ASA AM exam-day guide
ASA AM · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification the testing provider requires. Confirm with the provider which IDs are accepted and whether the name must match your registration exactly.
Admission or confirmation notice
Print or save the scheduling confirmation you received. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or an electronic copy is acceptable.
Appointment time and test-center location
Verify your appointment time, address, and any arrival window. Confirm with the provider how early you should arrive.
Permitted calculator
Check the provider's list of approved calculator models and whether an on-screen calculator is offered. Confirm with the provider before assuming any model is allowed.
Writing materials
Bring only what the provider permits (for example, pencils or scratch paper if allowed). Confirm with the provider what is supplied versus what you may bring.
Personal items plan
Plan for where your phone, bag, and outerwear will go. Confirm with the provider its policy on personal items, storage, and prohibited electronics.
Break and snack plan
Decide whether you will take scheduled breaks and bring a snack and water only if the provider permits them in the testing area. Confirm with the provider.
Review formulas and notation conventions
Do a final pass over the formulas and notation you will use, using your own study materials. Confirm with the provider which formulas, if any, are supplied on-screen.
Sleep and travel buffer
Plan to arrive rested and build in extra travel time for traffic, parking, and security check-in.
Backup plan for technology or weather issues
Note the provider's contact information and its procedure if you are delayed or cannot reach the center. Confirm with the provider how to report an issue.
Read the provider's candidate agreement
Review the rules you agreed to when registering, including conduct and confidentiality terms. Confirm with the provider any point you are unsure about.
Plan the day
Stop adding new material. Review your own summary sheets, formula list, and error log. Take at most one timed practice set to check pacing, then review mistakes rather than scores. Confirm your appointment details and ID requirements with the provider. Protect sleep.
Light review only: skim formulas and key definitions. Pack your ID, confirmation notice, and any permitted items. Confirm travel route and arrival time. Avoid cramming new topics. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate moderately. Arrive within the provider's recommended arrival window. Leave electronics and prohibited items stowed per the provider's instructions. Do a brief, calm warm-up of a few easy problems or formulas, not a full practice test.
Read the instructions and any tutorial screens carefully. Work at a steady pace and watch the clock; do not let one hard problem consume disproportionate time. Flag uncertain items and return to them if the interface allows. Use breaks as permitted. Before submitting, confirm you have answered or intentionally skipped every item.
Rules to check
Bring the identification the provider requires and be ready for it to be checked at check-in; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted.
Follow the provider's rules on prohibited items and electronics; confirm with the provider where personal items must be stored during the test.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not attempt to copy, record, or share exam content; review the confidentiality terms you agreed to.
Use only calculators and reference materials the provider permits; confirm with the provider which models and on-screen tools are allowed.
Understand the break policy before you start, including whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the clock stops; confirm with the provider.
Understand the scoring and result timeline: how the exam is scored, when results are released, and how retakes work; confirm with the provider rather than relying on secondhand information.
If a technical problem or interruption occurs, notify the test administrator immediately and follow the provider's incident procedure.
If you are delayed or cannot attend, contact the provider as soon as possible and confirm its reschedule and refund policies.