Exam day requires as much preparation as the syllabus itself. This article gives you a complete checklist, tips for managing stress, and an optimal answering strategy to maximize your score.
Table of Contents
The day before the exam (D-1)
The day before the exam is NOT the time for intensive revision. If you haven't learned something in 4 months of preparation, one night of cramming won't change anything. What can change is your physical and mental state on exam day.
Here's what admitted students do the day before the exam:
- Review their summary notes (30 minutes maximum)
- Check the exam notice and materials
- Scout the route to the exam center
- Eat a light dinner rich in complex carbohydrates
- Go to bed early (before 10 PM)
- Turn off the phone at 9 PM
Materials checklist to bring
Pack your bag the night before to avoid morning stress. Here's the complete list:
| Category | Item | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | CIN (National Identity Card) | YES |
| Documents | Printed exam notice | YES |
| Documents | Passport photos (x2) | Depends on exam |
| Materials | Black pens (x3) | YES |
| Materials | HB pencil + eraser (OMR sheet) | YES |
| Materials | Analog watch (no connectivity) | Recommended |
| Comfort | Water bottle | Recommended |
| Comfort | Granola bar / dried fruits | Recommended |
The morning of the exam
Wake up at least 2 hours before the exam starts. Your brain needs time to fully activate. Here's a sample schedule for a 9 AM exam:
7:00 AM: Wake up + quick shower. The shower helps activate your nervous system.
7:15 AM: Breakfast rich in proteins and carbohydrates: eggs, whole wheat bread, orange. Avoid excess coffee (max 1 cup) as it can amplify anxiety.
7:45 AM: Depart for the exam center. Arrive at least 30 minutes early.
8:30 AM: Settle in the exam room. Deep breathing. Quick review of your key formulas if needed.
Optimal answering strategy
The medical entrance exam consists of 120 single-answer MCQs in 2 hours, which means exactly 1 minute per question. Here's the strategy used by the top candidates:
First pass (45 min): easy questions
Go through the entire exam and immediately answer the questions you're sure about. Don't spend more than 30 seconds per question during this first pass. Goal: answer 60-70 questions.
Second pass (45 min): medium questions
Go back to the questions you skipped and take the time to analyze them. Eliminate clearly wrong options and choose from the remaining ones. Goal: answer 30-40 additional questions.
Final pass (30 min): review
Check your answers on the OMR sheet. Only change an answer if you have a solid reason. Your first instinct is correct 65% of the time.
❓ Practice Question - Strategy
If you're hesitating between 2 answers on an MCQ and you're running out of time:
- Leave the question unanswered
- Choose the first option
- Choose the longest and most detailed option
- Go with your first instinct
Managing stress during the exam
"When I opened the exam and saw unknown questions, I panicked. Then I remembered FMPrepa's advice: quick first pass on the easy questions. I regained my confidence and finished with 15 minutes to spare."
Stress is normal and even useful (it makes you more alert). But if it becomes paralyzing, here are 3 quick techniques:
- The 4-7-8 breathing technique: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. Repeat 3 times. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces anxiety in 60 seconds.
- The "stop" technique: If you're stuck on a question, mentally say "STOP," move on to the next one, and come back later. Don't let a difficult question undermine your confidence.
- Reframing: Remind yourself that you are prepared. You've completed hundreds of MCQs on FMPrepa. You've already experienced this situation in practice mode.
"Stress doesn't come from the difficulty of the exam, but from the feeling of being unprepared. Prepare well, and stress becomes your ally."
- Dr. Amina R., school psychologist, Rabat"I completed 150 practice exams in exam mode on FMPrepa before the big day. The real exam felt... normal. No surprises, no panic. It was just another practice test."
After the exam
The exam is over. Here's what you should do:
- Don't check your answers immediately. It serves no purpose and creates unnecessary stress.
- Rest. Your brain has been running at full capacity for 2 hours.
- Celebrate your effort. Regardless of the result, you did your best.
- If you have other exams (ENSA, ENSAM, ENCG), keep your momentum and resume preparation the next day.
✅ Do on exam day
- Arrive 30 min early
- Use 3 passes (easy → medium → review)
- Breathe if stress rises
- Never leave a question unanswered
❌ Don't do
- Study new concepts the night before
- Drink 3 coffees in the morning
- Spend 5 min on a single question
- Compare your answers with others after the exam
- Prepare your materials the night before (ID, exam notice, 3 pens, pencil)
- Wake up 2 hours before the exam
- Use the 3-pass strategy
- Don't change your answers without a solid reason
- Stress is normal: breathe and keep going
Prepare with realistic practice exams
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