AK POST exam-day guide
AK POST · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID you used when registering. Name must match your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Confirmation / admission letter
Print or save your scheduling confirmation showing test date, time, location or online link, and any confirmation number. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Appointment time and arrival window
Note your start time and how early you must arrive. Arrival cutoffs vary; confirm with the provider how late arrivals are handled.
Test-center location or online platform details
For in-person: confirm address, parking, and transit. For remote: confirm the proctoring platform, system requirements, and any required software check. Confirm with the provider.
Permitted and prohibited items list
Check the provider's list of what is allowed in the testing room (e.g., calculator, scratch paper, reference materials) and what is banned (phones, notes, smartwatches). Do not assume; confirm with the provider.
Calculator or approved tools (if applicable)
If your exam permits a calculator or other tool, confirm the approved model/type and whether one is supplied on-screen. Confirm with the provider.
Accommodations confirmation (if applicable)
If you requested accommodations, bring the approval documentation and confirm logistics ahead of time. Confirm with the provider.
Rest, hydration, and meal plan
Plan sleep, a light meal, and hydration so you are not hungry or over-caffeinated during the test. Know the break policy before you arrive.
Time-management plan
Know the number of questions, time limit, and whether questions can be flagged and revisited. Confirm the interface rules with the provider.
Backup logistics plan
Plan a backup route, backup device/internet for remote testing, and a contact number for the provider in case of disruption.
Provider contact information
Save the provider's support number or email in case of scheduling, technical, or ID issues.
Practice interface familiarity
If the provider offers a tutorial or sample test, complete it so the navigation and flagging tools are familiar. Confirm with the provider whether a tutorial is available.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook: ID rules, permitted items, break policy, scoring, and reschedule/cancellation terms. Confirm your appointment details and location or remote-testing setup. Do a final light review of weak areas only; avoid cramming new material.
Run a full timed practice set under realistic conditions if you have not already. Review your error patterns and note a short list of reminders for test day. Stop heavy study in the evening.
Lay out ID, confirmation, and permitted items. Confirm travel or remote setup (device, camera, internet, quiet room). Check the provider's site for any last-minute notices. Get a full night's sleep; avoid new topics.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and arrive or log in with the required buffer. Do a final calm review of your reminder list only. Leave prohibited items behind or stored as the provider requires.
Follow ID verification and room/security rules exactly. Listen to proctor instructions and ask clarifying questions before the clock starts if something is unclear.
Read each question fully, answer easier items first if the interface allows flagging, and watch the clock. Use breaks only as permitted. If a technical issue occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Budget time to review flagged items and ensure all questions are answered if the exam penalizes blanks. Confirm submission per the interface instructions.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID required and ensure your name matches your registration; if your ID name differs, confirm with the provider before test day how to resolve it.
Follow all prohibitions on personal items, notes, phones, and wearable devices in the testing area; confirm with the provider what is allowed and where items must be stored.
Do not communicate with others during the test and do not share or record exam content; misconduct rules and consequences are set by the provider, so confirm the specifics with them.
Take breaks only when and as the provider permits; confirm whether the clock stops during breaks and whether you can leave the testing area.
Understand the scoring model before test day: confirm whether wrong answers are penalized, whether questions are weighted, and what score is required to pass.
If you need to reschedule or cancel, follow the provider's deadlines and fees; confirm the exact terms with the provider rather than assuming.
Report any technical or environmental problem to the proctor immediately; confirm with the provider how disruptions are documented and handled.
If you require accommodations, request and confirm them in advance per the provider's process; do not assume they will be granted on test day.