AOBNP Neurology & Psychiatry exam-day guide
AOBNP Neurology & Psychiatry · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification the testing provider requires. The name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider in advance, as requirements vary.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Bring a printed or digital copy of your appointment confirmation and any candidate admission document the provider issues. Confirm whether a printed copy is required.
Know your exam window and arrival time
Verify your reporting time and total appointment length (including check-in) directly with the provider. Arrive earlier than the stated time to absorb check-in delays.
Review the provider's test-day rules in advance
Read the current candidate handbook or test-center policy for permitted items, storage of personal belongings, and security screening. Policies change; rely only on the current official document.
Plan your route and backup transportation
Confirm the test-center address and parking/transit options. Build in a buffer for traffic and check-in.
Arrange meals, hydration, and any permitted medication
Eat a normal meal beforehand. If you take scheduled medication, confirm the provider's policy on bringing and taking it at the center before you arrive.
Confirm break policy
Ask the provider whether breaks are scheduled or on request, and whether the clock stops during breaks. Do not assume.
Confirm what is provided vs. prohibited
Ask whether scratch paper, a marker board, a basic calculator, or earplugs are supplied, and what is prohibited (phones, watches, notes). Leave prohibited items at home or in your vehicle.
Rest and sleep plan
Protect sleep in the days before. Avoid last-minute cramming the night before; consolidate lightly instead.
Personal comfort items that are permitted
Layers in case the room is cold, and water only if the provider allows it at the workstation. Confirm permitted items first.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating: review high-yield frameworks, decision rules, and your own error log. Do timed practice under exam-like conditions once, then stop adding new content. Confirm logistics: address, reporting time, ID, transportation, and the provider's current test-day policy.
Light review only, ending early. Prepare and stage your ID, confirmation, layers, and snacks/water for the trip. Confirm the route and set two alarms. Aim for a full night's sleep; avoid alcohol and heavy late meals.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive early. Leave prohibited items behind. Do a brief, calm review of a one-page summary only - nothing new. Use the restroom before check-in.
Read each question stem fully and identify what is being asked before looking at options. Answer the question asked, not the one you expected. For lengthy vignettes, note the key discriminator (time course, associated feature, best next step). Flag and move past items you cannot resolve quickly; return later. Pace against the number of items and remaining time, and reserve time to review flagged items. Use breaks as permitted to reset.
Rules to check
Bring only permitted items; confirm the provider's list in advance and expect security screening. Phones, watches, and notes are typically prohibited - verify with the provider.
Your ID must match your registration name exactly. If your legal name differs from your registration, resolve it with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions. Unauthorized items, talking, or leaving the testing room without permission can lead to dismissal; confirm the specifics with the provider.
Breaks: confirm whether they are scheduled or on request and whether the clock runs during them. Do not assume the timer pauses.
Scoring: confirm with the provider how the exam is scored (for example, pass/fail or scaled score) and when and how results are released. Do not rely on secondhand reports.
If you feel unwell or face an emergency, notify the proctor immediately and follow the provider's procedures; confirm the policy for rescheduling or excused absences in advance.
Do not discuss, record, or reproduce exam content. Follow the provider's confidentiality agreement exactly.
If a rule here conflicts with the provider's current official policy, the provider's policy governs - verify anything you are unsure about before test day.