ACE exam-day guide
ACE · 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 forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required at your test site.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Print or save the scheduling confirmation and any candidate or eligibility number the provider issued. Verify the exact arrival time, since it may differ from your start time.
Know your test center location and route
Confirm the street address and building entrance in advance. If testing remotely, confirm the platform and system requirements with the provider rather than assuming.
Review the provider's current candidate handbook
Exam rules, permitted aids, and scoring reports can change. Use the official handbook for your exam version as the single source of truth.
Confirm permitted and prohibited items
Ask the provider whether calculators, scratch paper, pencils, notes, phones, or watches are allowed or supplied. Do not bring prohibited items into the testing room.
Plan for secure storage of personal items
Most centers provide a locker or designated area. Confirm with the provider what happens to bags, phones, and outerwear during the test.
Rest and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the final nights and plan a normal meal before the test. Avoid new caffeine or supplement routines on exam day.
Logistics for travel and timing
Build in buffer for traffic, parking, security screening, and check-in. Arriving late may forfeit your seat; confirm the provider's late-arrival policy.
Accessibility or accommodation confirmation (if applicable)
If you requested accommodations, confirm approval and how they will be delivered on test day. Keep the approval documentation with you. Mark as needs_review if unconfirmed.
Remote-testing environment check (if applicable)
If testing online, verify camera, microphone, browser, internet stability, and a quiet private room. Run any required system test the day before.
Scoring and score-report expectations
Know how your exam is scored and when results are released. Confirm the current policy with the provider rather than relying on older accounts.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the provider's contact number for scheduling or technical problems. Know what to do if you cannot reach the site.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Review your own summary sheets, formulas, and error log, and do a small number of timed practice sets to keep pacing sharp. Confirm your appointment details, ID, route, and any permitted-aid rules with the provider. Protect sleep and avoid all-night cramming.
Lay out ID, confirmation, and approved items. Recheck the start time and location, and confirm whether the test is in person or remote. Do a light review only, then stop early. Set two alarms, eat normally, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and arrive with buffer time. Leave prohibited items secured or at home. At check-in, follow staff instructions, ask about breaks if unclear, and read the on-screen instructions and any tutorial before starting.
Do a quick memory dump only if permitted materials allow it. Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'except' or 'best.' Answer confident items first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Pace against the clock with checkpoints, and reserve time to review flagged items and confirm submissions.
Rules to check
Bring the original, unexpired ID that matches your registration name exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and whether a secondary form is needed.
Follow all testing-room conduct rules: no unauthorized materials, no communication with others, and no leaving the room without permission. Confirm the provider's specific policy on phones, watches, and notes.
Ask the proctor or provider in advance about the break policy, including whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the clock runs during breaks. Do not assume.
Understand how your exam is scored, whether wrong answers are penalized, and when and how scores are reported. Confirm these details with the provider.
If you test remotely, follow the provider's environment and proctoring rules, including room clearance, camera positioning, and prohibited devices.
Report any technical problem or disruption to the proctor immediately and ask how it will be documented. Do not attempt to fix platform issues yourself.
If you arrive late or cannot attend, contact the provider promptly. Rescheduling, cancellation, and refund terms vary, so confirm them with the provider.
Keep your candidate and score information confidential as required by the provider's candidate agreement, and follow any nondisclosure terms you accepted.