ABIM Critical Care exam-day guide
ABIM Critical Care · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact original ID required for admission; the name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID types and name-match rules with the test provider before exam day.
Confirmation/eligibility documents
Print or save your scheduling confirmation and any admission/eligibility notice the provider issues. Requirements vary, so confirm with the provider what must be presented at check-in.
Know the test center location and arrival time
Verify the address, parking/transit options, and the arrival time stated on your confirmation. Arrive earlier than the minimum to absorb delays.
Review the provider's personal-item and storage policy
Most centers restrict phones, notes, and bags in the testing room and provide a locker. Confirm current rules with the provider rather than assuming.
Comfort items that are permitted
Layer clothing for variable room temperature and bring water/snack only if the provider allows them in the waiting area. Confirm what can be accessed during breaks.
Break plan and timing
Decide in advance whether you will take breaks and how long. Break rules and whether the clock stops differ by exam; confirm with the provider.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, lay out ID and confirmation, and plan the morning so you are not rushed. Prioritize sleep over last-minute cramming.
A realistic pacing strategy
Know the number of items and total time, and decide a per-block pace. Plan to flag uncertain items and return if the interface allows review.
A short, high-yield review list
Limit final review to a one-page list of personal weak points and common critical care pitfalls; avoid new material in the last 24 hours.
Know the scoring and result timeline
Understand how the exam is scored and when/how results are released by checking the provider's current candidate information.
Plan the day
Stop broad content review. Re-read your condensed notes on high-yield critical care topics (shock and vasopressors, ventilator management and ARDS, sepsis, acid-base and electrolytes, sedation/delirium, procedures and complications). Do a limited number of practice items to rehearse pacing, then taper.
Confirm logistics: test center address, arrival time, ID requirements, and personal-item rules with the provider. Resolve any registration or scheduling discrepancy now, not on exam morning.
Protect sleep. Shift bedtime earlier if needed and avoid late-night study. Plan meals and transportation for exam day.
Do light review only: skim your one-page weak-point list and the pacing plan. No new topics, no full-length practice tests.
Pack ID, confirmation, and permitted comfort items. Lay out clothing. Charge devices only if the provider permits them and confirm whether they must be stored.
Set alarms, confirm transportation, and get a full night's sleep. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals late in the evening.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the center with buffer time. Leave phones and study materials secured per the provider's rules.
Do not cram new material. If you review at all, limit it to your one-page list before entering the testing room.
Complete the tutorial/interface check, then start at a steady pace. Read each stem fully, watch for key qualifiers (most likely, next best step, initial management), and answer every item since there is typically no penalty for guessing unless the provider states otherwise.
Flag uncertain items and move on; return if time and the interface allow. Take planned breaks to reset, and monitor the clock at block boundaries rather than every item.
If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the test administrator immediately and note the issue; follow the provider's incident process.
Rules to check
Bring the exact original identification the provider requires; the name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID types and name-match rules with the provider before exam day.
Follow all test-center security rules: no unauthorized materials, phones, or notes in the testing room, and use only provided storage for personal items. Confirm current rules with the provider.
Breaks are governed by the provider's policy; the exam clock may or may not stop during breaks. Confirm break rules and timing in advance and plan accordingly.
Answer every item unless the provider states otherwise; most high-stakes exams do not penalize guessing, but verify the scoring policy with the provider.
Do not discuss, record, or reproduce exam content. Follow the confidentiality and candidate agreement you accept at check-in.
If you need a testing accommodation, it must be requested and approved in advance through the provider's process; confirm deadlines and documentation requirements early.
Report any technical or environmental problem to the test administrator immediately and follow the provider's incident-reporting procedure.
Scoring and result-release timing are set by the provider; confirm how results are reported and when, rather than relying on secondhand information.