AIRAF exam-day guide
AIRAF · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the exact name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Confirmation of appointment details
Save the scheduling confirmation, test-center address or remote-proctoring link, arrival time, and any candidate ID number. Re-read the provider's instructions for anything specific to this exam.
Admission or launch instructions
Review how the exam is delivered (test center or online proctored) and what you must do to launch it. Confirm with the provider whether a launch code, registration email, or system check is required.
Approved calculator or reference materials
Check the provider's candidate handbook for whether any calculator, formula sheet, or reference material is permitted, and in what form. If uncertain, plan to sit the exam without them and confirm with the provider in advance.
Scratch materials policy
Determine whether scratch paper, a marker board, or an on-screen notepad is provided and whether you may bring your own. Do not assume; confirm with the provider.
Break and scheduling policy
Know whether breaks are built into the exam, whether the clock pauses, and how to request a break. Confirm with the provider if the handbook is unclear.
Scoring and result reporting details
Understand how the exam is scored, whether results are immediate or delayed, and how to access them. Confirm with the provider if this is not stated in your materials.
Logistics plan
For a test center, plan travel time, parking, and a buffer for check-in; for remote delivery, test your equipment, camera, microphone, and internet in advance and choose a quiet, private room.
Rest and fuel plan
Protect sleep in the days before, and plan a normal meal and hydration so you are not distracted by hunger or caffeine crashes during the exam.
Review plan for weak areas only
In the final days, focus on a short list of known weak topics and practice recalling key facts rather than learning new material. Avoid cramming new content in the last 24 hours.
Backup plan
Have a phone number or contact route for the testing provider in case of technical failure, illness, or a scheduling problem, and know the provider's reschedule and cancellation rules.
Personal comfort items within policy
Check whether water, tissues, or medication are allowed at your seat or must be stored in a locker. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Plan the day
Confirm all logistics: appointment time, location or remote link, ID requirements, and permitted materials. Do one or two focused review sessions on your weakest topics, then stop adding new material. Protect sleep and keep the day before light.
Do a light review of summary notes and key formulas only. Prepare your ID, confirmation, and any approved items in one place. Check equipment if testing remotely. Eat normally, avoid heavy cramming, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and arrive or log in early per the provider's instructions. Recheck your ID and materials, silence devices, and follow all check-in and proctor instructions exactly.
Read each question carefully, watch the clock, and use a steady pace with time reserved for review if the format allows. Flag uncertain items and return to them rather than stalling. Take only breaks the provider permits, and follow all proctor directions.
Rules to check
Present the exact ID required by the provider. If your ID name does not match your registration, confirm with the provider before exam day rather than at check-in.
Follow all test-center or proctor instructions, including rules on personal items, devices, and leaving the room. Unclear cases should be confirmed with the provider in advance.
Do not bring unauthorized materials into the testing area. If you are unsure whether an item is permitted, leave it out and confirm with the provider.
Breaks and clock rules vary by exam. Know in advance whether breaks are scheduled, whether the timer pauses, and how to signal a proctor; confirm with the provider if this is not documented.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider. Review the published scoring policy and result-reporting timeline in your candidate handbook rather than relying on secondhand information.
If a technical failure, illness, or emergency occurs, notify the provider immediately and follow their documented process for reporting incidents and requesting accommodation or rescheduling.