OMSB Physiotherapy exam-day guide
OMSB Physiotherapy · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID (passport or national ID)
Bring the original document, not a copy or photo. The name must match your registration exactly. If you have changed your name, bring supporting documentation. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted at your test centre before travelling.
Appointment confirmation and candidate/registration number
Print or save offline a copy of your booking confirmation showing date, time, and venue. You may be asked for your candidate number at check-in. Do not rely on mobile signal at the venue.
Venue logistics confirmed in advance (address, entrance, travel time)
Do a route plan the day before, including which entrance is used for candidates and where to leave bags. Arrive with a buffer for traffic and security checks. Exact arrival and late-admission rules must be confirmed with the provider.
Exam format and station/task structure reviewed
Re-read the official candidate guide for the practical component: number of stations or tasks, time per station, whether there is a rest station, and whether reading time is given. If the current guide is not available to you, mark this as needs_review and confirm with the provider.
Clinical attire that meets the dress code
Typically smart, professional clothing suitable for moving and demonstrating techniques, with closed-toe shoes and hair tied back. Avoid loose jewellery, long nails, and strong fragrance. Confirm any specific dress code with the provider.
Watch with a seconds display (non-smart)
Useful for timed tasks and for measuring respiratory rate or holding a treatment time. Smart watches and phones are usually not permitted in the assessment area; confirm with the provider whether any timing device is allowed.
Any permitted personal items only (water, snack, medication)
Bring only what the provider allows into the candidate area. If you need regular medication or have a medical condition, check the access and reasonable-adjustment process in advance and carry documentation.
Reasonable adjustments arranged and confirmed in writing
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other adjustments, apply by the published deadline and bring the confirmation. Do not assume adjustments will be granted on the day.
Personal equipment expectations clarified
Find out whether the centre supplies plinths, couches, goniometers, resistance bands, and models, or whether you must bring items. Do not bring equipment that is not explicitly permitted. Confirm with the provider.
Infection-control basics understood
Be ready to perform hand hygiene and to use gloves or other precautions where indicated during a task. Practise saying your infection-control steps aloud so the assessor can credit them.
Communication and consent script rehearsed
Prepare a short, natural introduction: identify yourself, confirm the patient's identity, explain what you will do, gain consent, and check comfort. This is commonly assessed and easy to prepare.
Rest and nutrition plan for the day
Practical formats can run for several hours with limited breaks. Plan a light meal beforehand and check the provider's policy on breaks and leaving the assessment area between tasks.
Plan the day
Switch from broad revision to rehearsal. Run through the core practical skills you expect to be tested on - assessment sequences, manual techniques, gait and transfer training, exercise instruction, and measurement - speaking your reasoning aloud as you would to an assessor. Time yourself so each routine fits the likely station length; confirm the actual station timing with the provider if it is not in your candidate guide.
Rehearse the non-technical marks: introduction, consent, patient positioning and safety, contraindication and red-flag checks, and a closing summary with advice. Record yourself or practise with a peer and note two specific things to correct.
Check logistics: confirm venue address, travel route, and journey time; confirm what you may bring and what the centre supplies; and verify that any reasonable adjustments are confirmed in writing. Resolve open questions with the provider now, not on the day.
Do a light review only: a one-page summary of assessment frameworks, key special tests, and safety checks. Stop studying early enough to sleep well. Avoid learning new material at this stage.
Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, dress-code clothing, and permitted items. Lay out clothes. Check the weather and transport timetable. Set two alarms and arrange a backup wake-up.
Eat a normal breakfast and stay hydrated without overdrinking. Arrive earlier than the stated check-in time to absorb delays. Leave non-permitted items such as smart watches and notes with a companion or in secure storage, as directed by staff.
Present your ID and confirmation, follow staff instructions for registration and any security screening, and store belongings only where directed. Note where the toilets and waiting area are before you are called.
At each station, read the prompt fully, take a breath, and state your plan briefly before acting. Talk through your clinical reasoning, safety checks, and patient instructions so the assessor can follow your thinking. If you make an error, correct it calmly and continue.
Manage your time within each task: aim to complete the main skill and a brief summary rather than running out of time mid-technique. If a station has reading time, use it to identify the key task and the safety issues.
Do not attempt to reconstruct or share station content with other candidates. Follow the provider's process for any concern about conduct or conditions, and note the published result timeline.
Rules to check
Bring the original, valid photo ID accepted by the provider; the name must match your registration. Candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry, so confirm accepted documents with the provider in advance.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and assessors, including where to wait, what may be carried into the assessment area, and when you may speak to other candidates. Unauthorised items such as phones, smart watches, or notes are typically prohibited; confirm the exact list with the provider.
Do not discuss, record, or share the content of stations with other candidates before or after the test. Confidentiality rules protect the integrity of the assessment and breaches may be treated as misconduct.
Perform only techniques you can justify and that are safe for the simulated patient or model. State contraindications, precautions, and red flags, and stop or modify a technique if it would be unsafe. Safety takes priority over completing a checklist.
Obtain consent and maintain professional communication and dignity throughout, including appropriate draping and handling. Treat the model as a patient, not as a mannequin.
Breaks and movement between stations are governed by the provider's schedule. Ask staff if you need to leave the assessment area for any reason; do not leave unaccompanied unless instructed.
Scoring is based on the criteria set by the examining body, and results are released through the provider's official channel. Do not rely on informal accounts of pass marks or station weightings; confirm the scoring and results process with the provider.
If you believe conditions during the test were unfair or you need to report an incident, raise it through the provider's formal process as soon as possible after the test and keep any written confirmation.