ABPS Plastic Surgery exam-day guide
ABPS Plastic Surgery · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID the testing provider requires (name must match your registration). Confirm the accepted ID types and name-match rule with the provider before test day.
Admission permit / scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your test date, time, and location or remote-proctoring link. Confirm whether a printed copy is required with the provider.
Know your test center or remote set-up
If in person, confirm the address, parking, and arrival window. If remote, test your camera, microphone, and internet in advance and confirm the software/room requirements with the provider.
Verify allowed and prohibited items
Confirm with the provider what is permitted at the workstation (e.g., calculator, scratch paper, earplugs, water). Do not assume; policies vary.
Confirm break policy and timing
Ask the provider whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops, and whether you can access food, water, or medication. needs_review
Confirm scoring and results reporting
Verify how the exam is scored (pass standard, scaled score, section requirements) and when/how results are released. needs_review
Review logistics: travel, lodging, and timing
Plan to arrive with buffer time; account for traffic, security screening, and check-in. For remote testing, plan a quiet, private space with backup power/internet.
Prepare a light snack and water (if allowed)
Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at your seat or only during breaks.
Medication and personal needs plan
If you need medication or accommodations, confirm the process and documentation requirements with the provider well in advance.
Rest and sleep plan
Protect sleep in the final 48 hours; avoid last-minute cramming the night before. Bring layers in case the room is cold (confirm dress rules).
Backup plan for technology (remote)
Have a phone hotspot or backup device ready, and know the provider's procedure if the connection fails. Confirm this with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm all logistics: test location or remote link, ID requirements, allowed items, and break policy with the provider. Do a final content review focused on weak areas and high-yield topics; stop learning new material.
Do a light practice pass (timed blocks) rather than a full-length exam. Review your error log and key lists. Confirm travel and lodging; prepare your bag and documents.
Do a short, confidence-building review only. Lay out ID, confirmation, layers, snack/water (if allowed), and any permitted items. Confirm alarm and route or remote set-up. Aim for a full night's sleep; avoid alcohol and heavy meals late.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate, and arrive early (or log in early for remote). Do a brief warm-up of a few easy recall items, not new material. Leave your phone and prohibited items per the provider's rules.
Read each stem fully and watch for qualifiers (most likely, next best step, EXCEPT). Answer confidently, flag uncertain items, and manage the clock-do not linger on one question. Use scheduled breaks to reset; return to flagged items if time allows.
Note any items you were unsure about for future study, and confirm with the provider when and how results will be released.
Rules to check
Bring the exact government-issued photo ID the provider requires; the name must match your registration. Confirm accepted IDs with the provider.
Follow all check-in and security procedures; place phones, smartwatches, and other prohibited devices where instructed.
Do not bring or use unauthorized materials (notes, calculators, scratch paper, food/drink) unless the provider expressly permits them.
Follow the provider's break rules: use breaks only as allowed, and know whether the clock stops. Confirm before test day.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam or attempt to share or record exam content.
Follow instructions from proctors immediately; if a technical problem occurs, raise it right away rather than troubleshooting silently.
Understand the scoring and pass standard before you sit; confirm details (scaled scores, section requirements, retake policy) with the provider.
If you need accommodations, request them through the provider's process well before test day; do not assume they will be granted on-site.