ABPN NDD exam-day guide
ABPN NDD · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of ID the testing vendor requires (typically a current driver's license or passport). Confirm the accepted ID types and name-match rule with the provider before test day.
Admission/authorization confirmation
Have your scheduling confirmation and any authorization-to-test document available, printed or on your phone. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Know your test center or remote-proctoring setup
Verify the address, parking, arrival time, or-if testing remotely-run the required system/equipment check in advance. Confirm the specific check-in window with the provider.
Review the published exam blueprint and timing
Know the number of items, total seated time, and whether breaks are scheduled or optional. Confirm current timing on the official provider site, since formats change.
Practice with the vendor's tutorial
Use any official software tutorial or sample interface so you are comfortable with navigation, flagging, and review tools before the real exam.
Confirm break and personal-item rules
Ask the provider in advance what is allowed at your seat (water, medication, earplugs, tissues) and what must be stored. Policies vary by site.
Plan medication and accessibility needs ahead
If you need accommodations, dietary items, or scheduled medication, arrange them with the provider well before test day and get written confirmation.
Logistics plan (travel, food, rest)
Plan arrival with buffer time, a light meal, hydration, and sleep. Avoid trying to learn large amounts of new material in the last day.
Leave valuables and unauthorized devices behind
Phones, smartwatches, and notes are typically prohibited in the testing room. Confirm the provider's electronics policy and storage options.
Scratch materials
Determine whether scratch paper or an on-screen notepad is provided and whether you may bring your own. Confirm with the provider; do not assume.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to consolidation: review your own summary sheets and high-yield lists, do a limited number of mixed practice questions, and stop heavy new-content study. Confirm logistics (location, time, ID, accommodations). Protect sleep.
Light review only, ideally in the morning. Prepare and lay out ID, confirmation, clothing, and any approved items. Confirm travel time and, for remote testing, re-verify your equipment and room. Eat normally and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early with buffer time, and avoid last-minute cramming that can increase anxiety. Follow check-in instructions, present required ID, and store prohibited items as directed.
Read each stem carefully for the key ask (best next step, most likely diagnosis, contraindicated). Answer confidently, flag uncertain items, and use the review feature if available. Pace yourself against the clock, take scheduled breaks if allowed, and do not linger excessively on any single item.
Use remaining time to review flagged items only if the interface permits, confirm no unanswered items, and submit per instructions. Note any post-exam steps (score release timing) from the provider.
Rules to check
Bring the exact government-issued photo ID the provider specifies; the name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID types and name-match rules with the provider before test day.
Arrive at or before the required check-in time; late arrival may forfeit your seat or fee. Confirm the specific arrival window and late-arrival policy with the provider.
Follow all security and personal-item rules: no phones, smartwatches, notes, or unauthorized materials in the testing area. Confirm where prohibited items must be stored.
Breaks are governed by the vendor's policy and may be scheduled or optional; know in advance whether the clock stops during breaks. Confirm the break rules with the provider.
Understand the scoring model before you sit: determine whether the exam is pass/fail with a criterion-referenced standard and whether unanswered items are penalized. Confirm scoring and any guessing policy with the provider.
If you test remotely, comply with proctor instructions, keep your workspace clear, and remain in camera view; violations can void your result. Confirm the remote-testing rules with the provider.
Report any technical problem or distraction to the proctor immediately and follow their instructions; do not attempt to troubleshoot in a way that violates testing rules.
Do not discuss, record, or share exam content. Reproducing items violates test-integrity rules and can invalidate your score.