CG exam-day guide
CG · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document (not a photocopy or photo on your phone), and make sure the name matches your registration record exactly, including middle names and suffixes. Accepted ID types vary by testing vendor, so confirm the current list with the provider rather than assuming a driver's license alone will work.
Confirmation letter or scheduling permit
Print or save the confirmation you received when you booked the appointment; it carries your candidate ID, appointment time, and center address. Some vendors require a printed copy while others accept a digital version, so verify the requirement with the provider in advance.
Test-center logistics plan
Know the building entrance, floor, and room, not just the street address. Check on transportation time, parking availability, and any construction or security screening that slows entry, then add a buffer of at least 30 to 45 minutes to your planned arrival.
Approved calculator or reference sheet
Allowed aids differ by exam version and delivery format, and unauthorized items are usually confiscated or can void a score. Check the current permitted-items list from the provider and, if a calculator is allowed, bring the approved model rather than an unfamiliar or programmable one.
Two pencils, eraser, and any permitted scratch materials
Many centers supply scratch paper and writing instruments and prohibit bringing your own. Pack a small pencil case anyway so you are not dependent on borrowed supplies, and be ready to hand over anything the proctor disallows.
Water, snack, and any medication for breaks
Access to food and drink during the session is restricted, so plan for the scheduled break only. If you need medication or a medical accommodation during testing, arrange approval with the provider well before exam day rather than raising it at check-in.
Layered clothing
Test rooms are frequently over-cooled or stuffy and you cannot count on adjusting the thermostat. A removable layer keeps you comfortable without creating a distraction or a prohibited-item issue at the door.
Contact number for the testing vendor's support line
Save it in your phone and write it on paper in case the phone is stored during testing. For remote-proctored delivery, have the support number and a backup device handy so a technical failure does not consume your appointment window.
Light review sheet built from your own error log
Bring a single page of the formulas, definitions, or decision rules you have personally gotten wrong most often. Do not bring new material to learn; the goal is recall of what you already know, not last-minute acquisition.
Logistics for the rest of the day
Clear your calendar for the hours after the exam, and tell work or family that you will be unavailable. Reducing post-exam obligations protects your focus beforehand and removes an excuse to rush through the final sections.
Confirmed test-day policies
Re-read the candidate handbook covering arrival cutoff, allowable items, break rules, and score reporting. Policies are revised periodically; rely on the version the provider sends you with your appointment confirmation rather than on secondhand advice.
A realistic score expectation
Know in advance how the exam is scored and when results are released, so you do not spend the exam second-guessing the outcome. If the pass standard or reporting timeline is unclear, ask the provider before test day.
Plan the day
Stop consuming new material. Spend this window on timed practice sections and on reworking items you previously missed, so your remaining effort goes to weak spots rather than to unfamiliar topics that will not consolidate in three days.
Confirm the appointment in writing: date, time, address, delivery format, and which ID you will present. Resolve any name mismatch or accommodation request now, because these cannot usually be fixed at the door.
Simulate the real timing once, full length, at the hour of day your appointment starts. This calibrates your pace and reveals whether you need to bank time early or slow down in a particular section.
Walk the route or scout the location if you can, and lay out your clothing, ID, and permitted materials in one place. Removing small decisions from the morning reduces avoidable error.
Do a short, confidence-building review of your error log and formula sheet, capped at roughly one hour. Anything longer tends to raise anxiety without improving retention.
Prepare the practical details: charge devices, pack your bag, set two alarms, and check the weather and transit advisories. Eat a normal meal at a normal hour and avoid alcohol.
Aim for a full night's sleep rather than a late cramming session. Fatigue degrades reading comprehension and arithmetic speed more than one extra hour of review improves either.
Eat a real breakfast with protein and modest caffeine at your usual dose. A sudden increase in caffeine on an empty stomach is a reliable way to feel jittery during the first section.
Arrive earlier than you think necessary, carrying only what is permitted. Expect ID check, sign-in, a locker for personal items, and a short orientation before the timer starts.
Before answering question one, confirm the interface details: number of items, whether sections are timed separately, how to flag and revisit, and whether answers can be changed. Then write down your target pace for the first half.
Work in passes. Answer what you know, flag the rest without lingering, and return only after the straightforward items are secured. Budget a fixed block at the end for flagged questions and for confirming nothing is left blank.
Take the breaks you are offered, even briefly: stand, hydrate, and reset your attention. Use a deliberate breathing pause whenever you notice yourself rereading a stem without absorbing it.
Write down what surprised you while it is fresh, then stop reviewing. Note the reported score timeline and what the provider requires if you need to retake, so any decision is based on official information.
Rules to check
Present the ID the vendor requires, with a name matching your registration exactly. If your documents differ in any way, resolve it with the provider before the appointment; the check-in staff generally cannot amend registration records on site.
Follow all proctor and administrator instructions. Unauthorized materials, communication with other candidates, or leaving the testing area without permission is typically treated as misconduct and can result in a voided score without a refund, so confirm the specific consequences in the candidate handbook.
Assume the exam content is confidential. Most credential exams require a nondisclosure agreement at check-in; do not reproduce, discuss, or post actual exam items afterward, and do not bring recording devices into the room.
Know the break policy before you begin. Whether unscheduled breaks pause the clock, whether the timer runs continuously across sections, and what you may access during a break are vendor-specific, so confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Personal items generally must be stored in a locker or left outside the testing room, including phones, watches, notes, and bags. The list of prohibited items changes, so verify it with the provider and travel light to avoid a check-in dispute.
Plan a guessing strategy consistent with the actual scoring rule. If the exam is scored on the number of correct answers with no penalty for errors, leaving an item blank forfeits an expected gain; confirm the rule before adopting that approach.
Arrive by the stated cutoff. Many vendors deny admission to candidates who arrive after a fixed time and may treat the appointment as a no-show, so check the arrival requirement and the forfeiture policy with the provider in advance.
Score reports are released on the provider's schedule, not at the end of the session unless the exam is computer-scored for immediate results. Do not rely on an unofficial estimate; confirm the reporting method, pass standard, and retake or appeal process with the provider.