APC Intern Written Exam exam-day guide
APC Intern Written Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which specific ID types are accepted and whether a second form is required.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Have your confirmation email, candidate number, or scheduling receipt available, printed or on your phone. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Testing location and arrival instructions
Verify the exact address, building entrance, parking or transit options, and the arrival time stated in your admission materials. If testing remotely, confirm the platform and system requirements with the provider.
Permitted calculator or reference materials
Check the candidate handbook for what is allowed and what is supplied at the test center. Do not assume a personal calculator is permitted; confirm with the provider.
Personal items plan
Most testing rooms restrict bags, phones, watches, and notes. Plan where your belongings will go and confirm the provider's storage policy in advance.
Break and timing plan
Review the stated number of questions and time allowance, and decide how you will pace yourself. Confirm break rules and whether the clock stops during breaks with the provider.
Rest, food, and hydration routine
Protect sleep in the final week, eat a normal meal before the exam, and bring water if the provider permits it in the testing area.
Practice under timed conditions
Complete at least one full-length timed set in the final week so you know your pacing and can identify weak topics for last-minute review.
Review plan for weak areas
Keep a short list of high-yield topics to skim in the last 48 hours. Avoid starting new material the night before.
Logistics for the morning
Set two alarms, confirm your route and travel time, and build in a buffer for delays. Arriving late may affect admission; confirm the provider's late-arrival policy.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the testing provider's contact number so you can report an emergency or technical problem promptly.
Backup plan for technology failure
If testing remotely, test your equipment the day before and know the provider's procedure for disconnections. Confirm this with the provider rather than assuming.
Plan the day
Finish your last full-length timed practice set and review the results by topic. Consolidate notes into a one-page summary of formulas, definitions, and high-yield concepts. Confirm your appointment time, location or remote-testing setup, and ID requirements with the provider. Begin shifting your sleep schedule toward the exam-day wake time and stop cramming new material.
Do a light review of your one-page summary only. Pack your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. Check travel or equipment one more time. Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Do not attempt a new practice exam.
Eat a normal breakfast, dress in layers, and leave with a generous buffer. Arrive at the stated check-in time with your ID and confirmation ready. If testing remotely, log in early, close other applications, and keep the provider's contact number accessible. Avoid last-minute discussion of exam content with other candidates.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'except' or 'best.' Answer easier questions first if the platform allows review, flag uncertain items, and return to them. Keep an eye on the clock and allocate time to review flagged questions. Take breaks only as permitted, and note the question number when you leave so you can resume efficiently.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name used at registration; confirm accepted ID types and any second-ID requirement with the provider before exam day.
Arrive at or before the check-in time stated in your admission materials. Late arrival may result in denied admission or forfeiture of fees; confirm the provider's late-arrival and rescheduling policy.
Leave unauthorized items such as phones, smart watches, notes, and bags outside the testing area unless the provider permits them. Follow all instructions from proctors.
Do not communicate with other candidates about exam content during the test or afterward. Sharing, reproducing, or discussing specific questions may violate the candidate agreement.
Take breaks only when and how the provider allows. Confirm in advance whether the timer stops during breaks and whether you may access personal items.
Answer every question unless the scoring rules penalize incorrect answers. Confirm with the provider whether the exam uses penalty scoring or only correct answers count.
If a technical problem, illness, or emergency occurs, notify the proctor or provider immediately and follow their documented procedure. Do not attempt to resolve it silently.
Follow the provider's rules on calculators, reference sheets, and scratch paper. Use only materials the provider supplies or explicitly permits.