AFC exam-day guide
AFC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered with. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Confirmation / scheduling notice
Print or save the appointment confirmation showing date, time, and location or online link. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Testing location and arrival logistics
Verify the exact address or platform link, parking, and transit options the day before. Confirm with the provider how early you should arrive.
Account login credentials
If testing remotely, verify your username, password, and any two-factor method work in advance. Confirm with the provider which browser and system checks are required.
Permitted aids list
Confirm with the provider exactly which calculators, scratch paper, or reference materials (if any) are allowed, and whether the test center supplies them.
Personal items plan
Most testing environments restrict bags, phones, and watches. Confirm with the provider where personal belongings must be stored during the exam.
Comfort and medical needs
Bring water or medication only if permitted. Confirm with the provider in advance about accommodations and what may be brought into the room.
Break expectations
Know in advance whether breaks are offered, timed, and whether the clock runs during them. Confirm with the provider's current policy.
Scoring and results timing
Understand the pass standard and when results are released. Confirm with the provider whether you receive a preliminary score on screen.
Travel buffer
Plan to arrive with margin for traffic or technical setup. Confirm with the provider the cutoff time after which a late arrival may be turned away.
Backup plan
Save the provider's contact number for scheduling or technical issues and know the reschedule/cancellation terms. These vary, so confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summary sheets and weak areas only. Confirm appointment details, ID validity, and location or platform link. Do a final check of any permitted-aid rules with the provider.
Protect sleep. Shift bedtime earlier if the exam is in the morning. Avoid cramming the night before; light review and rest outperform an all-nighter.
Pack your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items in one place. Lay out clothes and plan meals. If testing remotely, run the system/equipment check and clear your workspace of prohibited items.
Do a short, low-stress review of key formulas or frameworks, then stop. Set two alarms and confirm travel time or login time. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate moderately. Arrive or log in with buffer time. Leave your phone and other restricted items where the provider requires.
Read each question fully before answering. Answer easier items first if the platform allows navigation, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock and reserve time for a final pass.
If a technical problem occurs, pause and notify the proctor or support immediately rather than troubleshooting alone, and note the time. Use permitted breaks only as allowed and be back before the clock resumes.
Rules to check
Present valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID matching your registration; confirm with the provider which forms are accepted.
Follow all proctor instructions and the provider's prohibited-items list; unauthorized materials or devices can void your result.
Do not communicate with other candidates or attempt to capture, share, or reproduce exam content; this is a conduct violation.
Understand the break policy before you start: confirm with the provider whether breaks are timed and whether the clock runs during them.
Know the scoring standard and results timeline in advance; confirm with the provider how and when scores are reported.
Arrive or log in by the provider's stated cutoff; late arrivals may be denied entry, so confirm the exact rule with the provider.
If you need to reschedule or cancel, follow the provider's stated deadlines and fees; confirm these terms before exam day.
Report any technical or accommodation issue to the proctor or support immediately and document it, rather than resolving it on your own.