test, report it to the invigilator at the time and follow up with the provider afterwards. Do not attempt to resolve technical or procedural issues independently.