AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CRI series) exam-day guide
AWS CRI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact original ID that matches the name on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required; do not rely on a photocopy or digital image.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have your appointment number, date, time, and delivery method (test center or online proctored) saved offline on your phone and printed if possible. You may not be able to access email once the check-in process begins.
Know your delivery method and check-in steps
For online proctoring, confirm the system test, camera, microphone, and browser requirements with the provider in advance. For a test center, confirm arrival time and location the day before. Policies vary, so confirm with the provider.
Quiet, private test environment (online proctoring)
Clear the desk of papers, phones, and watches, and tell household members not to enter. Proctors commonly require a room scan; exact rules differ, so confirm with the provider what is permitted in your testing space.
Review the exam guide and allowed-resource rules
Confirm whether the exam permits any notes, documentation, or scratch materials and how they must be handled. Do not assume open-book or closed-book; confirm with the provider.
Scratch paper and writing tool (only if permitted)
Some deliveries provide an on-screen whiteboard or allow a small erasable surface. Bring nothing unless the provider explicitly allows it, and confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Water and a light snack for before/after
Keep these outside the testing area. Rules on food and drink during the exam vary; assume nothing is allowed at the desk unless the provider states otherwise.
Plan travel and arrive early
For a test center, arrive ahead of your appointment and account for security checks and traffic. Confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance, as it can affect admission and fees.
Rest and a stable internet connection
Sleep well the night before. For online delivery, use a wired or stable connection and a backup plan such as a phone hotspot, and confirm whether a backup connection is permitted.
Know what is not allowed at the desk
Phones, smart watches, headphones, and second screens are typically prohibited during the exam. Confirm the exact prohibited-items list with the provider, since enforcement and exceptions vary.
Review the question format and navigation
Know how to flag questions, move between them, and whether you can change answers before submitting. Confirm the navigation and review rules with the provider for your delivery.
Budget your time
Note the total exam time and the number of questions so you can pace yourself. Confirm whether there is a scheduled or optional break and how it affects the clock.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read the exam guide and domain weightings, review your own summary notes and weak areas, and take at most one timed practice set to check pacing. Confirm appointment details, ID requirements, and delivery-method rules with the provider.
Run the system test for online proctoring or confirm the test center address, parking, and arrival time. Resolve any technical or logistical issue now rather than on exam day.
Do a light review of key concepts and service limits only. Prepare your ID and confirmation in one place, charge devices, and set two alarms. Avoid cramming late into the night; sleep is worth more than one more practice question.
Confirm the start time in your local time zone and check for any provider messages about rescheduling or technical requirements. Re-confirm with the provider anything you are unsure about, including break and scratch-material rules.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and arrive or log in early. Close unnecessary applications, silence notifications, and keep your phone out of reach unless the provider instructs otherwise.
Complete ID verification and any room scan calmly. If a proctor asks you to adjust your camera or environment, follow instructions without argument; unresolved issues can delay or end your session.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'most cost-effective', 'least operational overhead', or 'most secure'. Answer what is asked, not what you wish were asked.
First pass: answer confident questions and flag uncertain ones. Second pass: return to flagged items and eliminate clearly wrong options. Do not leave blanks unless the provider's scoring penalizes guessing; confirm with the provider.
If a scheduled break is offered, note how it affects the clock and return on time. Use remaining time to review flagged questions, then submit deliberately rather than rushing at the end.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration exactly; confirm accepted ID types and any secondary-ID requirement with the provider before exam day.
Follow all proctor instructions. Talking, leaving the camera view, or using unauthorized materials can lead to warnings, session termination, or score invalidation; specific consequences are set by the provider.
Keep prohibited items such as phones, smart watches, and notes out of the testing area unless the provider explicitly permits them. Confirm the prohibited-items list with the provider.
Confirm break policy in advance. Some deliveries offer scheduled or optional breaks and some do not; know whether the clock stops and whether you may leave the view of the camera.
Do not attempt to record, copy, or share exam content. Exam materials are confidential, and sharing questions violates the provider's terms and can void your result.
Understand the scoring model and retake policy before you sit. Confirm with the provider whether unanswered questions are penalized and what the retake waiting period and fees are.
If technical problems occur, pause and contact the proctor or provider support immediately rather than troubleshooting alone; document what happened in case you need to request a remedy.
Report any testing irregularity or suspected security issue to the provider promptly; do not discuss exam content with others afterward.