CGSC exam-day guide
CGSC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which specific ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Exam admission or scheduling confirmation
Have your appointment confirmation, eligibility/authorization number, and any candidate ID number printed or saved offline. Confirm with the provider what documentation is required at check-in.
Know your test-center location and arrival time
Confirm the exact address, parking/transit options, and the arrival time the provider requires (often earlier than the start time for check-in). Reconfirm the day before in case of schedule changes.
Review the current candidate handbook or exam guide
The authoritative source for format, timing, item types, scoring, and permitted/forbidden items is the provider's current handbook. Read the version that applies to your exam date.
Confirm permitted and prohibited items
Rules on calculators, scratch paper, notes, phones, watches, and personal items vary by provider and are often strictly enforced. Confirm the list with the provider rather than assuming.
Confirm break policy
Determine whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops, and whether you may access personal items. Confirm with the provider; do not rely on secondhand accounts.
Confirm scoring and result reporting
Know the passing standard, whether scoring is criterion- or norm-referenced, and when/how results are released. Confirm with the provider.
Plan your travel and a backup
Build in buffer time for traffic or transit delays and identify a backup route. Arriving late can forfeit your seat depending on provider policy.
Sleep and nutrition plan
Prioritize consistent sleep in the days before and a normal meal before the exam; avoid trying new caffeine or supplement routines on exam day.
Practice with the provider's official format
Use official sample items or tutorials to familiarize yourself with the interface and item types. Confirm which practice materials the provider endorses.
Items to leave at home or in the car
Phones, smartwatches, and study notes are commonly prohibited in the testing room. Confirm the provider's storage policy for personal belongings.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the provider's contact number in case of an emergency or scheduling issue. Confirm the correct number and any reschedule/cancellation policy.
Plan the day
Reconfirm appointment time, location, and ID requirements with the provider; review the candidate handbook for rules on permitted items, breaks, and scoring; stop introducing new study material and focus on consolidating weak areas with practice questions.
Do a final logistics check (route, parking, transit, weather); prepare your ID and confirmation documents in one place; confirm the provider's policy on lateness and rescheduling; taper studying in the evening.
Light review only-skim summaries and key frameworks rather than cramming; lay out ID, confirmation, and any permitted items; confirm the alarm and backup alarm; aim for a normal night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, arrive with buffer time, and follow check-in instructions; leave prohibited items secured as directed; use restroom before the exam starts.
Read each question fully, watch the clock and pace yourself against the number of items, flag uncertain items and return if the interface allows, use breaks per policy, and avoid changing answers without a reason.
Note what felt difficult while it is fresh, confirm how and when results will be reported, and follow the provider's process for any score report or retake questions.
Rules to check
Present valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID in the name used at registration; confirm accepted ID types with the provider before exam day.
Follow all test-center conduct rules: no unauthorized materials, no communication with other candidates, and no leaving the testing area without permission.
Confirm the provider's policy on personal items and electronic devices; prohibited devices may result in dismissal or score invalidation.
Breaks are governed by provider policy-confirm whether they are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops, and what you may access during them.
Scoring and the passing standard are set by the provider; confirm the scoring method, result timeline, and any retake policy rather than relying on unofficial sources.
If you arrive late or cannot attend, contact the provider immediately; confirm the lateness, cancellation, and rescheduling policies in advance.
Report any testing irregularity or technical problem to the proctor immediately and follow the provider's documented process.
Do not discuss, reproduce, or share exam content; adhere to the provider's confidentiality and candidate agreement.