C-ONQS exam-day guide
C-ONQS · 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 ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Appointment confirmation and test-center details
Save or print your confirmation, including the test-center address, arrival time, and any candidate ID number. Re-check the address the night before in case of a venue change.
Know your login credentials
If the exam is delivered online, confirm your username and password and test them on the same device and browser you will use. Confirm with the provider whether a live proctor or a lockdown browser is used.
Acceptable calculator (if permitted)
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is allowed, which models are approved, and whether an on-screen calculator is provided. Do not assume a personal calculator is permitted.
Review the exam's published reference or formula sheet policy
Confirm with the provider whether any reference material is supplied on-screen or must be memorized. Do not bring notes unless the provider explicitly allows them.
Personal items plan
Plan where your phone, watch, bag, and notes will go. Most testing rooms prohibit them at the workstation; confirm the provider's storage policy in advance.
Break and timing plan
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or unavailable, and whether the clock stops during breaks. Plan hydration and restroom visits around that answer.
Rest, food, and travel buffer
Sleep adequately for several nights before the exam, eat a normal meal, and arrive with a buffer for transit delays. Fatigue and rushing cost more points than last-minute review gains.
Scratch materials policy
Confirm with the provider whether scratch paper, a marker board, or an on-screen notepad is supplied and whether you may bring your own. Bring nothing unless it is explicitly allowed.
Accessibility or accommodation confirmation
If you requested accommodations, bring the approval confirmation and confirm with the provider how to identify yourself to staff on arrival. Requests are usually not granted on exam day.
Reschedule and refund deadlines
Confirm with the provider the deadline for rescheduling without penalty and the policy for illness or emergencies, so you know your options if something goes wrong.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summary sheets and previously missed concepts, take at most one timed practice set to check pacing, and then stop. Confirm your appointment, ID, and travel plan. Protect sleep: shift bedtime earlier rather than studying later.
Do a light review of high-yield lists only, then close the books. Prepare clothing, ID, confirmation, and any permitted items in one place. Confirm the test-center location or your online setup, including device, browser, camera, microphone, and internet. Eat a normal dinner and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid heavy caffeine if you are sensitive, and leave with a travel buffer. Arrive early; if testing online, log in early and complete the system check. Do not cram in the waiting area. Use the restroom before you are seated.
Read the instructions and note the time limit, number of questions, and whether questions can be flagged and revisited. Do a first pass answering what you know, flagging uncertain items, and watching the clock. Answer every question; there is usually no penalty for guessing unless the provider states otherwise. Use breaks only as allowed, and return to flagged items with remaining time.
Rules to check
Bring the original, unexpired photo ID in the exact name on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and what happens if your name differs.
Arrive at the time stated in your confirmation. Confirm with the provider the late-arrival cutoff and whether late arrivals forfeit the fee or the appointment.
Keep phones, smart watches, notes, and other personal items out of the testing area unless the provider explicitly permits them. Confirm the storage policy in advance.
Follow the proctor's instructions exactly, including any sign-in, identity verification, or room-scan procedure. Ask the proctor rather than guessing if a rule is unclear.
Breaks are governed by the provider's policy. Confirm in advance whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock runs during breaks, and what you may access during them.
Scoring and guessing rules vary by exam. Confirm with the provider whether unanswered questions are scored as incorrect and whether there is any penalty for guessing before you decide how to handle uncertain items.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam or share exam content afterward. Report any technical problem to the proctor immediately rather than attempting to fix it yourself.
If illness, a technical failure, or another emergency affects your attempt, notify the provider as soon as possible and ask about their documented options. Confirm the procedure in advance so you know who to contact.