IME exam-day guide
IME · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the exact name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and whether a second form is required; if you are unsure your document qualifies, contact the provider before test day.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your test date, time, and location or remote-testing link. Some centers ask to see it at check-in; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is expected.
Know your test center or remote-testing setup
If testing in person, confirm the address, parking, and arrival time. If testing remotely, confirm the platform, system requirements, and any room or camera rules with the provider in advance.
Arrival time buffer
Plan to arrive or log in well before your scheduled start, allowing time for check-in and security screening. Ask the provider for the exact cut-off after which a late arrival may be refused.
Approved calculator or reference materials
Check the provider's list of permitted aids for this exam before assuming anything is allowed. If a calculator is permitted, confirm the approved model or on-screen version; do not bring unapproved devices into the testing room.
Leave prohibited items behind or store them
Phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags are typically not allowed at the workstation. Confirm the provider's storage policy and turn off any device you must bring.
Rest and logistics plan
Protect sleep in the final nights, plan meals and hydration, and map the route or test your remote setup in advance so the morning is low-stress.
Review your weak-topic summary only
In the last day, skim your own condensed notes on frequently missed topics rather than starting new material. Keep the review short and stop early enough to rest.
Confirm break and timing rules
Ask the provider whether scheduled breaks exist, whether the clock stops, and how many breaks are allowed. Do not assume a break policy; verify it before test day.
Read the candidate agreement
Review the conduct and scoring rules you agreed to at registration so nothing on test day is a surprise, including rules on communication and leaving the room.
Plan the day
Shift from new learning to consolidation. Re-read your condensed notes on high-yield and frequently missed topics, do a small number of timed practice sets to keep pacing sharp, and stop heavy study at least a day before the exam. Confirm your appointment time, location or remote link, ID requirements, and permitted aids with the provider now so any problem can still be resolved.
Do a light review only, then stop. Prepare your ID, confirmation, and any approved items in one place. Check travel or your remote-testing setup, set alarms, eat a normal meal, and go to bed at your usual time. Avoid cramming new material, which adds stress without improving recall.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive or log in early with your ID and confirmation ready. Leave prohibited items stored or at home. Do a brief calm breathing routine rather than last-minute quizzing, and follow all check-in instructions from staff or the proctor.
Read each question fully and watch the clock against the number of items remaining. Answer easier items first if the format allows, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. For scenario or calculation items, identify what is being asked before computing, and eliminate clearly wrong options. If a break is offered, use it to reset, and raise your hand or use the proctor channel for any technical problem rather than troubleshooting silently.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID the provider requires and present it in the registered name; if your documents or name differ from your registration, resolve it with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions on what may be at your workstation, when you may speak, and when you may leave; unapproved items or behavior can lead to dismissal.
Confirm the break policy with the provider in advance, including whether the clock runs during breaks and whether you may leave the testing area.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not share or record exam content afterward; treat all questions as confidential.
Understand the scoring and pass standard before you sit: confirm with the provider how the exam is scored, whether wrong answers are penalized, and what score is required.
If a technical failure or interruption occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately and ask how the incident will be documented; do not attempt to fix equipment yourself.
Arrive or log in by the provider's stated cut-off; late arrivals may be refused entry or rescheduled under the provider's policy.
If you are ill or unable to test, contact the provider as early as possible to ask about rescheduling options rather than attending unprepared.