ABP Pediatric Critical Care Medicine exam-day guide
ABP Pediatric Critical Care Medicine · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Appointment confirmation and scheduling permit (needs_review)
Save or print the confirmation and any authorization letter from the board or testing vendor. Confirm the exact documents required with the provider, because instructions can vary by site and exam year.
Acceptable photo ID (needs_review)
Bring a current government-issued photo ID with signature; the name must match your registration exactly. Confirm accepted ID forms and expiration rules with the provider before test day.
Test center address, arrival time, and parking plan
Verify the venue and recommended arrival window, and build in time for traffic and security screening. Confirm whether early arrival is required or merely recommended.
Official content outline and exam blueprint
Use the board's current content outline to target last-week review rather than recalled questions. Confirm the current blueprint on the board website.
Computer-based testing tutorial or practice interface
Complete the vendor tutorial to learn navigation, flagging, and item-review functions. Confirm that the tutorial is available for your exam and review it before test day.
Travel, lodging, and backup logistics
Plan primary and backup transport, identify a contact if delays occur, and keep confirmation numbers accessible. Reconfirm lodging and local travel the day before.
Comfortable layered clothing and permitted comfort items
Dress in layers for variable room temperature. Confirm in advance whether tissues, earplugs, medications, or other items require an approved accommodation.
Personal-items plan
Leave phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials at home or secure them exactly as the site requires. Confirm whether secure storage is available at the test center.
Break and medication plan (needs_review)
If you need scheduled medication or extra breaks, request an accommodation well in advance. Confirm break rules and accommodation approval with the provider.
Sleep, food, and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the final week and eat a normal meal before the exam. Avoid trying new caffeine doses or supplements on test day.
Score reporting and emergency contact information
Know how and when results are released and keep a phone number for the test center or board. Confirm the reporting timeline with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm appointment, ID requirements, venue, and arrival time with the provider; resolve any name or document mismatch now. Review the official content outline and complete a small set of mixed practice items to identify last-minute gaps. Keep sessions short and protect sleep.
Recheck travel, weather, and parking; prepare clothing, meals, and any approved accommodation paperwork. Avoid starting new study resources; consolidate high-yield frameworks and normal/abnormal physiology instead.
Pack ID, confirmation, accommodation approval, medication, and comfort items. Reconfirm transport and venue. Do a light review only, stop studying early enough to sleep, and set two alarms.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate modestly, and arrive at the recommended time. Bring only permitted items and your ID. Turn off and store devices per site rules, and tell staff about any approved accommodation.
Follow proctor instructions, empty pockets, and verify that your name matches the registration. Ask where the restroom and break area are and how to summon staff.
Complete the tutorial, read each stem fully, flag uncertain items, and monitor the clock. Use scheduled breaks; if you take an unscheduled break, confirm whether time stops. Review flagged items only if time permits.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID; the name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID types and expiration rules with the provider.
Follow all test-administrator instructions. Do not bring notes, phones, smartwatches, or other prohibited devices into the testing room.
Breaks are controlled by the test administrator. Confirm whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether unscheduled break time counts against your exam time.
Scoring is based on a passing standard set by the board; confirm score reporting, retake, and any penalty-for-guessing policy with the provider.
Do not disclose, reproduce, or discuss exam content. Unauthorized sharing may invalidate your score.
If a technical problem occurs, raise your hand immediately and follow staff instructions; document the issue if advised.
Use only materials provided by the test center. Confirm whether scratch paper, a calculator, or other aids are supplied.
Arrive on time; late arrival may reduce testing time or prevent entry. Confirm the site's late-arrival policy with the provider.