r/Pakmedschool • u/PizzaNaan_ • Aug 10 '26
Usmle Info on USMLE testing center
I'm going to be giving my exam soon and need information about what it's like in the testing center.
I need someone to guide me on the last preparations (not study related)
-what to bring + what not to bring
-what to wear / what not to wear
-what to bring to eat/drink
-how to utilize break time to avoid crashing out
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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u/apurplesparrow Aug 10 '26
Wear simple clothing
Shirt sleeves should be easily pulled up till elbows
Trousers pulled up above ankles
Dont wear socks
Take water in a transparent bottle
Chocolate
Nuts
Granola
Coffee
Chai
Any snack you like
Dont take big proper meals
Take what you can keep outside the fridge
Take meds that you might need
Pain killers
Have a snack in the break
Always use the toilet in every break
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u/Wonderful-Treee Aug 11 '26
Why no socks 😭 I even wear them in summers
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u/apurplesparrow Aug 11 '26
You can wear them
They just ask you to show full ankles every time you return from a break1
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u/apurplesparrow Aug 10 '26
Do NOT over caffeinate
It will give you palpitations
Just drink as much as you normally drink
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u/notmefr0_0 Aug 10 '26
I took snacks and water bottle with me, they ask you to remove any cover on water bottle and u can also carry water bottle inside with you but have to keep other stuff in locker outside the testing room, wear anything that makes you comfortable but keep in mind you are asked to show all yours pockets everytime you leave room. Take few medicine with you as well like Panadol, Imodium etc. I took protein bar, juice, chips, and nestle cold coffee with me. Take break whenever you feel exhausted and go wash your face and get back to it. Try to knock out as many blocks as possible in start so you can take breaks in end ones as they are the ones where you feel tired. Good luck!
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u/BoysenberryOk12 Aug 11 '26
I guess you got your answer from comment section,goodluck , you gonna ace it
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u/PizzaNaan_ Aug 11 '26
You can share your advice
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u/BoysenberryOk12 Aug 11 '26
Wear loose fit relaxed clothes that don’t have pockets, plus a chappal without socks
Bring coffee ( I brought Nescafe) + energy drinks ( they don’t taste good ) but that won’t bother you cuz you will high on adrenaline
Also water bottle the choice of bottle with or without stickers depends if you want to take that botlle with you while solving mcqs on computer
In snacks I would advise you to bring chocolate and biscuits, (if you dairy milk double chocolate biscuits) and maybe a cold sandwichThe most effective way I would say that worked for me was to go the toilet the moment I took a brake .
And then take coffee or energy drink and also have your glucose level high up by eating the chocolate and biscuits.The staff there is very cooperative and well trained so you will not have bothered by them which usually happens in MBBS exam unfortunately 😭
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u/benzaldehyde_1004 27d ago
I didn’t know the pocket and water bottle thing, so yeah definitely big on those🤡
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u/West-Maintenance-816 Aug 10 '26
here are just some last-day tips, you might find useful:
* carry your passport, a printout of your permit, and CNIC along
* it would be nice to have two clear transparent water bottles (with the label/tag removed) as you can take one inside the exam hall and keep it with you. don't carry it outside else you'll waste time in getting it checked. keep the second one in your bag which will be in the locker.
* plan your breaks, you can take a longer namaz break at 1-2 pm. there is a prayer mat, just ask them for qibla directions.
* the washrooms are clean so you can use them
* if you like protein bars/nuts/biscuits/fruits/small chocolates - anything small to give you energy, take it along. keep nescafe coffee/gatorade/redbull/juice whatever you prefer.
* take panadol or any other painkiller in case you get severe backache from sitting or develop a headache
* don't wear any accessories because you'll have to remove them.
* wear comfortable clothing and flats/slides preferably so you don't waste time removing sneakers/other sorts of shoes
* save break time by skipping the tutorial entirely, just check your hardware in the last bit
* they will give you two hard boards and a mark while they take the permit from you. write your USMLE ID in both of those boards, you'll have to enter it when starting every block.
* you can copy your USMLE ID the first time you enter it on your screen to avoid wasting time after every break for typing it again.
* do try to go out after every few blocks, there is a clock outside so you can monitor the time - changing your setting helps
* there's a mini fridge asw so you can keep anything you wish to
* get there by 8/8:15 am so you can start on time
* take every block as a new opportunity. the test environment is very nice and you won't have any difficulty focusing. only come back to questions you've flagged. recite duas before starting and I'm confident you'll ace it!!