CHBT exam-day guide
CHBT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification the testing provider requires, and make sure the name matches your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is needed.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save your appointment confirmation, confirmation number, and any test-center instructions. You may be asked to show it at check-in.
Know your test format and timing
Confirm with the provider whether the exam is delivered at a test center or by remote proctoring, the total seat time, and whether any scheduled or unscheduled breaks are allowed. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Review the candidate handbook and conduct rules
Read the provider's current handbook for rules on permitted items, calculators, scratch materials, and prohibited devices. Policies vary and can change, so confirm with the provider.
Plan your route and arrival time
Confirm the test-center address and how early you must arrive; late arrivals may be refused entry. For remote testing, confirm the platform, system requirements, and check-in window.
Remote-testing environment check
If testing remotely, run the provider's system test ahead of time and confirm the room and desk requirements. Confirm with the provider whether a webcam room scan is required.
Permitted comfort items
Confirm with the provider whether water, snacks, tissues, or medication are allowed in the testing room; many centers restrict them to break areas. Do not assume.
Layer clothing
Test-center temperatures vary. Wear layers you can remove, and confirm with the provider whether outer layers or accessories must be stored in a locker.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, charge your phone, and confirm transport. Avoid last-minute cramming that shortens sleep.
Light review materials only
Bring concise summary notes for a short pre-exam review only if the provider permits outside materials in the waiting area. Confirm with the provider what can be brought into the building.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the provider's contact number so you can report an emergency or technical problem promptly.
Scratch paper and writing instrument
Do not bring your own unless the provider explicitly permits it; most centers supply approved materials and prohibit personal ones. Confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating. Review your summary sheets and error log, and redo a small set of missed questions. Confirm your appointment time, test-center address or remote-testing setup, and ID requirements with the provider. Protect sleep and stop studying early enough each night to wind down.
Do a light review of high-yield frameworks and formulas only. Run the remote system test if applicable, lay out ID, confirmation, and clothing, and check the weather and transit plan. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not attempt a full practice exam.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the test center or log in with the buffer the provider specifies. Leave your phone and smartwatch stored as instructed. Do a brief calm review of your summary sheet only if permitted, then focus on breathing and pacing rather than new content.
Read the instructions and note the time budget before starting. Answer easier questions first if the format allows navigation, flag uncertain items, and return to them. Watch the clock at planned checkpoints so you do not run short at the end. Use breaks only as permitted, and if a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Note what felt difficult while it is fresh, in case you need to retake. Confirm with the provider how and when scores are released and what the retake policy is.
Rules to check
Follow all identification requirements exactly; if your ID does not match your registration, you may be denied entry. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted.
Bring only permitted items into the testing room. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and unauthorized calculators are typically prohibited and may lead to score cancellation; confirm with the provider what is allowed.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not attempt to copy, photograph, or share exam content. Content-sharing is a serious violation in essentially all testing programs.
Use breaks only as the provider permits. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock runs during breaks, and what you may access in the break area.
If you test remotely, follow the proctor's instructions for room scans and desk clearance, and keep your face and workspace visible at all times. Confirm with the provider what behavior triggers a security review.
Understand the scoring and retake rules before test day. Confirm with the provider how the exam is scored, when results are released, and any waiting period or attempt limit before retaking.
Report technical failures or illness immediately to the proctor or provider. Do not continue a compromised session silently, since remedies usually depend on timely notification.
Arrive within the provider's stated check-in window. Late arrival may result in refused entry or forfeiture of fees; confirm with the provider the exact cutoff.