ACCA Residential HVAC Design exam-day guide
ACCA Residential HVAC Design · 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.
Admission confirmation / appointment letter
Print or download the confirmation showing your test center, date, and time. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy is acceptable.
Approved calculator
Bring a calculator you are fluent with for load, airflow, and psychrometric calculations. Confirm with the provider which models are permitted and whether the test platform supplies an on-screen calculator.
Reference material policy check
Determine in advance whether any code books, tables, or formula sheets are provided on-screen or allowed in the room. Confirm with the provider; do not assume open-book access.
Scratch paper and writing instrument
Many providers supply these and prohibit bringing your own. Confirm with the provider what is furnished versus what you may bring.
Know your test center route and arrival time
Recon the location or confirm the remote-proctoring setup beforehand. Arrive with buffer for security check-in; confirm the provider's late-arrival cutoff.
Personal comfort items within policy
Layers, water, and any permitted medication. Confirm with the provider what may be brought into the testing room versus stored in a locker.
Watch or timing awareness
Know the number of questions and total time so you can pace yourself. Confirm with the provider whether a clock is visible and whether breaks stop the clock.
Formula and unit-conversion recall sheet (mental)
Be able to reproduce key relationships from memory: sensible/latent heat, airflow from Btu/h, duct sizing, and refrigerant/psychrometric basics. This is study prep, not something to bring unless permitted.
Rest and logistics plan
Plan sleep, meals, and travel so you arrive calm. Confirm with the provider any rules on food, drink, and breaks during the session.
Review the candidate handbook
Read the provider's current handbook for conduct, scoring, and rescheduling rules. Policies change; confirm with the provider rather than relying on secondhand advice.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Do timed practice sets on your weakest areas (load calculations, duct design, equipment selection, ventilation) and review errors only.
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and confirm logistics: start time, ID requirements, permitted items, and break policy. Confirm with the provider anything unclear.
Do one full-length timed practice run under exam-like conditions to calibrate pacing. Note how many minutes per question you can afford.
Light review of formula sheets and common unit conversions only. Pack ID, confirmation, and permitted items. Confirm travel route and set alarms.
Protect sleep. Avoid cramming new material late; a rested recall of fundamentals beats last-minute memorization.
Eat a normal meal, arrive early with buffer for check-in, and re-confirm you have your ID and confirmation. Leave prohibited items at home or in the car.
Skim the whole section first if the platform allows, answer confident questions first, and flag uncertain ones to revisit. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints.
For calculations, write the governing relationship, substitute units carefully, and sanity-check magnitudes. If stuck, eliminate options and move on; return if time permits.
Ensure no question is left blank if there is no penalty for guessing (confirm with the provider). Review flagged items and confirm your answers are recorded.
Rules to check
Bring original government-issued photo ID matching your registration name; confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether a second ID is needed.
Arrive by the provider's stated check-in time; late arrivals may be refused entry or lose time. Confirm with the provider the exact cutoff and rescheduling terms.
Follow all proctor instructions on permitted items, electronics, and scratch materials. Unauthorized devices or notes can void your result.
Breaks, if offered, follow the provider's policy and may or may not stop the clock. Confirm with the provider before relying on a break.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider; confirm the current passing score and whether questions are equally weighted rather than assuming.
Do not communicate with other candidates about live exam content during or after the session; sharing recalled questions may violate the provider's integrity rules.
If a technical or personal issue arises, notify the proctor immediately and follow the provider's incident-reporting process; confirm with the provider how incidents are documented.