CA ANZ Advanced Tax (Australia) exam-day guide
CA ANZ Advanced Tax (Australia) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the current government-issued photo ID in the name used for your enrolment. Accepted ID types and name-match rules vary by sitting, so confirm the exact list with the provider (CA ANZ or the remote-proctoring vendor) and, if relevant, whether an expired document is acceptable.
Admission or confirmation details
Have your exam confirmation, candidate/registration number, and any session or booking reference accessible (printed or on your phone) so you can resolve check-in queries quickly. Confirm the exact entry requirements with the provider.
Approved calculator
Bring the calculator model permitted for the module. Check the current permitted-calculator list with CA ANZ, and if you use a battery-powered model, fit fresh batteries and know how to clear memory. Do not rely on a phone or spreadsheet app as a calculator.
Permitted reference materials
Advanced Tax is generally open-book, but what you may bring (annotated legislation, printed notes, tabs) depends on the current exam rules. Confirm the permitted-materials list with the provider and prepare only what is allowed; electronic devices and internet access are normally restricted.
Printed or offline copy of your own summary notes
Prepare a condensed set of your own summaries, rate tables, and worked method templates so you can locate material fast. Verify with the provider whether printed notes are permitted for your sitting before relying on them.
Working pens, highlighters, and sticky tabs
Bring spare pens and tabs so you can mark legislation and notes quickly. If sitting remotely, keep only items the provider permits within reach.
Remote-sitting setup check (if applicable)
If sitting online, test your camera, microphone, internet connection, and the proctoring software on the same device and network you will use. Confirm room, desk, and environment requirements with the provider in advance.
Quiet, clear workspace
Remove clutter, notes, and devices not permitted from the desk and surrounding area. For remote sittings, expect a room scan and confirm what must be cleared with the provider.
Confirm timing and time zone
Verify the start time, check-in window, and time zone in your booking, and plan to arrive or log in early. Late-entry rules and any reading time should be confirmed with the provider.
Confirm the exam format and tool tutorial
Check the current structure (question types, number of questions, time allocation) and complete any available practice or tutorial for the exam platform so navigation, flagging, and the on-screen calculator are familiar.
Plan for breaks, food, and medication
Check whether breaks are permitted and how they affect your time. Bring water and any necessary medication in line with provider rules; confirm supervision requirements for remote sittings.
Backup plan for technology or travel
For remote sittings, have a phone with a hotspot and the provider's support number ready; for test-centre sittings, plan the route and allow buffer time. Confirm the correct support contact with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the current exam instructions and permitted-materials list from CA ANZ and confirm the format, time, and any platform tutorial. Reconcile your notes against the module's tax rates, thresholds, and key rules so your summaries are current. Do two or three timed practice sets under exam conditions, focusing on question triage and on writing concise, structured answers for calculation and discussion questions.
Review your error log rather than new material. Rehearse the method templates you will use for common calculations (for example, capital gains, GST, and entity distributions) and for structuring advice-style answers: identify the issue, state the rule and authority, apply it to the facts, and state the conclusion. Check that your calculator works and your permitted materials are tabbed and complete.
Do a final logistics check: ID, confirmation details, calculator, pens, permitted materials, and (for remote sittings) the device, camera, and connection test. Confirm the start time and time zone. Prepare your desk or bag. Stop intensive study in the evening, eat and sleep normally, and avoid last-minute cramming of unverified material.
Eat properly, arrive or log in well before the check-in window, and complete any required identity verification and room scan. Keep only permitted items at your desk. Do a short, calm review of your own summary sheet, not new topics, and set up your workspace so you can reach legislation and notes without disruption.
Read the instructions and note the time. Do a first pass to answer questions you know confidently, flagging difficult ones. Allocate time by marks and keep a running check on the clock. For calculations, show your workings and state assumptions; for discussion questions, use a clear structure and cite the relevant rule. Leave time near the end to revisit flagged questions and check that all questions are answered, as there is generally no penalty for a reasoned attempt.
Rules to check
Carry the required photo ID in the name used for enrolment and be ready to present it at check-in; if your ID name differs from your enrolment, resolve this with the provider before exam day.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted materials and devices. Phones, smart watches, and internet access are normally restricted during the exam, even in open-book sittings; confirm the exact list with the provider.
Do not communicate with anyone other than the invigilator or proctor during the exam, and do not share or discuss exam content afterwards, as exam materials are confidential.
Check in early and understand the late-entry and absence rules for your sitting; these are set by the provider, so confirm them in advance rather than assuming.
Confirm whether breaks are allowed, how they are supervised, and whether the clock keeps running; for remote sittings, follow the proctor's instructions before leaving the desk.
Understand the scoring approach: check the current pass mark, weighting, and whether any questions are unscored, and confirm whether there is negative marking before deciding how to guess. Do not assume a penalty exists.
If a technical problem occurs during a remote sitting, stay visible to the camera and contact the provider's support line promptly; follow their instructions on pausing, reconnecting, or rescheduling.
Where a rule is unclear, ask the provider before the exam rather than relying on second-hand advice from other candidates.