ALC exam-day guide
ALC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification the testing provider requires. The name must match your registration exactly. Confirm the accepted ID types with your provider before test day; do not assume any particular document is accepted.
Confirmation / admission document
Have your appointment confirmation, registration number, and any admission ticket available, either printed or on your phone as the provider allows. Confirm whether a printed copy is required.
Know your test format and delivery method
Confirm in advance whether the exam is delivered at a test center or remotely/proctored online, and what that format requires of you (arrival time, software, room rules). Verify details with the provider.
Arrival time buffer
Plan to arrive (or log in) well before your scheduled start. The specific cut-off for late arrival is set by the provider - confirm it rather than guessing.
Permitted items only
Bring only what the provider explicitly permits into the testing room. Assume phones, notes, and smart devices are restricted unless the provider states otherwise. Confirm the allowed-items list.
Scratch materials / calculator policy
Check whether scratch paper, a writing tool, or a calculator is provided, permitted, or prohibited. Do not bring your own unless the provider confirms it is allowed.
Remote-testing environment prep (if applicable)
If testing online, confirm system requirements, do a equipment/software check, and prepare a quiet, private, cleared space. The provider defines the room and desk rules - follow theirs.
Rest and logistics plan
Arrange travel, parking or transit, and a light meal so timing is not a source of stress. Sleep matters more than last-minute cramming.
Review format and timing, not new content
In the final day, skim the exam's structure, question types, and time-per-question pacing rather than trying to learn new material.
Accessibility / accommodation arrangements
If you have approved accommodations, confirm they are on file and how they will be applied. Verify with the provider in advance - needs_review.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: test location or remote setup, start time, ID requirements, and permitted items with the provider. Do a final light review of weak areas and the exam format. Stop heavy new study.
Do a short, calm review of format and pacing only. Prepare your ID, confirmation, and permitted items in one place. Confirm travel or equipment. Get a full night's sleep; avoid cramming.
Eat a normal meal, arrive or log in early with buffer time, and re-check that you have your ID and confirmation. Keep the pre-test period quiet and low-stress.
Read each question fully, watch your pacing against the clock, and flag uncertain items to revisit if the format allows. Answer every question unless the provider's rules penalize guessing - confirm the scoring/guessing policy beforehand. Use breaks only as the provider permits.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identification the provider requires; the name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Follow all instructions from the proctor and the provider's testing rules; conduct rules and prohibited behaviors are set by the provider.
Do not bring unauthorized materials or devices into the testing area. Confirm the permitted-items list in advance.
Break policies, timing, and whether breaks pause the clock are provider-specific - confirm them before test day rather than assuming.
Scoring, including whether unanswered or wrong answers are penalized, is defined by the provider - confirm the policy before deciding how to guess.
If testing remotely, follow the provider's room, camera, and environment rules exactly; violations can invalidate your result.
Report any technical problem or irregularity to the proctor or provider immediately rather than trying to resolve it silently.
If you have accommodations, confirm they are approved and in place before the exam - verify with the provider.