EDAIC Part 1 Exam Week Checklist: Your Final Preparations for 2026

The EDAIC Part 1 written examination is scheduled for 19 September 2026. By now you have spent months mastering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and the clinical sciences; you have worked through hundreds of MTF questions and reviewed your weak areas. The week before the exam is not the time to cram new material — it is the time to lock down logistics, protect your sleep, and arrive at the centre calm and ready.

This EDAIC exam week checklist walks you through the essential final preparations. Think of it as your pre-flight brief: verify every detail in your official communications, test your travel plan, and trust the groundwork you have already laid.

Start with your official myESAIC confirmation

As soon as you receive your examination confirmation from ESAIC (via the myESAIC portal), print or save a digital copy and read it carefully. That document is your single source of truth. It will specify:

• Your allocated examination centre (city and venue name).
• The exact reporting time and any specific arrival instructions.
• The forms of identification you must bring.
• Any permitted or prohibited items (calculators, food, water, personal belongings).

Do not rely on a blog post, a forum thread or a colleague's memory of "how it was last year" for these details. Examination centres, arrival protocols and permitted-item policies can vary by location and can change from one sitting to the next. Your confirmation letter and the official EDAIC Part 1 page on the ESAIC website are the only authoritative sources.

Key point: If any detail in your confirmation is unclear — for example, if you are unsure which identity documents are acceptable or whether a particular item is allowed — contact ESAIC directly through the myESAIC portal or the official contact channels well before exam day. Do not leave questions unresolved.

Verify your identity documents

Most examination centres require a valid passport or national identity card. Check your confirmation for the precise requirement. Then:

• Locate the document and confirm it has not expired.
• If you have changed your name since registering (marriage, deed poll), check whether you need to bring supporting documentation or update your myESAIC profile.
• Place the document in a safe, obvious location (your exam-day bag, your bedside table) so you do not have to search for it on the morning.

A missing or invalid identity document can result in refusal of entry. This is entirely preventable — verify it now.

Plan and test your travel

Even if the examination centre is in your home city, treat the journey as if it were unfamiliar:

• Route and timing: Map the route from your accommodation to the venue. If you are travelling by public transport, check the timetable for the morning of 19 September (a Friday in 2026). Allow a generous buffer for delays.
• Reconnaissance: If practical, make a test run during the week before the exam. Identify the entrance, nearby parking (if driving), and any potential bottlenecks (road works, ticket queues).
• Contingency: Have a backup plan — a second bus route, a taxi number, a colleague's phone number if you are sharing transport. Murphy's law applies on exam day.

Aim to arrive at the centre at least 30 minutes before the stated reporting time (or earlier if your confirmation specifies it). Rushing through security or registration raises your cortisol and wastes mental energy you will need for Paper A and Paper B.

Prepare your exam-day kit

Gather everything you will need and place it in one bag the night before:

• Identity document (passport or ID card as specified).
• Confirmation letter or email (printed or on your phone, in case of any query at registration).
• Pens: Black or blue ballpoint pens if you are completing any paper forms (though the MTF answer sheets are typically machine-readable and you may be instructed to use pencil — check your confirmation). Bring spares.
• Pencils and eraser if required for the answer sheet.
• Watch: A simple analogue or digital watch (not a smartwatch, which may be prohibited). You cannot rely on a wall clock being visible from your seat.
• Snack and water: Some centres allow a clear bottle of water and a small snack (a cereal bar, glucose tablets) to be kept at your desk; others require all food and drink to be left in a designated area. Your confirmation will clarify the policy. If in doubt, bring them and ask the invigilator.
• Medications: Any prescription medication you need during the day, in its original packaging.
• Glasses or contact lenses if you wear them, plus a spare pair of glasses if possible.

Do not bring:

• Mobile phones, smartwatches or any electronic communication device into the examination room (unless your confirmation explicitly permits phones to be switched off and stored in a bag under your desk — policies vary).
• Notes, textbooks or any study material.
• Large bags if the centre has restricted the size of personal items.

Again, the definitive list is in your confirmation. If an item is not mentioned and you are uncertain, assume it is not permitted and contact ESAIC to ask.

Taper your study and protect your sleep

In the final week, your goal is consolidation and rest, not acquisition of new knowledge.

Seven to four days before

• Light review: Skim your summary notes, flashcards or mind maps. Focus on high-yield topics (cardiovascular physiology, pharmacokinetics, the anatomy of regional blocks) and any areas flagged in your recent practice questions.
• One or two timed practice papers: Simulate exam conditions to keep your pacing sharp, but do not exhaust yourself with endless mock exams. The EDAIC Part 1 consists of two papers (A and B), each typically around 2.5 hours (check your confirmation for the exact timing); practice managing that duration and the MTF format (five independent True/False statements per question, no negative marking).
• Maintain normal sleep: Aim for 7–8 hours per night. Avoid late-night cramming.

Three to one day before

• Minimal new study: On the Wednesday and Thursday before the Friday exam, limit yourself to brief, confidence-boosting review — a quick read-through of your one-page summaries, a glance at common drug doses or anatomical landmarks. Do not open a new textbook chapter.
• Organise logistics: Confirm your travel plan, pack your exam-day kit, set multiple alarms (phone alarm, backup alarm clock, a wake-up call if you are in a hotel).
• Relaxation: Go for a walk, watch a favourite film, have dinner with a friend. Physical activity and social connection lower anxiety and improve sleep quality.
• Early night: Aim to be in bed by 22:00 on the Thursday evening. Even if you do not fall asleep immediately, the rest is valuable.

The night before

• No study: Close the books. Anything you try to memorise now will not consolidate in time and will only heighten anxiety.
• Light meal: Avoid heavy, rich or unfamiliar food that might disrupt your sleep or cause gastrointestinal discomfort the next day.
• Screen curfew: Switch off screens (phone, laptop, television) at least an hour before bed. Blue light and stimulating content interfere with melatonin release.
• Lay out your clothes and kit: Place your exam-day outfit (comfortable, layered clothing — examination halls can be warm or cold) and your packed bag by the door.

Exam tip: If you wake during the night and your mind starts racing through question stems, do not fight it. Acknowledge the thought ("Yes, I know the brachial plexus anatomy"), then gently redirect your attention to your breathing. Anxiety is normal; it does not mean you are unprepared.

Exam-day morning routine

On Friday 19 September:

• Wake early: Set your alarm for at least two hours before you need to leave, giving yourself time to wake fully, eat breakfast and perform your morning routine without rushing.
• Eat a balanced breakfast: Slow-release carbohydrate (porridge, wholemeal toast), some protein (eggs, yoghurt) and fruit. Avoid excessive caffeine if it makes you jittery; a single cup of tea or coffee is fine if that is your habit.
• Hydrate: Drink water, but not so much that you will need frequent toilet breaks during the papers.
• Final kit check: Passport, pens, watch, snack, water, confirmation letter. Do not leave the house without your identity document.
• Leave on time: Stick to your planned departure. If you arrive very early, you can sit in a nearby café and review a single summary sheet; arriving late is not an option.

At the examination centre

When you arrive:

• Follow the invigilators' instructions: They will direct you through registration, identity checks and seating. Listen carefully.
• Settle in: Once seated, arrange your pens, watch and permitted items neatly on your desk. Read any instructions on the answer sheet or question booklet cover.
• Breathe: Take three slow, deep breaths. You have prepared well. The MTF format rewards careful reading and logical reasoning, not speed. There is no negative marking, so answer every statement.

Remember: the EDAIC Part 1 is criterion-referenced. You are not competing against your neighbours; you are demonstrating a defined standard of competence. Focus on your own paper.

After the exam

Once you have completed Paper A and Paper B:

• Let it go: Do not dissect every question with colleagues in the corridor. You cannot change your answers, and post-mortem discussions often distort your memory and amplify anxiety.
• Rest: Go for a walk, have a proper meal, get an early night. You have earned it.
• Wait for results: ESAIC will publish results via the myESAIC portal several weeks after the examination. The exact timeline is confirmed closer to the exam date.

If you pass, you can register for the EDAIC Part 2 structured oral examination. If you do not pass, you can resit Part 1 at the next available sitting; there is no limit on attempts, and many successful candidates have needed more than one try.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I bring to the EDAIC Part 1 exam?

Bring your valid passport or national identity card (as specified in your confirmation), pens or pencils (as instructed), a simple watch, and any permitted snack or water. Your myESAIC confirmation letter is the definitive source for the list of allowed and prohibited items at your specific examination centre.

Can I bring my mobile phone into the EDAIC examination room?

Policies vary by centre. Some venues require all phones to be left outside or switched off and stored in a bag under your desk; others prohibit them entirely. Check your official confirmation and follow the invigilators' instructions on the day. Do not assume.

How early should I arrive at the EDAIC Part 1 exam centre?

Arrive at least 30 minutes before the stated reporting time in your confirmation (or earlier if specified). This buffer allows for registration, identity checks and unexpected delays. Arriving late may result in refusal of entry.

What if I lose my confirmation letter before the exam?

Log in to your myESAIC account and download or print a fresh copy. If you cannot access the portal, contact ESAIC immediately via the official contact channels. Do not wait until exam day to resolve this.

Final thoughts

The EDAIC exam week checklist is simple: verify your official instructions, test your travel, protect your sleep, taper your study, and pack your kit the night before. The examination itself — two papers of MTF questions covering the breadth of anaesthesia and intensive care — will test the knowledge you have built over months. The logistics are entirely within your control.

Trust your preparation. You have done the work. Now execute the plan.

Start preparing for the EDAIC with AnesCORE →