NBR ITP exam-day guide
NBR ITP · 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; do not rely on a photocopy or a digital image.
Examination permit or scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your test date, time, and location or remote-testing link. Confirm with the provider whether a printed permit must be presented at check-in.
Know your exact reporting time and arrival buffer
Arrive earlier than the stated reporting time to allow for check-in and security screening. Confirm with the provider the recommended arrival buffer and the cutoff after which late arrivals may be refused.
Review the provider's current candidate handbook
Read the handbook for the rules in force on your test date, since policies on calculators, personal items, and breaks can change between cycles. Treat the handbook as authoritative over any older study material.
Confirm permitted and prohibited items
Check whether calculators, scratch paper, pens, or reference materials are supplied by the test center or must be brought. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming, and leave prohibited items at home or in a locker.
Plan your route and backup transport
Scout the route in advance, identify parking or transit options, and set a backup plan. For remote testing, confirm your internet connection, power backup, and a quiet, private room.
Prepare for remote-testing requirements if applicable
If testing online, verify the software check, camera, microphone, and room-scan procedure ahead of time. Confirm with the provider the exact system requirements and check-in steps.
Get a full night's sleep and eat beforehand
A normal night's sleep and a light meal support sustained concentration better than last-minute cramming. Avoid unfamiliar caffeine levels on test day.
Bring water and a light snack for the break
Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the testing room or only during scheduled breaks, and whether storage is available.
Leave valuables and electronics behind
Phones, smartwatches, and other devices are typically prohibited in the testing room. Confirm with the provider the secure-storage arrangements and the consequences of bringing prohibited items.
Know the scoring and reporting basics
Understand the score scale, pass point, and when results are released before you sit. Confirm with the provider the current passing standard and reporting timeline, as these can be revised.
Have a contingency plan for illness or delay
Know the rescheduling and cancellation rules and any fees before test day. Confirm with the provider the policy for emergencies, since terms vary and are time-sensitive.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating. Review your summary sheets, formulas, and recurring error patterns, and do one or two timed mixed sets under exam conditions. Stop heavy new-topic study; the goal is recall and confidence, not coverage.
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and confirm logistics: reporting time, address or remote-testing link, ID requirements, and permitted items. Resolve any uncertainty with the provider now rather than on test day.
Protect your sleep schedule. Move bedtime toward a normal pattern, avoid all-nighters, and keep light exercise and meals regular so you arrive rested and steady.
Do a light review only: skim key definitions, formulas, and a short list of personal pitfalls. Avoid new practice tests that could shake confidence late in the day.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. Lay out clothes, confirm transport or the remote-testing setup, and check the weather or transit alerts.
Set two alarms, tell someone your plan, and get a full night's sleep. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals late in the evening.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive with time to spare. Re-read only your short summary sheet; do not attempt to learn new content in the final hour.
Complete check-in calmly: present your ID, store prohibited items as directed, and follow proctor instructions. For remote testing, start the system check and room scan early.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'best', 'first', or 'except'. Answer the straightforward items first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them with remaining time.
Pace yourself against the clock: note the number of items and minutes available, and check your progress at natural intervals. Do not let one hard question consume a disproportionate share of time.
Use breaks as permitted: stand, stretch, hydrate, and reset. Confirm with the provider the break rules, since the clock may or may not stop during breaks.
Before submitting, confirm you have answered or deliberately skipped every item, review flagged questions if time allows, and check that any required confirmation screens are completed.
Rules to check
Present valid, unexpired identification in the name on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and what happens if your name does not match your records.
Follow all proctor instructions and test-center or remote-testing rules, including room scans, seating, and item storage. Unresolved questions about permitted behavior should be raised with the provider before test day.
Do not bring unauthorized materials or devices into the testing area. Confirm with the provider the full prohibited-items list and the consequences of a violation, which may include score cancellation.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not copy, photograph, or share exam content. Exam materials are confidential, and disclosure may breach the candidate agreement.
Understand the break policy before you begin: confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or timed, and whether the clock continues to run during them.
Know the scoring rules: confirm with the provider the score scale, the current passing standard, how unanswered items are scored, and whether any guessing penalty applies.
If a technical problem or disruption occurs, stop and notify the proctor or support channel immediately and follow their instructions. Do not attempt to troubleshoot in a way that violates testing rules.
Review the provider's rescheduling, cancellation, and misconduct policies in advance so you understand your options and obligations if something goes wrong.