MD POST exam-day guide
MD POST · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID the testing provider names in your admission notice. The name on the ID must match your registration exactly, including middle names and suffixes. If your ID name differs from your registration, contact the provider before test day to correct it; do not assume a correction can be made at the desk. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider, since rules vary by country and test site.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save your appointment confirmation showing test date, time, and site address. Some sites ask to see it at check-in; others do not, but having it avoids confusion if there are multiple rooms or buildings. Confirm the reporting time with the provider, as it is often earlier than the scheduled start.
Know your test-day login credentials
If your exam is delivered on a computer and requires a username or candidate ID, write it down and keep it with your ID. Do not rely on memory under stress. Confirm with the provider whether credentials are issued at the desk or sent in advance.
Review the permitted-items list
Check the provider's list of what may be brought into the testing room. Many computer-based exams prohibit notes, phones, smartwatches, and outside calculators. Assume nothing is allowed unless explicitly listed. Items not permitted are usually stored in a locker or left outside the room.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
Know the building, floor, and room. Arrive with a buffer for security screening and check-in, which can take time at busy centers. If you are driving, identify parking in advance. If you are taking the exam remotely, test your equipment and connection the day before and again on the morning of the exam.
Confirm break and timing rules
Ask the provider whether scheduled breaks exist, how they are timed, and whether the clock stops during breaks. Break policy affects pacing, so know it before you start. If breaks are not offered, plan hydration and food accordingly.
Sleep and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the final two nights rather than trying to learn new material. Eat a normal meal before the exam; avoid heavy or unfamiliar food. Caffeine is fine if it is your habit, but do not increase your usual dose on test day.
Needs review: accommodation arrangements
If you have approved testing accommodations, confirm with the provider that they are attached to your registration and that the site has received them. Bring any confirmation letter the provider issues. Do not assume accommodations carry over from a previous exam or provider.
Needs review: calculator and scratch materials
Confirm with the provider whether an on-screen calculator, physical calculator, or scratch paper and marker are provided or permitted. Do not bring your own unless the provider explicitly allows it. Policies differ between computer-based and paper administrations.
Needs review: personal item storage
Confirm where phones, bags, and outerwear must be stored. Many centers require phones to be powered off and stored, not merely silenced. Ask the provider if you are unsure.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to consolidating. Review your own error log and summary sheets rather than starting new topics. Do one timed practice set under exam conditions to check pacing, then stop adding new material. Confirm the site address, reporting time, and permitted-items list. Prepare your ID and confirmation in a single envelope or folder. Protect sleep: go to bed and wake at times that match exam-day timing. Avoid last-minute cramming the night before, which trades short-term recall for fatigue and errors.
Do a light review only: formulas, definitions, and your personal list of recurring mistakes. Lay out clothing, ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. Charge devices if you use them for travel or a remote exam. Eat familiar food and avoid alcohol. Set two alarms and confirm your transport plan, including backup options. If the exam is remote, run the equipment check and clear your workspace of prohibited items. Go to bed at your normal time; do not try to force extra sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate moderately. Arrive at the site with your buffer; do not use the buffer to cram. At check-in, follow staff instructions, present your ID, and store prohibited items as directed. If you are remote, log in early and complete any identity verification. Once seated, take a few slow breaths and read the instructions on the first screen carefully. Note the time and any break schedule before starting.
Read each question fully before answering, and watch for qualifiers such as 'except', 'best', and 'first'. Answer every question; if there is no penalty for guessing, never leave a blank. Flag uncertain items and move on rather than stalling. Budget time against the number of questions and checkpoints you set at the start. Use breaks as permitted and return promptly. If equipment fails or you are interrupted, note the time and raise it with the proctor immediately, then follow up with the provider afterward.
Rules to check
Bring the exact government-issued photo ID named in your admission notice, with a name matching your registration. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions. Do not bring notes, phones, smartwatches, or other prohibited items into the testing room. Confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Remain seated and do not communicate with other candidates during the exam. If you need assistance, raise your hand and wait for the proctor.
Break rules vary by exam and provider. Confirm in advance whether breaks are scheduled, whether the clock stops, and what you may access during them.
Scoring rules, including whether incorrect answers are penalized, are set by the exam sponsor. Confirm the scoring policy with the provider rather than assuming a guess is free.
If a technical problem or interruption occurs, report it to the proctor immediately and record the details. Follow the provider's process for reporting incidents after the exam.
Do not discuss, reproduce, or share exam content. Most testing agreements prohibit disclosing questions, and doing so can invalidate your result.