CRAS exam-day guide
CRAS · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the exact name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Admission or confirmation document
Have your scheduling confirmation and any admission ticket or authorization-to-test notice ready. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Appointment time, date, and address
Verify the test center location, arrival time, and reporting window the day before. Confirm with the provider how early you should arrive and what happens if you are late.
Accepted calculator or on-screen tool
Confirm with the provider whether a physical calculator is permitted, which models are allowed, and whether an on-screen calculator is provided. Do not assume any model is approved.
Permitted personal items plan
Plan where your phone, watch, bag, and notes will go, since most testing programs restrict or prohibit them in the testing room. Confirm with the provider the storage and prohibited-item rules.
Break and timing expectations
Know whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the clock stops during breaks. Confirm with the provider the exact break policy for this exam.
Scoring and result-reporting basics
Understand the score scale, passing standard, and when results are released. Confirm with the provider the current passing score and reporting timeline, as these can change.
Rest, logistics, and backup plan
Arrange transportation, a backup route, and adequate sleep. If testing remotely, confirm with the provider the system requirements and run any required equipment check in advance.
Review of high-yield material only
In the final days, review summaries, formulas, and commonly missed concepts rather than starting new topics. Keep the final evening light.
Test-day pacing strategy
Decide in advance how you will allocate time per question or section and when you will flag and move on. Confirm with the provider the number of questions and total testing time.
needs_review: Exact permitted-items list
The specific list of allowed and prohibited items varies by provider and can change. Confirm with the provider before test day.
needs_review: Remote-proctoring requirements
If testing online, room, camera, and ID-scan rules differ by provider. Confirm with the provider the current remote-testing requirements.
Plan the day
Confirm appointment details, ID, and permitted items with the provider. Take one or two light practice sets to check pacing, then stop heavy studying. Protect sleep and avoid cramming new material.
Review concise summaries and your own error log. Pack your ID, confirmation document, and any approved items. Confirm transportation and, for remote testing, run the equipment check. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, arrive with time to spare, and re-check your ID and confirmation. Leave prohibited items secured. Stay calm and use a brief warm-up only if it helps you focus.
Read each question fully, watch your pacing, and flag uncertain items to revisit. Use breaks as permitted, and answer every question since there is generally no penalty for guessing unless the provider states otherwise. Confirm with the provider the guessing and review policies.
Rules to check
Bring the original, unexpired government-issued photo ID matching your registration name exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is needed.
Arrive within the reporting window stated by the provider. Late arrivals may be denied entry or forfeit the appointment; confirm with the provider the specific late-arrival policy.
Follow all prohibited-item rules. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and unauthorized calculators are typically not allowed in the testing room; confirm with the provider the exact list and storage options.
Follow the provider's rules on breaks, including whether the clock runs during breaks and whether you may access notes or devices. Confirm with the provider the break policy.
Do not communicate with other candidates or attempt to access unauthorized materials during the test. Suspected misconduct can lead to score cancellation; confirm with the provider the conduct and appeals process.
Understand the scoring and passing standard before test day, and remember that results are reported on the provider's timeline. Confirm with the provider the current passing score and result-release schedule.
If you need accommodations, request them through the provider well before test day and confirm approval in writing. Accommodation procedures and deadlines vary; confirm with the provider.