ABPP Clinical Psychology exam-day guide
ABPP Clinical Psychology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact name-matching photo ID your testing center requires. Confirm the specific accepted ID types and name-match rules with the provider; do not assume a given document is accepted.
Admission/authorization documents
Bring any authorization-to-test letter, scheduling confirmation, or candidate number the provider issues. Confirm what is required and whether electronic copies are acceptable.
Know the test format and timing
Before exam day, confirm the number of items, time allotted, and whether sections are separately timed. Verify these details with the provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Confirm permitted/forbidden items
Ask the provider in advance whether notes, calculators, watches, phones, or reference materials are permitted or must be stored. Policies vary; do not guess.
Arrive early
Plan to arrive with buffer time for check-in and security screening. Confirm the center's recommended arrival window with the provider.
Route and logistics planned
Confirm the test location (or remote-proctoring setup), parking/transit, and travel time the day before.
Rest and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the final nights; plan a normal meal and hydration so you are not hungry or over-caffeinated during the test.
Confirm break policy
Ask whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the clock stops. Do not assume; verify with the provider.
Remote-proctoring setup (if applicable)
If testing remotely, confirm software, camera, room, and connection requirements with the provider ahead of time and test your equipment early.
Backup plan for problems
Know whom to contact if you are delayed, ill, or have a technical failure, and confirm the provider's policy on rescheduling or incidents.
Plan the day
Confirm all logistics (location or remote setup, ID, authorization documents, permitted items, break policy) with the provider. Do a final content review focused on weak areas rather than new material. Keep sessions short and stop heavy studying well before the exam.
Lay out ID, documents, and any permitted items. Reconfirm start time and travel plan. Avoid cramming; do a light review of your own summary notes only. Prioritize sleep and a normal routine.
Eat a normal meal, arrive with buffer time, complete check-in and security, and use any waiting time for calm breathing rather than last-minute cramming.
Read each item fully, answer what you know first, and flag uncertain items to revisit if the interface allows. Manage the clock against confirmed section timing, take permitted breaks, and avoid changing answers without a reason.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID and authorization documents the provider specifies; confirm accepted forms and name-match requirements in advance.
Follow all check-in, security, and item-storage instructions from proctors; ask the provider beforehand what is permitted.
Do not communicate with other candidates or use unauthorized materials or devices during the test.
Confirm the break policy (scheduled vs. optional, whether the clock stops) with the provider before exam day.
Confirm the scoring and reporting policy (how results are reported and when) with the provider; do not rely on assumptions.
If you are ill, delayed, or experience a technical failure, notify the provider promptly and follow their incident/rescheduling policy.
Budget time against the confirmed section timing and leave room to review flagged items if the format allows.