ARRT Radiography exam-day guide
ARRT Radiography · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Appointment confirmation and testing location details
Print or save the confirmation showing date, time, and full street address of the test center. Confirm the delivery vendor and check-in procedure with ARRT/the vendor, since scheduling and center policies can change. (Needs review: confirm current vendor and appointment details with the provider.)
Primary photo ID that is unexpired and signed
A government-issued photo ID with your signature, with your name matching your ARRT record exactly. Check the expiration date now, not on exam morning.
Second form of identification
Bring a backup ID (for example a second government ID or a signed card) in case two forms are required. (Needs review: confirm the exact number and acceptable types of ID with ARRT/the vendor before exam day.)
Your ARRT identification number and login information
Know your candidate/ARRT ID number; the staff may ask for it at check-in. Do not rely on your phone to look it up, since phones are not permitted in the testing room.
Directions, parking, and a transit backup plan
Do a dry run or map the route, identify parking or the nearest transit stop, and add a buffer for traffic. Know the building entrance and floor.
A plan to arrive about 30 minutes early
Early arrival allows time for check-in, ID verification, and locker use. Confirm the center's recommended arrival window with the provider. (Needs review: confirm the exact arrival/check-in cutoff, since late arrivals may be refused.)
Leave prohibited items behind or plan for locker storage
Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, notes, study cards, and personal calculators are not allowed in the testing room. Plan where they will go before you walk in.
No personal scratch paper or calculator
Writing surfaces and any permitted calculator functions are provided at the workstation. Confirm what is supplied at your center. (Needs review: confirm permitted aids with the provider.)
Comfort items for before and after the exam only
Layered clothing in case the room is cold, water and a snack for after the exam, and any needed medication taken beforehand. Food and drink generally stay outside the testing room.
Approved testing accommodations, if you need them
Accommodations must be requested and approved in advance through ARRT before scheduling. Confirm your approval status well ahead of exam day. (Needs review: confirm accommodation procedures and deadlines with ARRT.)
Eyeglasses or contacts you actually use
If you wear corrective lenses for screen reading, bring them. Do not plan to squint at a monitor for hours.
A short, low-stress review sheet of weak topics
One or two pages maximum of high-yield concepts in your weakest content areas, reviewed before you leave home. Do not plan to study inside the center.
Plan the day
Re-read your appointment confirmation and the ARRT candidate handbook rules. Verify your ID expiration dates and that your name matches your registration. Confirm the center address, parking, and arrival time. Do only light, targeted review of two or three weak content areas, using the same question formats you will see. Stop heavy new-material study. Protect your sleep schedule starting now.
Pack your ID(s), confirmation, and comfort items in one bag. Charge nothing you plan to bring into the room, because you cannot bring it in. Arrange transportation and, if needed, childcare or work coverage so exam morning is uncomplicated. If you have a scheduling or name-change issue, contact ARRT/the vendor immediately rather than on exam day.
No cramming and no new topics. Do one short review pass of your weak-topic sheet, then stop. Eat a normal meal, avoid excess caffeine and alcohol, set two alarms, and go to bed at your usual time. Recheck the address and your departure time.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate, take routine medications, and dress in layers. Leave earlier than the map says. Arrive about 30 minutes early for check-in and ID verification, store prohibited items in a locker or vehicle, and use the restroom before you are seated.
Read the on-screen instructions and note the time limit and question count. Take a breath and settle. Answer the early questions at a steady pace rather than racing.
Budget roughly one minute per question, adjusting to the actual item count and time limit after checking the on-screen timer. Confirm current exam length and time limit with ARRT. (Needs review: exact item count and time limit.) Use the flag/skip feature: answer what you know, flag long or uncertain items, and return to them.
Take any permitted break only if you need it, and know whether the clock runs during it. Answer every question - there is no penalty for guessing on ARRT exams, so never leave blanks. In the last 10–15 minutes, stop starting new long items and review flagged questions.
You typically receive a preliminary result at the center; official results and score reporting come from ARRT. Confirm how and when results are released. (Needs review: confirm the current results-release process and timing with ARRT.) Do not discuss specific exam content with anyone afterward.
Rules to check
ID rules: bring valid, unexpired identification with your name matching your registration exactly. If your legal name has changed, update your record with ARRT before exam day - do not expect the center to resolve it. Confirm the required number and types of ID with ARRT/the vendor. (Needs review.)
Confidentiality: ARRT exam content is confidential. Do not record, copy, photograph, discuss, or share exam questions or answers with anyone, including other candidates or study groups. Doing so can void your score and trigger ethics action.
Permitted aids only: use only the writing surface, calculator, and other aids provided at the workstation. Personal notes, reference material, phones, smartwatches, and other devices must stay outside the testing room; a vibrating or visible device can end your session.
Breaks: follow the proctor's instructions on breaks and on whether the exam clock keeps running while you are away. Confirm the break policy for your exam with the provider rather than assuming. (Needs review.)
Report problems immediately: if the computer malfunctions, the screen freezes, the room is distracting, or another candidate disturbs you, raise your hand and tell the proctor at the time rather than after the exam.
Scoring and guessing: ARRT reports results on a scaled score basis with a passing standard set by ARRT, and there is no penalty for incorrect answers, so answer every item. Confirm the current passing standard and score-reporting method with ARRT. (Needs review: exact pass point and scale.)
Follow the proctor and ARRT Rules of Ethics: comply with all staff instructions, remain in the testing area until dismissed, and do not communicate with other candidates during the exam. Misconduct can result in score cancellation and eligibility consequences.