It is advised that all students taking the FPGEE arrive at the test center AT LEAST 1 HOUR before the scheduled appointment time, as registration time is needed for the exam. 

The 5 main steps of registration for the FPGEE are as follows:

1. UNDERSTANDING RULES & DIRECTIONS DURING EXAM

Candidates will be asked to read Pearson Vue rules and directions during the exam. The document is quite lengthy and full of jargon, you don't need to read the whole thing, just understand that if you break any of the standard exam rules (i.e. cheating) you could be ejected and banned from taking the FPGEE.

2. IDENTIFICATION CHECKS

Candidates must present one form of approved and legible identification before being admitted to the examination. If you arrive at the testing center without acceptable identification, you will not be allowed to take the test, and you will forfeit your examination fee. The name on the identification card must match the name on your Authorization to Test letter. If you think you may have a problem, please call NABP immediately. NABP also recommends that you also bring your Authorization to Test (ATT) letter with you to the Pearson Professional Center.

Your name on your photo identification must match what is on your Authorization to Test letter, and the approved identification must include the following attributes: it must be valid (not expired); it must include a photograph, and it must be legible.

3. PICTURE TAKING 

Once proper identification has been checked, a picture of the candidate will be taken for future reference (Pearson have strict privacy regulations - they won't share your information).

4. LOCKERS

You will not be allowed to take any personal items with you into the testing room. This includes all bags, books or other materials not authorized for this exam, notes, phones, pagers, watches and wallets. You will, however, be provided with a locker where you can keep your personal items. It is important that all electronic items such as cell phones should be turned OFF.

5. FINGERPRINTING 

Before going into the testing room, Pearson Vue will take your fingerprints. The purpose of this is for security/integrity of the exam. So when you needed to go out of the testing room (i.e. when you need to go to the restroom), you will only be allowed to re-enter the testing area if your fingerprint matches the previous one.

- Pen and paper will be provided by Pearson Vue if there is a need for calculations. If you have filled the paper and would like another clean sheet, you just need to raise your hand so the examiner can give you another paper.

Bonus tips for the FPGEE Exam

So what is the best method for the FPGEE Exam? Come exam time, some students swear by illustrated mind maps. i.e. drawing a central topic in a circle and then creating a spider web of associated ideas around it. This technique is more attributed to essay-style exams where you have a lot of time to explore a subjective topic. A more appropriate technique would be flashcards. 

A popular technique in medical science, this option gives you lots of associated facts in bite-size pieces. All of these techniques are good, but one of the simplest techniques stands head and shoulders above the rest: simple recall. 

Aristotle wrote more than two millennia ago that "repeatedly recalling a thing strengthens memory". Inspired by this, a student of Purdue University called Jeffrey Karpicke created a landmark study. Karpicke asked 40 students to learn the meaning of 40 Swahili words. Despite receiving no feedback as to whether the students were correct or not they were regularly asked to recall the words. The average student aced the test with over 80%. In respect to the control group who repeatedly studied the words without testing themselves, they scored a meagre 36%. 

The best way to do this in respect of the FPGEE is to practice exam questions and once you have done that, do some more! A smart student will try and access as many sources of questions as possible and adapt their learning technique to accommodate testing their knowledge at regular stages. Instead of skimming through textbooks, stop at the end of each chapter and you will usually find a list of questions. Make sure that you do them in detail and then try to identify gaps in your knowledge.

After every learning session, review the process you followed. What worked, what didn't, what would you could do differently next time? Do the same thing at the end of each week, after each assignment, and after each test. Make notes of what you've learned about learning, and use them to improve your next learning session. In all, it boils down to the old adage "practice makes perfect". Put in the right amount of effort doing this and you will not be disappointed.

What to do on the first day of the FPGEE...

1) Relax - The main proportion who fail usually have really good reasons for not passing ie they did not have the correct resources; they had an adverse event which affected study performance; they turned up late etc. Try not to worry about the exam, if you are subscribed to this website you have over a 90% chance of succeeding the first time. Nerves are usually counterproductive, you want a clean, relaxed mind so you can access the information in your brainbox better ;)

2) It is not as hard as you think - we have purposely made the questions and resources on FPGE Exam harder than the exam you are taking, to make you just that little bit more prepared. If you have passed all the FPGE Exam questions with a 70% average, should expect 80% on the actual exam.

3) Get there on time - make sure you know where you are going, check the transport you are taking online, also print off a map if you can. Try not to rely on GPS systems, if you do, make sure you have a back up like a cell phone with google maps on it. 

4) Hydration and nutrition - there are no real rules here for students. Do not bring a four-course meal, but do bring a bottle of non-fizzy water and a high in carbohydrate snack.

5) The night before - get everything you need together in one place. All the ID requirements... If you are unsure what you need, check the FPGEE website.

6) Timing - for the actual exam, timing is crucial. A good technique is to go through all of the questions, answering the ones you know instinctively and leave the ones you doubt till later. If you find you are dwelling on one question too long, move to the next and return to it later.

7) Use your experience - by now, with your high school and university education you have probably sat over 50 exams. You know what is best and what works for you. If none of the above points have worked for you in the past then leave them all out and do it the way you know best, the way that has given you the best performance.