ABEM Peds EM exam-day guide
ABEM Peds EM · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification the testing provider requires; confirm with the provider which IDs are accepted and whether a secondary ID is needed.
Scheduling confirmation / admission ticket
Print or save the confirmation showing your name, test window, and testing location or remote-proctoring link. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Know your testing modality and location
Confirm whether you are testing at a physical center or via remote proctoring, and verify the address or software requirements in advance. Confirm with the provider.
Review the exam blueprint and scoring report format
Know the approximate content domains and that results are typically reported pass/fail; confirm current blueprint and reporting details with the provider.
Personal item and storage plan
Plan for where phones, watches, bags, and study materials will go; most providers restrict items at the workstation. Confirm with the provider.
Comfort and timing logistics
Plan meals, hydration, parking or transit, and arrival buffer so you are settled before check-in. Confirm arrival-time guidance with the provider.
Rest and sleep plan for the prior night
Protect sleep in the final 48 hours rather than cramming; fatigue hurts performance on long clinical exams.
Practice with the question interface or format
If the provider offers a tutorial or sample interface, use it so navigation and review-flagging are automatic on test day.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Have a contact and a plan for delays (traffic, tech failure) and know the provider's reschedule/late-arrival policy. Confirm with the provider.
Medications or accessibility accommodations documentation
If you have approved accommodations or need to bring medication, confirm the provider's documentation and approval process well ahead of time.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Do focused review of high-yield pediatric emergency topics and your own weak areas, then taper. Confirm logistics: ID, confirmation, location or remote-proctoring setup, and arrival time with the provider.
Do one or two timed practice blocks to rehearse pacing and the interface, then review errors briefly. Avoid marathon cramming.
Light review only. Re-check the confirmation, ID, and travel or tech plan. Prepare clothes, snacks, and items the provider allows. Set alarms and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and arrive with buffer time. Bring only permitted items. Do a final calm review of a short high-yield list, not new content.
Read each stem fully and answer the question asked. Use the flag/review feature for uncertain items and return to them. Watch the clock and pace by remaining questions, not by anxiety. Take scheduled breaks if offered; confirm break rules with the provider.
Note what felt weak for future learning, but avoid second-guessing every item. Follow the provider's instructions on when and how results are released.
Rules to check
Bring the exact government-issued photo ID the provider requires; confirm acceptable forms and name-match rules with the provider before test day.
Follow all security and conduct rules: no unauthorized materials, no phones or smart devices at the workstation, and no communication with others during the exam. Confirm specifics with the provider.
Understand break policy before you start: whether breaks are scheduled or on-demand, whether the clock stops, and what you may access during breaks. Confirm with the provider.
Know the scoring and reporting model: results are typically reported pass/fail against a criterion-referenced standard; confirm the current standard and reporting timeline with the provider.
If you arrive late or have a technical failure, follow the provider's documented procedure immediately; do not assume a makeup is automatic. Confirm the policy with the provider.
Do not discuss, record, or reproduce exam content afterward; honor the confidentiality agreement you accept at check-in.
If you need accommodations, request and confirm approval through the provider's process well before the test date, not on test day.
Report any testing irregularity or equipment problem to the proctor as it happens so it is documented.