CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam exam-day guide
CDCR Correctional Officer Written Selection Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring a current, unexpired driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. The name must match the name on your application. Ask the testing provider which forms of ID they accept before test day.
Exam admission notice or confirmation
If you received an email, letter, or portal notice with your test date, time, location, and applicant number, print it and bring it. Ask the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether an electronic confirmation is accepted.
Test-center address, phone number, and directions
Write these down on paper in case your phone is collected or turned off. Include parking location and the room or building name if it was given to you.
Pens and pencils per the provider's instructions
Bring two sharpened No. 2 pencils and a black or blue ink pen unless the provider says otherwise. Ask whether scratch paper, an eraser, or a calculator is permitted.
Payment for parking or transit
Carry a small amount of cash and a payment card. Parking rules and costs vary by site, so check the venue's information ahead of time.
Simple analog watch
A basic non-smart watch can help you pace yourself if the room clock is hard to see. Ask the provider whether watches are allowed; smartwatches and fitness trackers are usually prohibited.
Comfortable, clean, business-casual clothing
Dress neatly and in layers so you can adjust to room temperature. Avoid clothing with slogans or offensive graphics.
Light snack and water for after the exam
Keep these in your car or bag rather than at your desk. Ask the provider whether food and drinks are allowed in the testing room.
Leave prohibited items behind
Do not bring notes, study guides, phones, smartwatches, earbuds, or bags into the testing room unless the provider says they are allowed. Most sites require you to store or surrender them.
Confirm your appointment and any accommodations in advance
Reconfirm your test date, time, and location shortly before the exam. If you need testing accommodations, request them through the provider well before test day, because they are usually not granted on the spot.
Plan your route and arrival time
Do a practice drive or check transit schedules. Plan to arrive well before your reporting time; ask the provider how early you should check in and what happens if you are late.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the test date, time, address, and check-in time with the provider. Confirm which ID and documents are required and whether pens, pencils, or a calculator are permitted. Plan your transportation and parking. Do light review only, such as reading comprehension, basic math, and grammar practice, and start going to bed at your normal time.
Lay out your clothing, ID, printed notice, pens and pencils, and parking money in one place. Avoid last-minute cramming; your score depends more on steady sleep and clear thinking than on one more hour of study.
Confirm your alarm and backup alarm, check the weather and traffic forecast, and finalize your route. Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol, and aim for a full night's sleep. Pack your bag with ID, notice, pens and pencils, and a snack for afterward, and keep the bag by the door.
Eat a normal breakfast and drink water. Leave early enough to arrive with a buffer. Bring your ID and notice, silence your phone and store it as directed, and do not bring study materials into the testing room. Skip last-minute review in the parking lot; it tends to increase anxiety.
Follow the proctor's instructions exactly. Present your ID when asked, sign in if required, and store prohibited items where directed. Listen for the rules on breaks, restroom use, timing, and what to do if you have a question.
Read the instructions for each section before starting. Pace yourself against the time limit, and if you get stuck, mark the question and move on. Answer every question unless the instructions say otherwise. Use scratch paper only if the provider supplies it.
Follow the provider's instructions about turning in materials and leaving the room quietly. Ask, or check your notice, for how and when results will be communicated, and keep your contact information up to date with the hiring department.
Rules to check
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID whose name matches your application. If you do not have one, or your name has changed, contact the provider before test day to ask what documentation they accept.
Arrive at the check-in time on your notice. Late arrivals may be refused entry depending on the provider's policy, so confirm the late-arrival rule in advance.
Electronic devices, including phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and earbuds, are typically prohibited in the testing room. Turn them off and store them where the proctor directs.
Do not bring notes, books, study guides, or unauthorized aids into the testing room. Raise your hand and ask the proctor if you are unsure whether an item is permitted.
Follow all proctor instructions and remain silent while testing. If you need to leave, need a restroom break, or have a problem with your materials, raise your hand and wait for the proctor.
Ask the provider in advance about breaks, since many timed written exams do not include scheduled breaks once testing begins.
Scoring rules, including whether unanswered questions count against you, vary by test form. Unless your instructions say otherwise, answer every question, and confirm the scoring method with the provider if it matters to your strategy.
If you need testing accommodations, request them through the provider well before the exam date, and bring any documentation they ask for. Accommodations are generally arranged in advance, not on test day.