CATC exam-day guide
CATC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID type and name spelling the testing provider requires. Confirm the accepted ID list with the provider before test day; an expired or mismatched ID can bar entry.
Confirmation / appointment details
Have your appointment confirmation, registration number, and the test center address or online proctoring link ready. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is needed.
Know your test window and arrival time
Arrive or log in earlier than your scheduled start, per the provider's stated check-in window. Confirm the exact early-arrival requirement with the provider.
Permitted items only
Bring only what the provider allows into the testing room. Most testing environments restrict notes, phones, watches, and bags; confirm the specific permitted-items list with the provider.
Scratch materials / calculator policy
Confirm in advance whether scratch paper, a pen, or an on-screen or provided calculator is allowed. Do not assume; check the provider's candidate handbook.
Rest and logistics plan
Plan travel, parking, or a quiet proctoring space with a stable internet connection and working camera/microphone if testing remotely. Confirm technical requirements with the provider.
Break policy understood
Know whether breaks are offered, their length, and what you may access during them. Confirm the break rules with the provider.
Scoring and results timing understood
Know how the exam is scored and when results are released. Confirm the scoring method and results timeline with the provider.
Time-management plan
Decide in advance how you will pace sections and when you will flag and skip hard items to return to later. Practice this on timed sets before test day.
Personal comfort needs
Arrange medication, water, or accessibility accommodations in advance. Accommodations usually require prior approval; confirm the request process and deadlines with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Do timed practice sets under exam-like conditions, review your error log, and confirm logistics: ID, appointment, location or tech setup, and permitted items. Protect sleep.
Light review of summaries and formulas only. Prepare and lay out your ID, confirmation, and clothing the night before. Confirm the start time and check-in window. Get a full night's sleep; avoid cramming.
Eat a normal meal, arrive or log in early per the provider's check-in window, and complete ID verification. Do a brief warm-up of a few easy items, not new content. Keep calm and follow proctor instructions.
Read directions carefully, budget time per section, answer easier items first, and flag hard ones to revisit. Use breaks only as allowed. Watch the clock but avoid panic; leave time to review flagged items and confirm submissions.
Rules to check
Bring and present the ID required by the provider; name and photo must match your registration. Confirm the accepted ID policy with the provider.
Follow all proctor and testing-center instructions, including what may be brought into the room and any security checks.
Do not access unauthorized materials, devices, or other people during the exam; treat this as a strict integrity rule. Confirm the exact prohibited-items list with the provider.
Breaks, if any, are governed by the provider's rules; confirm what you may access and whether the clock runs during breaks.
Understand how the exam is scored and what constitutes a passing result before test day; confirm the scoring method and passing standard with the provider.
If you need accommodations, request them in advance through the provider's process; do not assume they will be granted on test day.
Report any technical or environmental problem to the proctor immediately rather than trying to resolve it yourself.
Do not discuss or share exam content after the test; follow the provider's confidentiality agreement.