TEP Pediatria exam-day guide
TEP Pediatria · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Most testing centers require valid, unexpired photo identification matching the name on your registration. Confirm the exact accepted ID types and name-matching rules with the provider before test day.
Confirmation or admission document
Bring the confirmation email or admission ticket if the provider issues one. Some centers require a printed copy, so check the format specified in your scheduling notice.
Know your candidate/registration number
Have your registration ID available in case staff ask for it at check-in. Confirm with the provider whether it must appear on any printed document.
Arrival time and test center location
Confirm the reporting time and address in advance, including which entrance to use. Aim to arrive with a comfortable buffer, since late arrival policies vary by center and should be confirmed with the provider.
Transport and backup plan
Plan the route, parking, or public transport and identify a fallback option. Traffic or transit delays are the most common avoidable cause of late arrival.
Personal items plan
Most centers restrict bags, phones, and smart devices to lockers or prohibit them entirely. Confirm the secure-storage policy with the provider and travel light.
Comfort items permitted by the center
Water, snacks, and tissues may or may not be allowed at the desk or during breaks. Check the provider's rules rather than assuming; mark as needs_review until confirmed.
Medication and accessibility arrangements
If you need medication, medical devices, or approved accommodations, confirm the process and documentation requirements with the provider well before test day.
Clothing layers
Test rooms are often cool and sessions are long. Dress in layers that can be adjusted, subject to any dress-code rules the provider specifies.
Rest and nutrition the night before
Prioritize sleep and a normal meal rather than last-minute cramming. Fatigue affects clinical-reasoning performance more than one extra hour of review.
Exam-format refresher
Review the number of questions, time allocation, and whether sections are timed separately or the test is one continuous block. Confirm the format in the official candidate materials.
Scoring and results process
Know how and when results are released and what the pass standard is. Confirm these details with the provider, as they are not universal across administrations.
Plan the day
Shift from new content to consolidation. Review high-yield pediatric topics such as neonatal jaundice, dehydration and fluid management, common infections, asthma and bronchiolitis, growth and development milestones, and vaccination schedules. Do focused practice questions under timed conditions and review every error to identify the underlying reasoning gap rather than memorizing the answer.
Reconfirm logistics: test center address, reporting time, ID requirements, permitted items, and any accommodation approvals. Print or save the confirmation document in the format the provider requires. Plan transport and identify a backup route.
Protect your sleep schedule. Move bedtime toward your test-day rhythm and avoid all-night study sessions; sleep debt reliably degrades performance on long clinical-reasoning exams.
Do a light review only: skim your own summary notes, formulas, and frequently missed concepts. Stop studying early enough to wind down. Avoid taking on new, unfamiliar material that could undermine confidence.
Lay out ID, confirmation document, clothing layers, and any permitted items. Charge devices only if the center permits them; otherwise leave them at home or plan for locker storage. Set two alarms.
Eat a normal dinner, hydrate, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Avoid heavy caffeine late in the day and avoid alcohol.
Eat a proper breakfast with protein and complex carbohydrates. Arrive at the center with a buffer beyond the required reporting time. Use the restroom before check-in.
Keep the pre-exam review minimal: a brief glance at a one-page summary is fine, but do not attempt to learn new material. Focus on calm, deliberate breathing and a clear plan for pacing.
Read each stem fully and identify the key finding before looking at the options. Answer the question asked, and watch for qualifiers such as 'most likely', 'initial step', and 'contraindicated'.
Pace yourself against the clock: note the time per question and check your progress at natural intervals. Flag uncertain items and return to them if the format allows navigation.
Use breaks as permitted by the provider to stand, hydrate, and reset. Confirm break rules and whether the clock stops during breaks before test day. If a question is unanswerable, make a reasoned best choice rather than leaving it blank, unless the scoring rules penalize guessing, which you should confirm with the provider.
Note which topics felt weak while memory is fresh, for future study or remediation. Follow the provider's stated process and timeline for results rather than relying on informal reports.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired photo identification matching your registered name. Confirm the exact accepted documents and name-matching policy with the provider before test day.
Follow all test-center security rules, including restrictions on phones, smart devices, notes, and personal belongings. Unauthorized materials can lead to invalidation of your result.
Confirm the permitted-items and break policy with the provider in advance. Rules on water, snacks, leaving the room, and whether the clock runs during breaks vary by administration.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not attempt to record, photograph, or share exam content. Content-sharing is typically prohibited and can void your score.
Confirm the scoring and pass-standard policy with the provider, including whether unanswered questions are penalized, before deciding how to handle uncertain items.
If you feel unwell or face an emergency on test day, notify center staff immediately and follow the provider's documented procedure for rescheduling or incident reporting.
Confirm any accommodation approvals and their documentation requirements with the provider well before test day; accommodations are generally not granted on the spot.
Report any technical or environmental problem during the test to the proctor immediately so it is documented, rather than waiting until afterward.