ABS Surgical Critical Care exam-day guide
ABS Surgical Critical Care · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification your admission permit names. The name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider before test day.
Admission permit / scheduling confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your test date, time, and location (or remote-testing link). Re-check it the day before in case of a room or time change.
Confirmation of test format and delivery mode
Verify whether your administration is in-person at a test center or remotely proctored. Requirements differ substantially; confirm with the provider.
Remote-testing system check (if applicable)
If testing remotely, complete any required equipment or compatibility check ahead of time and know the room and camera rules. Confirm specifics with the provider.
Know the permitted-item and storage rules
Find out in advance what you may bring to your desk versus what must be stored. Do not assume phones, notes, or watches are allowed; confirm with the provider.
Arrival time and check-in window
Note the required arrival time, which is usually earlier than the start time. Late arrival policies vary; confirm with the provider.
Break and food/water plan
Plan for scheduled breaks and whether food and drink are permitted in the testing room. Bring only what the provider allows.
Comfort and focus items that are permitted
Layer clothing for variable room temperature and consider earplugs only if the provider permits them. Confirm allowed items.
Review logistics: route, parking, transit
Scout the route and parking or transit plan, and build in buffer time for traffic or security screening.
Score-report and results timeline
Know when and how results are released and what you need to access them. Confirm with the provider.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the testing provider's contact number in case of delay, illness, or a technical problem on test day.
Rest and readiness plan
Protect sleep in the final nights, eat a normal meal before the exam, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material.
Plan the day
Confirm test date, time, location or remote link, and ID requirements. Re-read the provider's candidate rules. Do light, high-yield review of weak areas and stop introducing new material. Protect sleep.
Lay out ID, confirmation, and permitted items. Confirm the route and travel time or complete the remote-testing setup check. Eat a normal dinner, set two alarms, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive with buffer time. Leave non-permitted items at home or stored as directed. Do a brief calm warm-up only if it helps; avoid heavy cramming.
Read each question fully, watch for key qualifiers, and pace yourself against the number of items and time available. Flag and move past stalled questions, then return. Use scheduled breaks to stand, hydrate, and reset. Confirm the time and break policy with the provider in advance.
Rules to check
Bring only the identification and items the provider permits; confirm the permitted-item list with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor and test-center instructions, including any security screening and desk-clear requirements.
Do not access phones, notes, or other unauthorized materials during the exam or during breaks unless the provider explicitly allows it.
Use scheduled breaks as directed; confirm whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and how they affect your time.
Understand the scoring and reporting policy in advance, including pass standards and when results are released; confirm with the provider.
Report any technical problem, distraction, or irregularity to the proctor immediately so it can be documented.
If you are ill or unable to test, contact the provider as early as possible to learn your rescheduling options; policies vary.
Keep your registration and contact information current so the provider can reach you about changes.