ACVAA exam-day guide
ACVAA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Confirm with the provider which specific ID forms are accepted and whether the name must match your registration exactly; bring the same ID you registered with.
Confirmation / admission letter
Bring a printed or downloaded copy of your scheduling confirmation. Verify your test date, time, location or remote-testing link, and any candidate number in advance.
Know your exact arrival time and location
Confirm with the provider the required arrival time (often earlier than the start time), the building/room or remote platform, and parking or transit options. Do a dry run if testing in person.
Review the candidate handbook / rules of conduct
Read the current handbook for permitted and prohibited items, calculators, scratch materials, and electronic-device rules. Policies vary; confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Permitted comfort items
Bring water and a light snack only if the provider permits them in the testing area; confirm with the provider where food and drink may be kept.
Layer clothing
Testing rooms can be cold or warm; dress in layers you can remove without disrupting others. Avoid clothing with slogans or large logos if the provider restricts them.
Remote-testing setup (if applicable)
If testing remotely, confirm with the provider the required platform, camera/microphone, room-scan procedure, and internet speed; run the system check and a practice login ahead of time.
Medications and accessibility accommodations
If you need medication, breaks, or other accommodations, confirm approval and procedures with the provider well before test day and bring any required documentation.
Plan your route and backup plan
Decide your transport, leave buffer time for delays, and identify a backup route or contact number in case of problems.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, charge devices, prepare ID and confirmation in one place, and get a full night's sleep.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's current candidate handbook and rules of conduct; confirm start time, location or remote link, ID requirements, and permitted items with the provider. Run any required system check for remote testing. Stop cramming new material; do light review of weak areas and practice pacing. Protect sleep and avoid last-minute schedule changes.
Lay out ID, confirmation, layers, and any approved items. Confirm transport and backup plan. Eat familiar meals and hydrate; avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine late in the day. Do a brief review of high-yield topics, then stop. Set two alarms and go to bed at a normal time.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive with buffer time. Recheck ID and confirmation. Follow the provider's check-in and security procedures exactly. Use the restroom before the test begins. Stay calm and avoid comparing notes with other candidates.
Read each question fully and note key qualifiers. Answer easier items first and flag uncertain ones to revisit if the platform allows. Watch the clock and reserve time to review flagged items. Use only approved scratch materials. Take scheduled breaks if offered. If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Rules to check
Bring the exact government-issued photo ID required by the provider; confirm acceptable forms and name-matching rules with the provider in advance.
Follow all check-in, security, and identification procedures; cooperate with proctors and follow their instructions.
Do not bring prohibited items into the testing area. Confirm with the provider what is allowed (phones, watches, notes, calculators, food, drink) and where they must be stored.
Breaks and their timing are set by the provider; confirm whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether the clock stops during breaks.
Scoring, pass standards, and result reporting timelines are set by the provider; confirm how and when results are released and what the retake policy is.
Report any technical problem, distraction, or irregularity to the proctor immediately and ask that it be documented.
Do not discuss, reproduce, or share exam content; follow the provider's confidentiality and misconduct rules.
If you are unwell or cannot attend, contact the provider as early as possible to learn your options; do not assume a reschedule is automatic.