CAIA Level I exam-day guide
CAIA Level I · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original (not a photocopy) of an unexpired government-issued photo ID. The name on it must match your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which specific document types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Appointment confirmation
Bring a printed or downloaded copy of your scheduling confirmation with the test-center address, arrival time, and confirmation number. Double-check the date, time zone, and location the day before.
Registration / candidate credentials
Know your login and candidate ID for the test-delivery vendor in case staff need to look up your appointment.
Vendor customer-service number
Save the test-delivery vendor's and the association's contact numbers in your phone in case of a last-minute scheduling, outage, or travel problem.
Calculator policy confirmed
CAIA has historically restricted calculators to specific financial models (TI BA II Plus family and HP 12C family), and some computer-based deliveries provide an on-screen calculator. Confirm the current rule and permitted models with the provider before test day.
Arrival buffer
Plan to arrive at the test center well before your appointment - commonly about 30 minutes - to allow for check-in and security procedures. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider.
Remote-proctoring setup (if applicable)
If you are testing online rather than at a center, complete the system/equipment check in advance, clear your desk area, and confirm room and camera requirements with the provider.
Light snack and water for the break
Bring a small snack and water in case a break is offered and center storage permits it. Confirm the center's policy on personal items and food.
Timed mock completed
Finish at least one full-length, timed practice exam in the days before so your pacing and mental stamina are rehearsed - this is preparation to do, not something to bring.
Topic weights and formula review sheet
Have your own one-page summary of formula-heavy areas (quantitative methods, risk/return, asset allocation, derivatives) ready for light review only in the final day.
Travel and logistics plan
Confirm the route, parking or transit, and a backup plan for delays. For a morning appointment, consider a nearby hotel if the commute is long.
Rest and normal routine
Protect sleep in the last two nights and eat your normal breakfast; do not schedule heavy new-material study for the morning of the exam.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Re-read your own summaries of the heavily weighted topics, ethics/professional standards, and formulas. Take or review one full-length timed mock and study only the errors.
Verify every logistics detail: appointment date and time, test-center address, ID name match, calculator policy, and any accommodation approvals. Resolve any discrepancy with the provider now, not on test day.
Shift your sleep schedule so you are alert at your appointment time, especially for a morning slot.
Light review only - skim formula sheets and a handful of weak-topic notes. No new practice exams and no marathon session.
Pack your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. Lay out clothes and confirm the commute plan and backup route.
Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy alcohol and late caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not study in bed late at night.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and do at most a brief skim of formulas. Avoid cramming new questions - it raises anxiety without adding much.
Leave with enough buffer to arrive early. Bring your ID and confirmation; leave notes, phones, and smart devices out of the testing room per vendor rules.
Follow staff instructions, store personal items as directed, and listen to the security and conduct briefing. If testing remotely, complete the ID and room scan calmly and on time.
Read each question fully, answer every item (there is no penalty for guessing on a multiple-choice exam), and mark uncertain items for review if the interface allows it. Keep an eye on the clock and target a steady pace per question.
If a scheduled break is offered, take it, stand up, and reset - but confirm whether the clock stops during the break, and budget accordingly.
If technical problems occur, stop and notify the proctor immediately so the issue is documented rather than absorbed into your own time.
Note down what felt difficult while it is fresh, then stop dissecting it. Result release timing and the reporting format should be confirmed with the provider.
Rules to check
Bring the original, unexpired government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration exactly. Candidates are typically turned away for a name mismatch or an unacceptable ID form - confirm accepted document types with the provider in advance.
Only permitted items may be at your workstation. Phones, smart watches, notes, and study materials must be stored as directed; unauthorized materials can lead to score cancellation.
All personal electronic devices must be silenced and stowed during the exam and during breaks. Handling a device in the testing room is typically treated as a conduct violation.
The exam content is confidential. Sharing, reproducing, or discussing specific questions after the exam violates the candidate agreement and can void your result.
Break and clock rules vary by delivery format and section structure. Confirm in advance whether the timer pauses during breaks and how many breaks are offered.
Results are reported to candidates on the association's published schedule and in its published format (typically pass/fail against a standard set by the exam committee rather than a fixed raw percentage). Confirm the current reporting practice and any score-report details with the provider.
Request any testing accommodation well before the exam window; accommodations are generally not arranged on test day.
Rescheduling, cancellation, and refund deadlines are strict. Confirm the current deadlines and fees with the provider before changing your appointment.