Appian ACD101 exam-day guide
Appian ACD101 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Use a valid passport or driver's license whose name matches your Appian certification registration exactly, character for character. If your registered name differs from your ID (nickname, married name, transliteration), contact the certification provider before exam day to fix it. Confirm which ID types the proctor accepts.
Appointment confirmation and registration login
Have the confirmation email, your appointment time in your local time zone, and the credentials for the account you registered with. Know how you will launch the exam (link in the confirmation email or the certification portal).
Wired or highly stable internet connection
Prefer a wired ethernet connection. Have a mobile hotspot as a backup and know how to switch to it quickly. Run the provider's system/equipment check at least 24 hours ahead.
Working webcam, microphone, and speakers/headset
Proctored exams typically require a live webcam feed and audio for the check-in and the whole session. Test each device in advance and close other apps that might grab the camera or mic.
A private, quiet, well-lit room
Use a room with a door you can close, no other people, and lighting that lets the proctor see your face clearly. Expect a room scan with the webcam at check-in.
Clear desk and cleared workspace
Remove phones, smart watches, notes, printed material, extra monitors, and any second screen from arm's reach and from camera view. Only items the provider explicitly permits should be on the desk.
Scratch paper and pen
Many proctored programs prohibit physical paper and offer an on-screen notepad instead. Do not assume paper is allowed - confirm the rule with the provider beforehand, and if in doubt, plan to use the on-screen notepad.
Water in a clear, unlabeled container
Some proctors allow a clear glass or bottle; others prohibit all drinks. Confirm the rule with the provider rather than guessing.
Close every non-required application
Shut down email, chat, browsers with other tabs, VPNs if disallowed, and notification pop-ups before check-in. Unexpected windows appearing on screen can be flagged by the proctor.
Knowledge of how to reach provider support mid-exam
Save the proctor/support phone number or chat link before you start, so a disconnection does not cost you minutes hunting for it.
A time plan for the question count
Note the total number of questions and total minutes from your confirmation, then compute a rough per-question budget (for example, total minutes divided by question count, minus a reserve for review). Do not rely on a memorized figure - confirm the format with the provider.
Log in early for check-in
Start the check-in process well before your appointment slot (a common recommendation is 15-30 minutes) so identity verification and the room scan do not eat into exam time. Confirm the exact early-arrival window with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Re-read your own summary notes on SAIL interfaces and components, process model design (gateways, subprocesses, error handling), data types and CDT-style structures, records and record types, expression rules, and deployment between environments. Do a short timed set of practice questions to rehearse pacing, not to cram.
Run the provider's system test on the exact machine and network you will use. Fix camera, microphone, browser, and firewall issues now rather than on exam morning. Confirm your appointment time after converting to your local time zone.
Resolve any identity mismatch: check that the name, spelling, and order on your registration match your photo ID. Contact the provider if not.
Prepare the room: clear the desk, remove second screens and devices, check lighting and background, and confirm the door closes. Tell anyone in the household your exam window so they do not interrupt.
Lay out your ID, confirm the launch link works, charge devices, and note the support contact. Get a full night of sleep; do not start a new practice exam late in the evening.
Eat, hydrate, and avoid a heavy cram session. Do a 10-minute light review of your own notes only. Re-test camera, mic, and internet; close every unnecessary application; silence your phone and put it out of reach.
Start check-in early, complete ID verification and the room scan calmly, and keep your ID in view in case the proctor asks to see it again. Use the restroom before you begin - assume no breaks once the clock starts unless the provider says otherwise.
Read each question fully before looking at the options, and watch for qualifiers such as 'best', 'first', 'except', and 'most likely'. Answer every question; there is no benefit to leaving one blank unless the exam penalizes wrong answers (confirm the scoring rule).
On scenario questions about Appian objects, reason from the platform's design intent: what object type owns the behavior, what the runtime actually does, and which option is the simplest correct implementation. Eliminate options that mix concerns or add unnecessary complexity.
Flag anything that takes more than roughly your per-question budget and move on. If time remains, revisit flagged items before submitting. Do not change answers on a hunch alone - change only when you find a concrete reason.
If the session drops or a tool freezes, stay calm, rejoin immediately if the system allows, and contact the proctor/support line you saved. Note the time and what happened so you can report it if the incident affects your result.
Rules to check
Sit the exam alone in a private room. No other people, no talking to yourself audibly, and no leaving the camera frame without proctor permission.
Only your photo ID and provider-approved items may be within reach. Phones, smart watches, headphones not approved for audio, notes, printed material, and second screens are normally prohibited.
Your registration name must match your photo ID. If it does not, fix it with the provider before the appointment; do not expect the proctor to waive the requirement.
Breaks are usually not offered during a certification exam and the timer generally keeps running if one is granted. Confirm the break policy with the provider before exam day.
Treat the exam as confidential. Do not copy, photograph, record, reconstruct, or share question content afterwards; doing so typically breaches the certification agreement.
Scoring is typically reported as pass/fail on the score report, possibly with section-level feedback. Do not assume a specific passing percentage, question count, or time limit - confirm the current format and scoring with Appian's certification program before you test.
Retake and validity policies change over time and by credential. Check the current attempt limits, waiting period, and recertification window with the provider rather than relying on secondhand information.
Keep all communication with the proctor professional and follow their instructions immediately. If you believe an instruction is wrong, comply first and raise it with provider support afterwards.