ABOHNS Plastic Surgery Within the Head and Neck exam-day guide
ABOHNS Plastic Surgery Within the Head and Neck · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the exact name used on your registration. Confirm the specific accepted ID types and name-match rules with the provider.
Admission/confirmation documents
Print or download your scheduling permit, appointment confirmation, and any test-center instructions. Confirm whether a printed copy is required.
Know your test-center logistics
Confirm the address, parking/transit plan, arrival time, and check-in window with the provider. Arrive earlier than the stated reporting time to allow for security screening.
Review the candidate/security agreement
Read the current exam-day rules on prohibited items, calculators, scratch materials, and personal belongings. These vary by administration-confirm with the provider.
Plan for secure storage of personal items
Most centers restrict phones, watches, and study materials from the testing room. Confirm what storage is available and leave unnecessary valuables at home.
Rest and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the final nights, plan a normal breakfast, and bring water/snack only if the provider permits items in the waiting area.
Confirm break and timing rules
Ask the provider in advance how breaks work, whether the clock stops, and how many breaks are allowed, so you can plan hydration and pacing.
Content outline and pacing plan
Bring a one-page summary of the published blueprint and your per-section time targets. Do not bring unauthorized study material into the secure area.
Medication/accessibility arrangements
If you need accommodations, medication, or food/water access for a medical reason, confirm approved arrangements with the provider well before test day.
Transportation and backup plan
Have a primary and backup route and a contact number for the test center. Confirm the provider's late-arrival/forfeiture policy.
Practice the interface
If the provider offers a tutorial or sample test, complete it beforehand so you know the navigation, flagging, and review functions.
Verify reporting time the day before
Re-check your appointment time and center details 24 hours out, since schedules can change. Confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Do focused review of high-yield topics and your own weak areas, then taper. Confirm test-center address, reporting time, ID requirements, and prohibited-item rules with the provider. Prepare clothes in layers and set out documents.
Light review only in the morning, then stop. Re-confirm appointment time and route. Pack ID and confirmation documents. Avoid alcohol and late caffeine; prioritize sleep. Set two alarms.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, arrive ahead of the reporting time, and complete check-in/security. Use the restroom before entering. Keep calm and read each question stem fully before answering.
Do the tutorial if offered. Pace yourself against your per-section targets; answer confidently, flag uncertain items, and return to them if review is permitted. Take allowed breaks to reset. Watch the clock and reserve time to review flagged questions before the end.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name exactly; confirm accepted ID types and name-change rules with the provider.
Follow all security and prohibited-item rules: no phones, smartwatches, or unauthorized study materials in the testing area. Confirm what is allowed with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates or attempt to record, photograph, or share exam content; doing so can void your score and trigger sanctions.
Understand the break policy before you start: confirm with the provider whether breaks are optional, timed, and whether the clock stops.
Know the scoring and reporting rules: confirm with the provider how the exam is scored, when results are released, and the retake policy.
Arrive by the stated reporting time; confirm the provider's late-arrival and forfeiture policy in advance.
Request any accommodations through the provider's formal process well before the exam; undocumented needs may not be accommodated on test day.
If you feel ill or face an emergency, notify test-center staff immediately and follow the provider's documented procedures.