Who this guide is for
Western-trained Doctors, Nurses and Physiotherapists pursuing permanent roles in Saudi Arabia (SCFHS) or the UAE (DHA/DOH). The goal: pass once, with a clean file that moves straight into licensing.
First principles (so you don’t waste time)
Book first, prep second. Seats drive timelines; your employer plan depends on them.
Study in domains, not hours. Target the blueprint areas with the highest weight.
Two timed full mocks under exam conditions are non-negotiable.
Document hygiene matters: passport-exact name on registrations and certificates.
The 4-week plan (copy/paste)
Week 1 — Book & baseline
Secure the earliest viable seat (centre preferred; remote only if your internet/power are rock-solid).
Download the official blueprint for your role.
Baseline mini-mock (60–90 min) to identify weak domains.
Build a domain tracker: Topic | Weight | Baseline % | Target % | Notes.
Focus blocks
Doctors: emergency care & stabilization, infection control, medication safety, specialty core (e.g., internal/paeds/obs-gyn).
Nurses: fundamentals, med-surg red flags, pharm calculations, infection control, paeds/OB as applicable.
Physiotherapists: MSK assessment/contraindications, neuro red flags, cardiorespiratory rehab, safety & outcomes.
Week 2 — Close gaps (structured practice)
5 sessions × 60–75 min on lowest-scoring domains.
End each session with 10 exam-style MCQs; log mistakes by reason (knowledge, misread, timing).
One mini-mock (90 min) and review.
Start exam-day routine: nutrition, sleep, timing.
Week 3 — Full mock & refinement
Full timed mock (complete exam length).
Post-mock: identify three high-yield errors and write a one-page fix for each (formula, checklist, decision rule).
Drill safety bundles:
Doctors: sepsis steps, high-risk meds, escalation thresholds.
Nurses: SBAR handover, isolation types, dose calc checks.
Physios: red-flag screen, post-op precautions, exertion/oxygen targets.
Week 4 — Taper & precision
Targeted refreshers only; no new topics.
Final mini-mock (60–90 min) early in the week; stop heavy study 48 h before the exam.
Pack ID and confirmation; verify test-centre route and arrival buffer (≥45 min).
Role-specific high-yield domains
Doctors
Early recognition & stabilization (ABCDE, sepsis, shock).
Medication safety: LASA, anticoagulants, insulin, electrolytes.
Diagnostic stewardship: when imaging/labs change management.
Specialty essentials: e.g., chest pain algorithms, paediatric fever red flags.
Nurses
Fundamentals: vitals, fluids, electrolytes, wound care.
Pharm & calculations: weight-based paeds dosing, rate/volume math.
Infection control: isolation, PPE sequences, device care.
Patient experience & communication: consent, privacy, SBAR.
Physiotherapists
MSK: differential, contraindications, red flags for serious pathology.
Neuro: stroke early rehab, balance/gait safety.
Cardiorespiratory: airway clearance, post-op mobilisation thresholds.
Outcomes & dosing: frequency/intensity/progression rules.
Question-handling tactics (to bank easy points)
Read stem last line first (what are they asking?).
Eliminate two quickly; decide between the remaining two with policy/safety logic.
Flag time-sinks and return later—finish the paper.
If torn: pick the option that reduces risk and documents/escalates cleanly.
Booking & identity hygiene (prevent admin fails)
Use passport-exact name (all middle names) for Prometric and the regulator portal.
Keep the official confirmation email/PDF—no screenshots.
If rescheduling, do it within the allowed window to avoid forfeits.
For remote proctoring: stable power, wired internet if possible, and a quiet, empty room.
Day-of checklist (centre test)
Arrive 45–60 min early; valid passport; confirmation letter.
Light meal; water; bathroom before check-in.
Earplugs if permitted; request a replacement marker/board if faint.
Pace: divide time by questions; leave 8–10% buffer for flagged items.
What to do if you underperform a mock
Identify one domain that would have moved the needle most; spend two focused sessions there.
Re-do 10 questions only in that domain; write a 3-line decision rule for each recurring trap.
Do not cram everything—depth beats breadth this late.
Common pitfalls—and clean fixes
Booking late → seat scarcity → book first, reorganize shifts later.
Name mismatch → update registration before test day; avoid “middle name dropped” errors.
Over-studying notes, no timed work → enforce the two full mocks.
Calculator panic (nursing) → practise rate/volume/weight with unit checks aloud.
Physio red-flags missed → build a pre-treatment STOP list and rehearse.
Ready-to-use materials (paste into your notes)
Error log template
Question #: Domain | My answer → Correct | Error type (knowledge/timing/misread) | Fix rule
Safety anchor (all roles)
If unsure between two: choose the option that assesses risk, documents clearly, and escalates early.