CHAE exam-day guide
CHAE · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID (passport or driver's license) in the exact name used on your registration. A name mismatch can block entry, so confirm with the provider which ID forms it accepts before test day.
Appointment confirmation or authorization to test
Have your confirmation number, appointment time, and test center address saved offline as well as on your phone. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Test center logistics plan
Write down parking, transit routes, building entry procedure, and the provider's phone number for delays. Do a dry run of the route if the center is unfamiliar.
Confirmed exam format details
Know the number of scored items, the time limit, whether breaks are scheduled, and how the pass/fail decision is made. Confirm each of these with the provider, since delivery method and format vary.
Calculator policy check
Hospitality finance exams involve ratio and variance work, so clarify in advance whether an on-screen calculator is built in, whether a physical calculator is permitted, and which models are allowed. Confirm with the provider; do not assume.
Scratch paper and writing instrument
Computer-based test centers typically supply laminated scratch sheets and a marker and collect them afterwards. Confirm with the provider whether you may bring your own; assume you cannot unless told otherwise.
Plan for personal belongings
Phones, smart watches, wallets, keys, and bags generally go into a secure locker. Leave anything non-essential at home or in the car to speed up check-in.
Comfort items and clothing layers
Test rooms are often cold and the sitting is long. Bring a layer you can remove, and confirm whether the center permits it in the room.
One-page review sheet, for outside the room only
Prepare a single page of formulas, ratios, and key definitions to skim while you wait. It stays in the locker; nothing may go into the testing room.
Sleep, food, and hydration plan
Protect the night before. A heavy meal or too much caffeine right before a long sitting works against concentration.
Provider contact and backup plan
Save the provider's phone number and know its policy on late arrival and rescheduling. Confirm the policy in advance rather than testing it on exam day.
Accommodations confirmed
If you need extra time or a separate room, confirm the approval is on file and note what the center will expect. Requests usually must be made well ahead of the appointment; confirm the deadline with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop adding new material. Do a final pass over the domains where you score weakest, rework the formulas and ratios you will actually use, and complete one timed practice set under exam conditions. Verify your appointment time and address instead of trusting memory.
Lay out ID, confirmation, and clothing. Check the route and the weather forecast and set two alarms. Read your one-page sheet once, then stop; cramming new content now mostly adds anxiety. Aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid unfamiliar food and excess caffeine, and leave earlier than the map suggests. Arrive with time to spare for check-in and ID verification.
Expect ID verification, a photo, a security screening, and locker assignment. Before the exam starts, ask the proctor about scratch materials, break rules, and how the clock behaves during breaks.
On the first pass, answer everything you know and flag items needing calculation or a second read. Track the clock against the number of items remaining; if a question resists after a fair attempt, mark your best guess and move on. Take a break only after confirming with the proctor whether the clock keeps running.
Note which domains felt weak while it is fresh. Confirm with the provider how and when results are reported and what the retake policy is.
Rules to check
Bring ID in exactly the name on your registration. If your name has changed, resolve it with the provider before test day, not at the counter.
Test questions are confidential. Do not copy, photograph, or discuss specific items; you will likely sign a non-disclosure agreement at check-in.
Personal items, including phones and smart watches, stay in the locker. Carrying a device into the testing room can void your score.
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled and whether the clock runs during them. Most computer-based exams do not stop the timer, so plan a short break strategy.
Scratch materials provided by the center must be returned; do not remove anything from the testing room.
If something goes wrong - equipment failure, illness, a distraction - raise your hand and have the proctor document it before you leave the center.
Scoring is pass/fail against a standard set by the certifying body rather than a curve against other candidates. Confirm score report timing and any retake policy with the provider.
Accommodations must be approved in advance; a test center generally cannot grant them on the day, so confirm your approval is on file.