NBDE Part I exam-day guide
NBDE Part I · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with signature
Bring your primary ID (driver's license or passport). It must be unexpired and the name must exactly match the name on your exam registration. Confirm the exact ID requirements with the ADA/JCNDE and the test center provider before exam day.
A second form of identification
Some test centers require two IDs, one of which must be a government-issued photo ID. Many candidates bring a credit card or student ID as the second form. Confirm with the test center provider whether a second ID is required.
Appointment confirmation and eligibility information
Have your testing appointment number and any eligibility/authorization documentation from the testing agency available. Note that electronic copies on a phone may not be accepted since phones are stored; bring a printed copy if you are unsure.
Exact test center address, directions, and parking plan
Do a route check ahead of time, identify parking or transit options, and note the building/floor/suite. Prometric-type centers are often inside office parks or professional buildings and are easy to miss.
Plan to arrive well before your appointment time
Arriving roughly 30 minutes early is the commonly recommended cushion for check-in. Confirm the specific check-in and late-arrival policy with your test provider, as arriving late can result in forfeiture of your seat and fee.
Layered, comfortable clothing
Test rooms can run hot or cold, and you may be seated for several hours. Dress in layers and avoid items with excessive metal that could slow security screening.
Snacks and water for scheduled breaks
Personal items generally must be stored in a provided locker and cannot be taken into the testing room. Bring a light snack and water to use only during authorized breaks. Confirm the center's policy on food and drink.
Leave phones, smartwatches, and study materials at home or in the car
Electronic devices, notes, and textbooks are prohibited in the testing room. Unauthorized items can lead to dismissal, so minimize what you carry in.
Glasses, medications, and other personal necessities
If you need medication or a medical accommodation during the exam, arrange approval with the testing agency in advance rather than on exam day.
Know that scratch materials are provided
Test centers typically supply a laminated note board and marker (or equivalent) that must be returned. Do not bring your own paper or pens; confirm what the center provides.
Confirm current exam format, timing, and scoring with the ADA/JCNDE
Item counts, session structure, break scheduling, and score reporting (pass/fail) have changed over time. Verify the current specifications directly with the administering body rather than relying on older test-prep material.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Review only condensed, high-yield summaries (anatomy landmarks, biochem pathways, microbe characteristics, occlusion concepts) in short blocks, then stop each session while you still feel fresh.
Shift your sleep schedule so you are waking at the time you will need to wake on exam day. Avoid all-nighters; sleep consolidation matters more than one more practice set.
Do a logistics check: confirm your appointment date/time and test center location, plan the route and parking, and decide what time you will leave home.
Pack your bag now: ID(s), confirmation documents, layers, snack and water for breaks. Put the bag by the door so morning-of is automatic.
Take one timed practice block if you have not already, purely to rehearse pacing and break strategy. Do not add new practice exams after this point.
Do a light pass over your one-page formula/fact sheet in the morning, then put the material away. No heavy quizzing the day before.
Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your target time. Set two alarms plus a backup.
Re-verify the appointment time and test center address one final time, and check the weather and commute conditions for the morning.
Eat a real breakfast with protein and complex carbohydrates, and drink normal amounts of water. Avoid heavy caffeine if you are not used to it.
Leave earlier than you think necessary. Aim to arrive about 30 minutes before your appointment, and confirm the check-in and late-arrival policy with your provider.
At the center: complete check-in and security screening, store personal items in the locker, use the restroom, and take a few slow breaths before starting.
Read each stem fully and watch for words like EXCEPT, NOT, and MOST LIKELY. Answer the question being asked, not the one you expected.
Do not stall on a single hard item. Make a reasonable choice, flag it if the interface allows, and move on; you can revisit within the block if time permits.
Use the provided note board for multi-step calculations and for jotting landmarks or pathways you tend to confuse. Wipe it between blocks as needed.
Take your scheduled breaks even if you feel fine. Stand, stretch, hydrate, and eat a small snack; fatigue in later blocks costs more points than the break does.
Keep an eye on the clock but work at a steady pace. If you finish a block early, use the time to re-check flagged items rather than leaving immediately.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo identification with your signature, and ensure the name matches your registration exactly. Name mismatches are a common reason candidates are turned away; confirm the accepted ID types with the testing provider in advance.
Electronic devices - phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, earbuds, and any recording-capable device - are prohibited in the testing room. Store them in the provided locker or leave them at home; unauthorized devices can result in removal from the exam and invalidation of your results.
Bring no notes, textbooks, or study materials into the testing room. Scratch materials, if permitted, are supplied by the test center and must be returned at the end of the exam.
Breaks are taken at scheduled points and generally occur outside the testing room, where you may access items stored in your locker. Confirm the break structure and whether breaks count against your testing time with the provider.
Scoring and results reporting for the NBDE are set by the administering body and have changed over time (including pass/fail reporting and any minimum passing standard in effect). Do not rely on secondhand information; verify current policies directly with the ADA/JCNDE.
Retake eligibility, waiting periods between attempts, and lifetime attempt limits are governed by the administering body. Confirm the current rules before you sit for the exam so you understand your options if you do not pass.
If you experience a technical problem or an interruption during the exam, stop and notify the test center administrator immediately and document what happened before leaving the building. Issues reported later are much harder to resolve.
Follow all test center administrator instructions, including security screening and locker use. Attempting to remove exam content, communicate with others, or access prohibited materials is a violation that can void your score and affect future eligibility.