AB-900 exam-day guide
AB-900 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired, original photo ID (passport or government-issued driver's license are the common accepted forms). The first and last name on the ID must match your exam registration exactly. Confirm the acceptable ID list for your country with the exam provider before test day - some providers also require a second form of ID.
Appointment confirmation
Have your confirmation email or screenshot showing the exam code (AB-900), appointment date/time, appointment ID, and whether you are booked at a test center or online-proctored. Confirm the details 72 hours ahead so you can catch a scheduling error early.
Test-center address, parking and route
If testing in person, look up the exact building/suite and parking or transit options, and plan to arrive with buffer time. Test centers are often inside office parks or shared buildings and are easy to miss. Confirm the provider's recommended arrival window on your confirmation.
Online proctoring system check
If testing online, run the provider's system test (webcam, microphone, speakers, browser/secure-lockdown client, bandwidth) at least 24-72 hours before. Fix or reschedule early rather than discovering a problem at check-in.
Account credentials
Know the username and password for the account you used to schedule the exam - you may need to sign in during check-in. Have them written on paper near you only if the provider's rules allow it; otherwise memorize them.
Reliable internet with a backup
For online delivery, prefer a wired connection or strong Wi-Fi, and have a phone hotspot as backup. Close bandwidth-heavy apps and pause other devices during the exam.
A quiet, private, well-lit room
For online delivery: no other people, no interruptions, door closed, desk cleared of papers, books, phones, and second monitors. Proctors typically require a room scan - confirm the room requirements with the provider.
Clear your workspace per provider rules
Remove notes, sticky notes, smartwatches, fitness bands, phones, and headphones unless explicitly permitted. Empty your pockets. Confirm in advance whether any physical scratch material is allowed or will be supplied by the proctor.
Accessibility or language accommodations
If you need extra time, a separate room, screen-reader support or an ESL extension, these are normally requested and approved well before the appointment. Contact the provider as early as possible - the day before is usually too late.
Know the exam format in advance
Find out from the provider whether your exam includes labs, interactive components, case studies, or unscored pretest items, and how many questions and how much time you get. Do not rely on secondhand reports; confirm on the official exam details page.
Water and a snack for before the exam
Eat and hydrate before you start. Food and drink are generally not permitted at the workstation during the exam, and unscheduled breaks may not be available - confirm the break policy for this exam.
A review of your weak spots only
Bring nothing new to learn. In the final 24 hours, review your own short summary of weak areas. Do not carry unauthorized study material into the test center or onto the online session.
Plan the day
Re-read your appointment confirmation: exam code, time, delivery mode, location or online check-in link. Verify your ID name matches the registration exactly and that the ID has not expired. If anything is wrong, contact the provider immediately - name-mismatch problems are much easier to fix before the exam day.
Run the online system test if applicable, or confirm the test-center address and travel plan if in person. Request any accommodations now if you have not already; late requests may be refused.
Do a light pass over your own notes on the topics you are least confident about, then stop. Do not attempt to learn new material. Confirm the provider's reschedule/cancellation cut-off so you know your last decision point. Set two alarms and get a full night's sleep.
Lay out your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. Clear the exam room if testing online. Tell household members your exam window so they do not interrupt.
Eat a normal meal, avoid last-minute cramming, and arrive at the test center early or begin online check-in at the provider's recommended time - typically around 30 minutes before the appointment, but confirm the exact window on your confirmation. Late arrivals may be refused entry or lose the fee.
Follow the proctor's instructions exactly: ID verification, photo, signature, room scan, and the confidentiality agreement. Store all belongings as directed. If you use online delivery, close all other applications before launching the secure browser.
Read each stem for qualifiers such as 'first', 'best', 'most cost-effective', or 'not'. Answer the straightforward items first, flag anything long or uncertain, and return to flagged items before time runs out. Watch the remaining-time indicator at a few checkpoints rather than constantly.
If you hit an unfamiliar interface or a lab-style task, read the on-screen instructions carefully and complete partial steps - partial work sometimes earns partial credit. Do not spend more than a couple of minutes stuck on one item.
Take the on-screen or printed score report and note whether a pass/fail result is shown immediately; some providers send final confirmation by email later. Keep the report for your records. Do not discuss specific exam content with others.
Rules to check
The name on your ID must match your registration exactly. If it does not, contact the provider before the exam - you may be denied entry and lose your fee.
Bring only what the provider permits into the testing area. Notes, phones, smartwatches, and extra displays are generally prohibited; unauthorized materials can result in the session being terminated and the result voided.
Breaks: most Microsoft-style certification exams do not include scheduled breaks and the clock keeps running if you leave. Confirm the break policy for AB-900 with the provider rather than assuming.
You will be asked to accept a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement at the start. Reproducing or sharing actual exam questions - in any form - violates that agreement and can invalidate your certification.
Scoring is reported as a scaled score with a pass threshold set by the provider, and the threshold is not necessarily the same across exams. Confirm the passing score and score-report details on the official exam page rather than relying on forum claims.
Rescheduling or cancelling usually requires notice before the appointment and may incur a fee or forfeit the full amount. Confirm the exact cut-off with the provider.
Some exams include unscored pretest items or lab sections. Answer every item as though it counts; you will not be told which ones are unscored.
If a technical failure occurs during an online session, stop and contact proctor support immediately rather than troubleshooting alone - provider policy usually determines whether a retest is granted, so confirm the process in advance.