QC Sec 4 Science & Tech exam-day guide
QC Sec 4 Science & Tech · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration name
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you registered with; a photocopy or a different document may be refused. If your name differs slightly between ID and registration, contact the provider before test day to correct it. Confirm the exact accepted ID types with the provider.
Admission or confirmation document
Print or save the confirmation email/registration slip showing your test date, time, and location or remote-testing link. Some sites ask to see it at check-in; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Appointment time and site/remote logistics confirmed
Re-check the start time, arrival window, address, parking or transit route, and (for remote testing) the platform and system-check requirements. Arrive earlier than the stated check-in time to absorb delays.
Permitted calculator (if allowed for your section)
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is permitted, which models are allowed, and whether an on-screen calculator is provided instead. Do not assume a graphing calculator is accepted.
Approved writing materials only
Bring only what the provider lists as permitted (often pencils and scratch paper are supplied at the site). Do not bring your own notes, textbooks, or reference sheets unless explicitly allowed.
Personal items plan (bag, phone, watch)
Plan where your phone, smartwatch, and bag will go; most testing rooms require phones off and stored away from the desk. Confirm the site's storage policy with the provider.
Remote-testing setup checked (if testing online)
If you test remotely, run the required system/equipment check in advance, confirm camera, microphone, and internet stability, and clear your desk area per the provider's rules. Verify room and ID-scan requirements with the provider.
Break and timing expectations reviewed
Know the section order, whether breaks are offered, and whether breaks are timed. Confirm break rules with the provider rather than relying on memory.
Water, snack, and medication plan
Bring water and a light snack for before/after the test if the site allows them outside the testing room. If you need medication or an accommodation, arrange approval with the provider in advance.
Accommodations confirmed in writing
If you have approved accommodations (extra time, separate room, etc.), bring the approval documentation and confirm logistics with the provider beforehand.
Rest and travel buffer planned
Get normal sleep the night before and build extra travel time. Avoid last-minute cramming that disrupts sleep.
Emergency contact and provider phone number saved
Save the provider's contact number in case of delay, illness, or a technical problem on test day. Report issues as soon as they occur.
Plan the day
Do a light, targeted review of your weakest topics and the formulas or concepts you most often miss. Stop learning brand-new material. Re-read the provider's test-day rules and permitted-items list, and confirm your appointment time, location or remote link, and ID requirements. Resolve any name or accommodation discrepancies with the provider now, not on test day.
Plan your route and arrival time, or run the remote-testing system check if applicable. Prepare your bag with ID, confirmation, and permitted items. Set two alarms for test morning.
Do a short, confidence-building review only, then stop. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at your usual time. Lay out clothes, ID, confirmation, and permitted materials so nothing is rushed in the morning. Do not start a new topic or take a full-length practice test the night before.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive with buffer time. Leave prohibited items (notes, smartwatch, extra electronics) at home or stored as the site requires. At check-in, present your ID and confirmation, follow staff instructions, and settle into your seat early.
Read each question fully before answering, and watch the clock to pace yourself across sections. Answer easier questions first if you risk running out of time, and flag uncertain items to revisit. Use only permitted materials, take breaks only when allowed, and if a technical or seating problem occurs, raise your hand and notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Note anything you found unclear for future study, and confirm with the provider how and when scores are released and what the retake policy is.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID that matches your registration; confirm accepted ID types with the provider, and resolve name mismatches before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions and the provider's prohibited-items list; phones, smartwatches, notes, and unauthorized electronics must be stored or left outside the testing room as directed.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not share, copy, or reproduce test content afterward; test materials are confidential.
Take breaks only when and how the provider allows; confirm whether breaks are timed and whether you may access personal items during them.
Use only permitted calculators and materials; confirm with the provider which models are allowed and whether an on-screen tool is provided.
If you test remotely, follow the provider's room, camera, and desk-clearance rules, and confirm the specific requirements with the provider in advance.
Report illness, delays, or technical problems to the provider as soon as possible; confirm their policy on rescheduling or incident reporting rather than assuming an outcome.
Scoring, score reporting, and retake policies vary; confirm the specifics with the provider rather than relying on secondhand information.