ACAW exam-day guide
ACAW · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of ID the provider requires. The name must match your registration exactly. Confirm the accepted ID types and name-match rule with the provider before test day.
Appointment confirmation and test-day instructions
Have your appointment confirmation, testing location or remote-proctoring link, and the provider's test-day instructions accessible. Re-read them the day before; requirements can change.
Know your testing format and delivery method
Confirm whether you are testing at a test center or remotely, and what software or check-in steps apply. For remote testing, confirm system requirements and run any required system check with the provider in advance.
Allowed reference materials and tools
Confirm with the provider whether any references, calculators, scratch paper, or other aids are permitted, and in what form. Do not assume; policies differ by exam and delivery method.
Prohibited-items plan
Plan where your phone, watch, notes, and other personal items will go. Most providers restrict or prohibit these in the testing area. Confirm the specific list with the provider.
Logistics: route, timing, and arrival buffer
Know the exact address or check-in time and plan to arrive with a buffer for traffic, parking, or security screening. Confirm the provider's late-arrival and check-in cutoffs.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the final days, plan a normal meal before the test, and know whether food and drink are allowed in the testing room. Confirm break rules with the provider.
Break and timing expectations
Understand the total appointment length, whether breaks are scheduled or optional, and whether the clock stops during breaks. Confirm these details with the provider.
Score reporting basics
Know when and how results are released and whether a preliminary score is shown at the end. Confirm the reporting timeline and any retake or appeal policies with the provider.
Backup plan
Have a contact number or procedure for the testing center or provider in case of a delay, technical problem, or emergency. Confirm the correct contact channel in advance.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summary notes, error log, and high-yield frameworks. Do one or two timed practice sets to keep pacing sharp, then stop. Confirm your appointment details, ID requirements, and travel or remote-check-in logistics with the provider.
Do a light review only, no new topics and no full-length practice tests. Pack your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. Lay out clothes and confirm your route or check-in setup. Set two alarms. Get a normal night's sleep; do not cram late.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate. Arrive early per the provider's instructions. Leave prohibited items behind or stowed as directed. Do a brief mental warm-up with a few easy items or a framework recall, not a deep dive.
Read each question fully, note what is being asked, and watch your pacing against the clock. Answer every question; if there is no penalty for guessing, never leave one blank. Flag uncertain items and return if time allows. Use breaks as permitted, and if a technical or procedural problem occurs, notify the proctor immediately.
Rules to check
Bring the required government-issued photo ID with a name matching your registration. Confirm accepted ID types and the name-match requirement with the provider.
Follow all proctor and testing-center instructions, including seating, item storage, and any security screening. Noncompliance can lead to dismissal.
Do not access phones, watches, notes, or unauthorized materials during the test unless explicitly permitted. Confirm the prohibited-items list with the provider.
Understand the break policy before you start: whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the clock runs during them. Confirm with the provider.
Understand the scoring and guessing policy: whether unanswered questions count against you and whether there is any penalty for wrong answers. Confirm with the provider.
If you experience a technical failure, illness, or other disruption, report it to the proctor or provider immediately and ask about incident documentation and remedies. Confirm the specific process with the provider.
Do not discuss, share, or reproduce exam content. Follow the provider's confidentiality and conduct agreement.