Whether it’s your first time taking the exam or it’s been 10 years since you last certified, you may be feeling some anxiety about what to expect the day of the exam. Here’s everything you can expect on the day of your exam and how to go into it feeling confident and prepared.
Arriving
On the day of the exam, you’ll want to arrive 30 minutes before your appointment for check-in, ID verification, biometric screening and storing belongings. Arriving after your appointment time can mean being treated as a no-show, forfeited fees, and paying a new exam fee to reschedule.
You will need to show two forms of identification: a photo ID and signature are required. The second form of ID can be a Social Security Card, valid credit card, or ATM card. The name on your ID must match the name that the ABIM has on record for you.
ProTip: Make sure that your driver’s license, passport, or state ID card is not expired!
ProTip #2: Get both forms of ID out and ready to go BEFORE the morning of the exam! Prep anything else you want to take with you ahead of time and have them ready to go and by the door so you can head out quickly and worry-free.
You Can Bring These With You into the Testing Room
You do get a locker to store anything that you may have brought that isn’t allowed in the testing room. So, of course, you get to bring the key to your locker in with you.
Here’s what you do get to have in the testing room:
- An erasable notepad, which will be provided by the test administrator (Note: You also will be able to type and save notes in a pop-up box that accompanies each exam question)
- If you want headphones or earplugs, ask the test administrator.
- Of course, if you have a medical need, you can request ahead of time to bring any equipment/personal items into the exam room with you. Most essential medical and personal items are allowed without prior approval, like an insulin pump, hearing aids, diabetic supplies, asthma inhalers, canes, cough drops, or crutches. Note: For other medical and personal items you will need to get approval ahead of time.
ProTip: Put mnemonics, tricks, notes — anything you want — on your notepad, as soon as you walk into the room!
What You Definitely Can't Bring
Make sure that on the day of the exam you dress for comfort! You will not be allowed to wear a jacket or a coat, so we recommend that you wear layers or a comfy sweater. Here’s a list of other things that you won’t be allowed to have in the testing room:
- Wallets/Purses (lockers are provided)
- Cell phones, calculators, PDAs, pagers, beepers, cameras, recording devices
- Watches, smart watches, fitness trackers
- Calipers, nomograms
- Pens, highlighters, or other writing instruments
- Study materials, including notes and scratch paper
- Briefcases, backpacks, suitcases
- Tobacco products
- Food or drinks (including coffee/sodas)
- Your own earplugs, headphones, or other personal devices
- Bluetooth or remote-control
- Scarves, hats or gloves (except religious garments)
When You Need an Accommodation
If you have a disability and need to request accommodations for your exam, plan ahead. There are two different request options and people mix them up all the time.
Testing accommodations are changes to how the exam is administered. ABIM grants these for disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, meaning a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Reference the ABIM website for the most up-to-date information. Common accommodations include:
- Extended testing time
- Additional or extended break time
- Testing in a separate room
- Adjustable seating
- Screen magnification or large-font display
- Access to medical devices
Comfort aids are small, medically necessary items you want to bring into the testing room. Some of these need pre-approval from ABIM and some don't. Pearson VUE keeps a published list of comfort aids that are allowed without any prior approval, and those items just get a quick visual inspection at check-in. If your item isn't on that list, you'll need to submit a comfort aid request ahead of time, which includes the comfort aid form, a signed Verification and Release Form, and a professional report documenting your impairment and why the item is necessary.
Nursing parents can request additional break time and a private space to pump. Breast milk can be stored in your locker. These requests have their own deadlines, so check ABIM's guidance early.
ProTip #1: Register for your exam first. ABIM requires you to be registered before you can submit an accommodation request, and all requests are due by the exam registration or seat scheduling deadline. Don't wait until the deadline, though. Some requests take real time to review, especially if ABIM needs additional supporting documentation, and then more time to actually arrange once approved.
ProTip #2: Not sure which category your situation falls into? Email ABIM's Special Exams Coordinator at accommodations@abim.org and ask before you start filling out forms. It's faster than guessing wrong and starting over.
If your accommodations are approved, your exam confirmation will spell out what's been granted. It's worth confirming arrangements with both ABIM and Pearson VUE before exam day so there are no surprises at check-in.What the Exam Schedule is Like
Be prepared for 4 2-hour testing sessions with a maximum of 240 multiple-choice questions. There are 100 minutes of break time divided into 3 break sessions—these are optional, but we recommend using them to stretch your legs in between testing sessions!
With the breaks included, the test can take 10 (or so) hours.
Note: The exam day schedule is the same for both the initial certification and the MOC exams.
You can expect a maximum of 60 questions for the 2-hour sessions, which gives you 2 minutes for each question.
ProTip: Use the “exam mode” feature on our Internal Medicine Qbank+ to get a good feel for what your exam day will be like.
What You Should Know About the Testing Computer
The time you have remaining on your exam will be in the upper right-hand corner of the computer. When there are 5 minutes left, you’ll get a notification on your computer. The time of day won’t be on your computer, but it will be on a clock on the wall in the room.
If you request to leave the room during your exam, the exam time will continue to count down and your computer will be set to an “unscheduled break” mode. There will be an electronic fingerprint or palm scan each and every time you enter and exit the room.
After two hours, the testing time is over, and your computer screen will turn grey.
Now that you know more about what to expect on exam day, we hope you can relax and focus on last-minute studying! We recommend the Q&As and Flashcards for recall at this point in your study journey.
Need more info about what to expect on the day of your exam? Check out ABIM.org
