AI-500 exam-day guide
AI-500 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Appointment confirmation and test-taker credentials
Have your confirmation email, registration number, and any login credentials ready. If testing online, verify the exact login steps with the provider beforehand.
Testing location and arrival logistics checked
Look up the test center address, parking, and transit options the day before. For remote proctoring, confirm your room meets the provider's requirements.
Allowed-aids policy confirmed
Check with the provider whether any notes, calculators, or reference materials are permitted. Assume nothing is allowed unless the provider explicitly states otherwise.
System and equipment check completed (remote testing)
Run any required equipment or compatibility check in advance and confirm your camera, microphone, and browser meet the provider's specifications.
Break policy and timing confirmed
Ask the provider in advance how breaks work, whether they count against your time, and what you may access during them.
Scoring and results policy reviewed
Confirm the passing score, score report timing, and retake rules with the provider so you know what to expect after the exam.
Water and a light snack for before/after
Keep these outside the testing room; access during the exam depends on the provider's rules. Confirm what is permitted.
Quiet, distraction-free environment arranged
For remote testing, clear your desk, silence devices, and tell household members your exam window. Verify the provider's room rules.
Rest and a realistic final-review plan
Plan a short, high-level review rather than new-topic cramming the night before. Prioritize sleep over last-minute study.
Backup plan for technical or travel problems
Note the provider's support contact and know their procedure for technical issues. Confirm how to report a problem if one occurs.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment details, ID requirements, and allowed-aids and break policies with the provider. Resolve any open questions now rather than on exam day.
Do a light pass over your weakest areas using your own summary notes. Stop introducing new material; focus on consolidating what you already know.
Complete any required system or equipment check for remote testing and test your login process end to end.
Lay out your ID, confirmation details, and any permitted items. Reconfirm the start time, time zone, and location or login link.
Do a short final review of key concepts, then stop. Aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and arrive or log in early per the provider's guidance. Avoid cramming new material.
Read each question fully, answer the ones you know first, and flag uncertain items to revisit. Watch your remaining time and pace yourself against the question count.
If a technical problem occurs, stop and contact the proctor or provider support immediately rather than troubleshooting alone. Follow their instructions.
Note how you felt about specific topic areas while it is fresh, and confirm with the provider when and how results will be delivered.
Rules to check
Present the original, valid ID in the name on your registration; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted before exam day.
Follow all proctor instructions. Unauthorized materials, devices, or communication during the exam can lead to invalidation; confirm the exact prohibited-items list with the provider.
Do not share, reproduce, or discuss exam content in detail afterward; test-content confidentiality terms are set by the provider, so review them in advance.
Breaks, if offered, follow the provider's policy. Confirm beforehand whether breaks are timed, optional, or require proctor approval.
Scoring, passing thresholds, and retake eligibility are set by the provider. Confirm these details before test day rather than assuming.
If you experience a technical or environmental problem, report it to the proctor or provider support immediately and follow their documented process.
Arrive or log in by the provider's stated time; late arrival or late login may affect your ability to test, so confirm the cutoff with the provider.