ABR Core Exam exam-day guide
ABR Core Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the same name and ID type your registration uses. Confirm with the provider which specific ID types are accepted and whether a second form is required.
Admission/confirmation document
Print or save your scheduling confirmation and any test-center instructions. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Know your test-center location and arrival time
Do a route check in advance and note parking or transit options. Arrival and check-in cutoffs vary; confirm the exact reporting time with the provider.
Review the provider's scheduling and rescheduling rules
Understand deadlines and fees before test day so you are not making decisions under time pressure. Confirm current terms with the provider.
Know what is prohibited in the testing room
Phones, smartwatches, and study materials are commonly restricted. Confirm the provider's specific list, including rules for personal items and storage.
Plan food, water, and medication timing
Eat a normal meal beforehand and bring any needed medication in compliance with provider rules. Confirm whether medications may be brought into the testing room.
Confirm break policy and timing
Break count, length, and whether the clock stops vary. Confirm with the provider so you can plan hydration and restroom use.
Understand the interface and question format
Review the provider's tutorial or demo for navigation, flagging, and review features. Confirm whether a tutorial period is offered on test day and whether it counts against your time.
Confirm scoring and result-reporting process
Know how and when results are released and what the pass standard is. Confirm specifics with the provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Plan your final-week study taper
Stop introducing new material in the last day or two; favor light review of high-yield topics and your own summary notes.
Arrange travel and backup plan
Have a backup route or contact in case of transit delays. Confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance.
Prepare for security screening
Expect identity verification and possibly a photo or palm-vein scan depending on the center. Confirm what is required at your site.
Plan the day
Confirm appointment time, location, and ID requirements. Re-read the provider's test-day rules. Do a light pass over your weakest high-yield topics; avoid cramming new material.
Do one final practice set or review of summary notes, then stop heavy studying. Check travel and parking logistics and set out clothing and documents.
Pack your ID and confirmation document. Eat a normal dinner, limit caffeine and alcohol, and aim for a full night's sleep. Review only brief summary notes.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive with buffer time. Leave study materials at home or in the car per provider rules. Recheck your ID and confirmation before leaving.
Follow staff instructions for identity verification and item storage. Ask about break rules and the tutorial if unclear. Note your start time and pace yourself.
Read each question fully, flag uncertain items, and manage your time across blocks. Use breaks as allowed. Do not rush the final minutes; review flagged items if time permits.
Note how results will be delivered and when. Avoid post-exam second-guessing; if a retake may be needed, confirm the provider's waiting period and scheduling rules early.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name; confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Arrive by the reporting time; late-arrival and admission policies vary, so confirm them with the provider in advance.
Do not bring phones, smartwatches, notes, or other unauthorized items into the testing room; confirm the prohibited-items list and storage options with the provider.
Follow all staff instructions for security screening and identity verification.
Use only the breaks the provider allows; confirm whether break time counts against your testing time.
Do not communicate with other examinees about test content during or after the exam; follow the provider's confidentiality and conduct agreement.
Understand the scoring and pass-standard process before test day; confirm specifics with the provider.
If you need to reschedule or cancel, follow the provider's deadlines and fees; confirm current terms directly.