ABIM Sports Medicine exam-day guide
ABIM Sports Medicine · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID name matching your registration. Confirm with the test provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Admission/confirmation document
Print or save your scheduling confirmation and any admission notice. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Know your test center logistics
Verify address, parking/transit, and arrival time the day before. Arrival cutoff and late-admission rules vary-confirm with the provider.
Review the provider's permitted-items list
Many testing programs restrict what you can bring into the room (phones, watches, notes). Check the current policy directly; do not assume.
Scheduling and break policy
Know in advance whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the clock stops. Confirm with the provider; policies differ by exam and delivery format.
Calculator/scratch materials policy
Confirm whether an on-screen or provided calculator and scratch materials are allowed; do not bring your own unless explicitly permitted.
Comfort items within policy
Layers, water, and snacks are often restricted in the testing room but may be allowed at breaks. Confirm what is permitted.
Plan your timing strategy
Know the number of questions and total time, and decide a per-question pace and a flag-and-return approach. Verify section timing with the provider.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, charge devices, and prepare items by the door. Prioritize sleep over last-minute cramming.
Backup plan for delays
Build buffer for traffic and check-in. If a problem arises, contact the provider per their stated procedure; keep any confirmation numbers handy.
Plan the day
Shift from new content to consolidation: review high-yield summaries and your own error log, do a timed practice block or two, and stop heavy new-material study. Confirm test center address, arrival time, and ID requirements with the provider.
Protect sleep schedule; avoid all-nighters. Prepare and lay out ID, confirmation, and permitted comfort items. Re-read the provider's conduct and permitted-items rules so nothing surprises you at check-in.
Light review only-skim key frameworks and commonly missed concepts. No new topics. Confirm transportation and, if traveling, lodging. Eat a normal meal and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive with buffer before the stated check-in time. Bring only permitted items. Do a brief calm-down routine rather than last-minute cramming.
Read each stem fully and watch for qualifiers (except, most likely, initial management). Answer straightforward items first, flag uncertain ones, and return with remaining time. Budget time to revisit flags and confirm no blanks before submitting.
Follow the provider's break rules exactly-know whether the clock runs and whether you can access items. Use breaks to stand, hydrate, and reset; avoid discussing content with others.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired identification matching your registration exactly; confirm accepted ID types and any secondary ID requirement with the provider before test day.
Follow the provider's permitted-items and security rules: phones, watches, notes, and outside materials are commonly restricted. Verify the current list rather than assuming.
Understand the break policy before you start: whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the timer continues. Confirm with the provider.
Do not communicate about, record, or share exam content. Follow all confidentiality and conduct agreements you accept at check-in.
Know the scoring and reporting basics: how the exam is scored, when results are released, and how to access them. Confirm specifics with the provider.
If you encounter a technical or scheduling problem, stop and follow the provider's stated procedure; document times and confirmation numbers.
Arrive by the stated check-in time; late-arrival and rescheduling rules vary, so confirm the cutoff with the provider in advance.
If you need an accommodation, arrange it well before test day through the provider's formal process; do not assume it will be handled on-site.