Is the DHA exam only in English? What to do if English is your second language

In what language is the DHA exam?

English. DHA’s PQR says all examinations will be conducted in English, and that applies to the computer-based test and the oral assessment alike. If English is your second language, that sentence is the one to plan around. This guide says what DHA does and does not state, what EMREE says, and how to build clinical English for a timed multiple-choice paper. Meddex is independent and is not connected to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or Prometric.

Does DHA require an English test?

In the sections of the PQR, the manuals and the FAQ that we read, we recorded one language statement: that exams are in English. We did not find a separate requirement to pass an English test before you can book. That is not proof that none exists for your title or situation, because we did not read every chapter. The Self-Assessment Tool and your Sheryan account are where DHA shows your own requirements, and the eligibility guide lists what we did confirm.

What does EMREE say?

The organiser’s FAQ says no TOEFL is needed for EMREE, and that residency programmes set their own entry rules. So an English test could still matter at programme level. Read who can sit EMREE for the full eligibility picture, and check each programme you plan to apply to.

How can you practise clinical English for a timed paper?

Five habits, in the order we would try them. They draw on retrieval practice and spacing, which research supports for learning in general, not for second-language exams in particular.

1. Read the last line of the stem first, so you know what is being asked, then read the stem for the deciding detail.
2. Keep a short list of the question words that change meaning: first, next, most likely, best, except, not. Misreading these costs marks in any language.
3. Turn every unfamiliar term from your practice into a card with a plain-English meaning, and review it the next day and again a week later.
4. Do a short timed set daily, and note which stems you had to read twice. Those are your reading gaps, not your knowledge gaps.
5. Read the explanation aloud after a wrong answer. Hearing the clinical phrasing helps it come back in the exam.

What can Meddex do and not do?

Meddex questions are written in English, with an explanation for each option. There is no translation feature. The flashcards can hold your own term cards, and the question bank timed mode helps you practise pace. See how to read a nursing stem for a method that works for any stem.

Does reading speed matter on a timed paper?

It can, because the stated time includes registration and the process introduction, so answering time is shorter than the headline figure. If you read slowly in English, you will feel that on a long paper. The answer is practice at pace, not tricks: do timed sets, notice where you slow down, and build the vocabulary that causes it. See time management for long exams.

Frequently asked questions