AR POST exam-day guide
AR POST · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID the testing provider requires (typically a current passport or driver's license with matching name). Confirm the accepted ID types and name-matching rules with your provider before test day.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Have your appointment confirmation, registration number, or admission letter accessible, whether printed or on your phone. Confirm whether the provider requires a printed copy.
Know your test location and arrival time
Confirm the exact address, building, room, and required arrival time (often earlier than the start time for check-in). Do a dry run or map the route in advance.
Review the provider's permitted-items list
Check what is allowed into the testing room (e.g., calculator, scratch paper, reference sheet). Many providers supply these or prohibit personal ones; confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Calculator policy confirmed
If a calculator is permitted, confirm whether it must be an approved model or is built into the test software. Do not bring an unapproved device.
Comfort items and layers
Bring layers you can remove, water if permitted, and any medication you may need. Confirm the provider's policy on personal items and whether they must be stored in a locker.
Plan for storage of personal belongings
Expect that phones, bags, and notes must be stored away from the testing area. Confirm locker or storage availability with the provider.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, charge your phone, and plan transportation with buffer time for delays. Sleep is more valuable than last-minute cramming.
Know the break and timing rules
Confirm the number and length of breaks, whether the clock stops during breaks, and whether you can leave the room. Policies vary by provider.
Scoring and results logistics
Understand how and when results are released and whether a preliminary score is shown at the end. Confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating. Review your own summary notes and error log, do a timed practice set or two under realistic conditions, and stop heavy new-topic study. Confirm logistics: location, arrival time, ID requirements, permitted items, and break rules with the provider.
Light review only: skim key formulas, definitions, and your recurring mistakes. Prepare your bag with ID, confirmation, layers, and any permitted items. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and excessive caffeine, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Do not attempt a full-length practice test the night before.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive early with buffer for traffic and check-in. Leave study materials at home or stored as required. Do a brief calm review of your top reminders, not new content. Use the restroom before check-in.
Read each question fully before answering. Do a first pass answering what you know, flag uncertain items, and return to them if the format allows. Watch the clock and allocate time per section. If breaks are allowed, use them to stand, stretch, and reset. If you feel stuck, take a breath and move on rather than burning time on one item.
Rules to check
Bring and present the exact government-issued photo ID the provider requires; the name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider before test day.
Arrive by the required check-in time. Late arrivals may be refused entry or have time deducted; confirm the provider's late-arrival policy.
Follow all instructions from proctors and testing staff. Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not attempt to view others' screens or materials.
Do not bring unauthorized materials into the testing room. Phones and personal devices must be powered off and stored as directed; unauthorized devices can lead to score cancellation.
Use only breaks as permitted. Confirm whether the clock runs during breaks and whether you may leave the testing area; do not access notes or devices during breaks unless explicitly allowed.
Do not attempt to record, photograph, or share test content. Sharing exam questions or answers violates testing-integrity rules and can void your score.
Understand the scoring and reporting rules in advance: how the test is scored, when results are released, and the retake policy. Confirm details with the provider rather than relying on secondhand information.
If something goes wrong (technical issue, illness, or a rule you are unsure about), raise it with the proctor immediately and follow the provider's incident procedure.