CAET exam-day guide
CAET · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID document in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which specific ID types are accepted and whether a second form is required.
Admission or confirmation document
Print or save the scheduling confirmation showing your test date, time, and test center or remote-proctoring details. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Know your test format and sections
Review the official content outline so you know the section order, approximate timing, and whether breaks are built in. Confirm the current structure with the provider, since formats change.
Practice with the official interface
If the provider publishes a tutorial or sample interface, use it once so navigation, flagging, and review screens are familiar on test day.
Confirm test center logistics or remote setup
For a center: verify address, parking, and arrival time. For remote: test your camera, microphone, browser, and internet, and confirm the room and desk requirements with the provider.
Permitted items only
Assume nothing beyond ID and confirmation is allowed unless the provider states otherwise. Confirm policies on calculators, scratch paper, pens, watches, and phones.
Dress and plan for security screening
Expect ID checks, possibly a photo, and rules about pockets, jewelry, and outerwear. Confirm specifics with the provider rather than guessing.
Sleep and fuel plan
Protect sleep for the two nights before, and plan a normal meal and hydration so you are not distracted by hunger or caffeine swings mid-test.
Arrival buffer
Plan to arrive earlier than the stated reporting time to absorb traffic or check-in delays. Confirm the provider's late-arrival and cutoff policy in advance.
Backup plan for tech or transport failure
Save the provider's contact number and know their reschedule or technical-issue policy before test day.
Plan the day
Confirm date, time, location or remote link, and ID requirements. Re-read the official candidate handbook for conduct and permitted-items rules. Do one timed practice set under exam conditions, then stop adding new material.
Review your own summary notes and error log only. Light review of formulas or key definitions if the exam allows them. Avoid cramming new topics.
Pack ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. Confirm transport or test your remote setup once more. Set two alarms. Aim for a full night's sleep and avoid heavy study.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and arrive with buffer. Leave phone and non-permitted items secured as the provider directs. Do a brief warm-up of a few easy questions, not a full practice test.
Read the instructions and note section timing. Answer easier questions first if the interface allows flagging and review. Watch the clock per section, do not linger on one item, and use breaks only as permitted. If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately.
Use remaining time to check flagged items and confirm no unanswered questions, then submit according to proctor instructions.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID the provider requires; name and document type must match your registration. Confirm accepted forms with the provider.
Follow all proctor instructions on permitted items, pockets, and desk setup. If unsure whether an item is allowed, leave it behind or ask the provider beforehand.
No communication with other candidates during the test, and no unauthorized materials, notes, or devices. Treat remote-proctoring room and camera rules as mandatory.
Breaks are typically only at designated points and may be timed; confirm the provider's break policy and whether leaving the room is allowed.
Scoring and any penalties for unanswered or wrong answers vary by exam; confirm the scoring model and guessing policy with the provider before test day.
Report any technical failure or irregularity to the proctor immediately and follow the provider's incident process rather than troubleshooting alone.
Late arrival or missed appointments may forfeit your fee or seat; confirm the provider's late-arrival and reschedule rules in advance.
Keep your registration and ID information consistent; contact the provider promptly if your name or documentation changes before the test.