My comprehensive take on the last-minute checklist for LEK and what to expect on the exam
Exam day is approaching soon and you might be wondering what needs to be done in these last couple of weeks and how to prepare & what to expect on exam day. Worry no more! Here is a comprehensive guide on last minute preparations and expectations, and a specially curated checklist for the day of the exam.
Table of Contents
What should I do during the last few weeks leading to the exam?
In my opinion, one should re-do the CEM database questions. Moreover, I recommend going through the database at least 3 to 5 times for optimal results, but 3 times is the absolute minimum in my opinion and 5 times is perfect.
Keeping in mind, different people have different paces of studying, it can vary from person to person, so please adjust the average study time accordingly to your conditions.
Do a mock-up exam!
I would recommend that one should go through the latest LEK exam provided by the CEM officially on its website with the answers. Follow the link to get to it.
It is advisable to do the exam in one sitting and only the latest exam to understand the pattern of the exam and how long does it take for you to solve all the answers, but please take into consideration the time needed to transfer of answers on the answer sheet by darkening the squares. Moreover, I do not think that time management will be an issue for the majority of students. Contrarily, I have heard from others that we have more than enough time to answer the questions peacefully.
How to find the details of my exam centre?
Around 2 weeks before the exam SMK will send you an email with details about your exam centre and so on.
Follow these steps to get to it:
- First, Open SMK and login, then select ‘graduate or student’, depends if you applied as a graduate or a student, to get into your profile.
- Once you are in your account, then click on the ‘Vocational exam – application forms’.
- Afterwards, you will be shown the list of exams you have registered for. Click on the ‘arrow’ in the ‘Action’ column for your coming LEK.
- A menu will appear underneath that exam. Please select ‘Information about the exam’ and you will see a new window with the relevant information about your exam day.
It will contain the following information:
- Date and time of your exam.
- Address of your exam centre.
- How long before at least you should arrive at the exam centre.
- Your personal code (account) number (usually 4 digits number).
The exam is usually on the 2nd to last Saturdays of September and February. Typically, starting time is 11:00 am and reporting time starts from around 09:00 am, but they ask you to come at least 60 minutes before the expected starting time of the exam.
How long does the exam last?
LEK lasts for 4 hours without any breaks (although you can use the restroom after a certain time). Information about the breaks and when you can finish the test will be provided in the exam hall.
LEK consists of 200 MCQs with 5 options each with a single best answer and conducted by CEM (The Medical Examinations Center) biannually. The passing score is 56% of the valid questions (i.e. 112 out of 200 valid questions).
Read more about the LEK exam and its format here: LEK: The Final Medical Examination of Poland.
Dress code?
officially there is no such thing, but most of the candidates come dress formally to be very casual. You should consider your comfort before deciding what to wear on the exam day because it is a very important exam and a long one too, so in the end, comfort should triumph over any precedent.
What should I bring to the exam center?
Normally you are supposed to bring only a few things with you, but knowing we are under restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some additional precautions should be taken into consideration (more details on this later).
You should have:
- A printout or a digital copy of the ‘Information of the exam’ page which mentions the date, time, address of your exam centre and your personal exam code.
- Your ID card or passport. Depends on what have you provided during the registration of your exam.
- Since LEK is a 4 hours long exam, it is advisable by previous test-takers to take a clear, without any labels, water bottle and some snacks in the clear box preferably without any wrapper to avoid disturbance to your fellow exam takers.
COVID-19 restrictions:
Due to current Sanitary guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you are required to follow certain rules and need to bring the following items with you:
- Protective mask (carefully covering the nose and mouth)
- Gloves
- Sharpened pencil, hardness 2B or 3B (best to have few)
- Eraser
- Sharpener
- A pen to sign on the list of candidates
Be aware that failure to comply with the requirements may preclude you from taking the exam or cause its termination.
Please read here more on the CEM website for current guidelines.
You can download and read a PDF here, but this is a version curated by going through official information provided by the CEM. Please be advised that the author or the website does not take any responsibility for the information provided in the PDF and its validity, so please refer to the official information.
What can I expect on the day of LEK exam at the venue?
Once you arrive at the venue, check where you are located according to your personal exam code.
The authorities from the CEM will check all the examines one by one from their lists with your personal identity document. You will do your formalities there and will be given 2 separate answer sheets, one for questions numbers 1 to 100 and another for 101 to 200, then allowed to be entered in the examination hall to take your seat. Your name and/or your personal exam code will be provided on a sticker affixed to your above-mentioned seat.
Your answer sheet is a regular sheet that you might be used to using during your university exam where you darken one square to each given question. You are only allowed to use a pencil in the front of the answer sheets to register your answers by darkening a box.
Normally on your seat, you will find stationaries such as pen, pencil, sharpener and eraser as well an instruction sheet. But watch out for restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic (read above). This paper will instruct you to check your answer sheets and if details are matching as per your personal exam code and so on. Finally, you are supposed to write a statement given on the instruction page to the back of your both answer sheets.
Further instructions would be provided by the exam coordinator.
How does question paper looks like?
You will be given one of the 2 different sealed question booklet versions (Version 1 and 2) which will consist of first translated questions and possible answers to them in English, in big fonts, then an original, in small fonts, questions and possible answers to them in Polish.
Both versions have identical questions and their possible answers but the order to questions have been changed due ensure the safety and fairness of the exam.
Usually, both versions follow a systematic pattern. E.g., If you have been given the first question as Internal Medicine then till question no. 39 would be internal medicine and 40 onward e.g. Pediatrics and it will continue to follow a subject-wise order (this was only an example and it might not be the first internal medicine question then paediatrics rather another way around or any given possibility). This makes you focus on one subject at a time and get the best results.
Is it possible to report the wrong question/s in the exam?
Yes, one can report any question/s you deem wrong. Just raise your hand and ask for the protocol to report the question/s and fill it with your explanation/s why it/they could be wrong. You can hand over your protocol/s when you finish your exam.
Am I allowed to take a break during the exam?
Yes, you can take a break to go to use the restroom or for eating and drinking at your seat, but you won’t get any extra time for it means it is counted during the exam. You can ask any of the exam invigilators by raising your arm and they will assist you.
You will be scanned by a metal detector and then escorted to the restroom. Please take special attention to how long you could stay in the restroom without violating the exam rules. This information will also be provided by the exam coordinator at the beginning of the exam
Any restroom visit or any break where you left your assigned seat would be noted officially, but it does not affect your result in any way. It is just standard procedure to avoid any malpractices.
Am I allowed to finish my exam early and leave?
Yes, you will be informed by the exam coordinator that from what time to what time when you can leave exam hall if you finish your exam before the official end.
This could be noted officially that you have left early but it does not affect your result in any way.
When will I get the result?
The CEM states that they usually publish their result on the evening of the first Tuesday from the exam day.
You can check the results here.
According to the law, the CEM will have to send out the certificates within 4 weeks from the result day to the registered address on the LEK application. The certificates will be in the official language, polish, of Poland.
To summarise,
CHECKLIST!
Doing the LEK exam is a very pleasant experience and no need to fear. Just keep in mind these points:
Ensure you have done the CEM database enough times.
Your mileage may differ but I would strongly recommend you to go through the database at least thrice and ideally 5 times
Do one latest LEK exam.
To get the hang of the exam does the latest LEK test from the CEM website. This is a good practice to judge the patience needed during the exam and how long will it take for you to answer the questions.
Keep the ‘information of the exam’ digitally or physically.
Download and keep your ‘information of the exam’ from the SMK-website. You can get a print of it but a digital copy suffices the need.
Address of the exam centre.
You can find this on the ‘information of the exam’ page on the SMK and make a note on your smartphones for easier access and do a pre-exam a google search to see how long does it usually take and how you can reach there.
Dress comfortably.
There is no such thing as a dress code and dress accordingly as this is a 4 hours long exam and the temperature of the centre can vary greatly from place to place.
Take your identity document.
Take the same that you have provided during the registration of your LEK exam.
Take other necessary items.
If you wish then take a clear water bottle and snack in a clear bag or box. Beware of the COVID-19 restrictions mentioned by the CEM on its website. They may ask you to bring your own stationaries (check above).
Reach on time to the exam centre.
Allow yourself to accommodated to the examination center and hall and to have plenty of time to fulfill pre-exam formalities.
Do you still have doubts and thoughts about this article, then please share them in the comment section?
Disclaimer: The information presented here is provided to the best of my knowledge and should be used for general informational purposes only. I do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and disclaim any liability for errors. It is essential to conduct your own research through official channels to make informed decisions. Additionally, any product recommendations are based on my personal opinions, and this post may contain affiliate links or coupons, which could result in a small commission for me at no extra cost to you. Your use of this information is at your own risk, and I am not responsible for any consequences that may arise.
By subscribing you confirm your agreement to the T&C and Privacy Policy.
