ACI MFTT exam-day guide
ACI MFTT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired driver's license, passport, or other photo ID whose name exactly matches your registration. If your registration name differs (maiden name, shortened first name), resolve it before test day. If you are unsure which ID forms are accepted, confirm with the provider in advance rather than discovering the problem at check-in.
Registration confirmation / authorization to test
Carry your confirmation email or letter, either printed or accessible offline. Some sites require a printed copy and some accept a digital one; confirm with the provider which format is expected, and note the test site's contact number on the same page in case of a delay.
Approved calculator
A basic non-programmable calculator is typically allowed, but the exact policy varies by program and site. Confirm with the provider which models are permitted before you pack one, and assume phone-based calculator apps are not allowed. Test the batteries and display the night before.
Required personal protective equipment
Masonry field testing involves mortar, grout, and unit handling, so safety glasses, work gloves, and closed-toe or safety-toe boots are commonly required. Confirm with the provider or the sponsoring laboratory what PPE they supply and what you must bring yourself; do not assume loaner equipment will fit.
Work clothing suitable for a laboratory or field station
Wear clothing you can move and bend in, with sleeves that stay clear of mixing and molding operations. Tie back long hair, remove dangling jewelry and lanyards, and avoid loose cuffs near moving equipment or fresh grout.
Pencils, pen, and eraser
Bring at least two pencils, a pen, and a soft eraser for answer sheets and data-recording forms. Confirm with the provider whether scratch paper and a clipboard are supplied, because some sites prohibit outside paper.
Timing device
A stopwatch is useful practice for timed procedures such as mixing, curing-window checks, and specimen molding, but many sites supply timers and some prohibit personal ones at the bench. Confirm with the provider whether you may use your own; if yes, bring a simple non-smartwatch stopwatch.
Water, snacks, and a light lunch
Written and performance portions are often scheduled back to back with limited breaks. Bring water and food that does not require refrigeration, and confirm with the provider whether there will be a scheduled meal break or whether you should eat between portions.
Directions, parking, and arrival plan
Scout the route the day before, including building entrance, visitor check-in, and parking. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time so a traffic delay does not cost you your seat; late arrivals may be refused entry under provider policy.
Leave study notes and references at home unless told otherwise
Certification written exams are commonly closed-book, and outside materials at the bench may be treated as prohibited items. Confirm with the provider whether any reference documents are supplied or permitted, and pack accordingly.
Prescription glasses or hearing protection if you need them
You will read small print on forms and instrument displays and may work near mixing equipment. Bring your own corrective lenses and, if noise is a concern at the station, ask the provider whether ear protection is allowed or supplied.
Plan the day
Re-confirm logistics: reporting time, building entrance, what the site supplies versus what you must bring, and the PPE policy. Re-read the published scope of the certification and rehearse the standard procedures that are performed rather than described: sampling, mixing, molding, curing-window timing, and specimen handling. Work from your own notes and the procedures you were trained on rather than trying to memorize new material.
Do one timed dry run of the performance procedures using your own equipment or a practice lab, talking through each step out loud as you would to an examiner. Write a one-page personal checklist of the steps you most often forget, then set it aside so it becomes a prompt rather than a crutch. Stop heavy study by early evening and protect your sleep across both nights.
Pack your bag completely: ID, confirmation, calculator, PPE, clothing, pencils, water, and food. Lay out your clothes. Confirm the alarm and a backup alarm, check the weather and traffic advisories, and put the site phone number somewhere you can find it without unlocking a phone you may have to surrender. Do not start a new topic or cram late into the night.
Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Give yourself a hard stop on review: a brief skim of your one-page checklist is enough. Set out everything by the door so the morning requires no decisions.
Eat a real breakfast, hydrate, and arrive at the site with buffer time rather than exactly at the reporting time. Leave your phone, smartwatch, and any notes in the car or a locker unless the provider has told you otherwise. Use the waiting time to review your own checklist only.
Present your photo ID and confirmation, sign any required attendance or safety forms, and listen carefully to the proctor's instructions on timing, breaks, restroom access, and what happens if you finish early. Ask now, not mid-station, about anything ambiguous such as where to place finished specimens or how to signal that you are done.
Read the instructions on the answer sheet before the first question, budget your time against the number of items, and answer the questions you know first. Watch for questions asking for the next step, the acceptance tolerance, or the reason a step exists. Mark uncertain items and return to them; leave no blank answers if the scoring penalizes only incorrect answers, and confirm the guessing policy with the proctor if unclear.
Before touching equipment, confirm the station setup, the required specimen count, and the timing requirements. Narrate what you are doing so the examiner can see your reasoning, follow the specified sequence exactly, and record measurements as you take them rather than from memory. Respect the stop signal, clean your station, and hand in data sheets before leaving.
Use breaks to reset materials and mentally rehearse the next station rather than to rehash the last one. After finishing, note anything you were unsure about while it is fresh, retrieve your belongings, and confirm with the provider when and how results are reported and what the retake process is.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID. Candidates without acceptable identification are generally not admitted and may forfeit the fee; confirm with the provider which alternatives, if any, are accepted before test day.
Phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices must be silenced and stored outside the testing area. Do not photograph, record, or transmit exam content, and do not discuss specific exam items with other candidates.
Follow all safety instructions from the examiner and site staff. Unsafe handling of equipment, specimens, or materials may result in removal from the session; confirm with the provider how safety violations are handled and whether they affect your result.
Do not leave the testing area without permission. Restroom and break policies vary by site, so confirm with the provider or proctor at check-in whether breaks are allowed during timed portions and whether an escort is required.
Work only within the stated time limit for each station or section. Stop when instructed, and record only results obtained within the allowed time; late work is typically not scored.
Do not modify, remove, or substitute specimens, equipment, or reference materials without the examiner's permission, and do not use another candidate's data.
Scoring typically requires passing both the written and the performance portions, but the passing score, weighting, and whether portions can be combined across attempts are set by the provider. Confirm the current passing criteria and retake windows with the provider rather than assuming.
Use only the calculators, references, and materials the provider permits. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask the proctor before the session begins rather than after it has started.