CAS Exam 6 (US) exam-day guide
CAS Exam 6 (US) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission ticket / confirmation email
Print or save the scheduling confirmation from the testing provider. It shows your candidate ID, appointment time, and test center; staff may ask for it at check-in. If you cannot locate it, confirm with the provider how to retrieve it before exam day.
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification the provider requires, with a signature and photo, and make sure the name matches your registration. Acceptable ID types and whether an expired ID is accepted vary by provider, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Approved calculator
Confirm the current calculator policy for this exam with the CAS and the testing provider. If a physical calculator is permitted, bring a model on the approved list with fresh batteries, and know that some centers inspect or clear memory. If an on-screen calculator is provided instead, practice with that interface beforehand.
Writing instrument and scratch materials
Many computer-based centers supply a marker and booklet or laminated sheets and prohibit bringing your own paper. Confirm with the provider what is supplied and what is forbidden so you are not surprised at the door.
Know your appointment time and arrival window
Arrive earlier than the appointment; check-in and security screening take time. Confirm with the provider the recommended arrival buffer and what happens if you are late, since late arrivals may be refused entry or lose seating time.
Review the exam-day rules document
Read the current candidate rules or exam handbook from the CAS and the provider. It covers permitted items, prohibited items such as phones and notes, and break behavior. Policies change, so use the version in effect for your sitting.
Plan travel and a backup route
Know the address, parking or transit options, and a fallback if the first route fails. For remote proctoring, test your equipment and internet connection in advance and confirm system requirements with the provider.
Personal comfort items within the rules
Water, a snack for before the exam, and layers of clothing help, but confirm with the provider whether these are allowed in the testing room. Locker or storage availability varies by site.
Confirm break and timing rules
Ask or check whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are permitted, whether the clock keeps running, and whether you can access stored items. Do not assume; confirm with the provider.
Know the exam format and time allocation
Review the current syllabus and exam structure from the CAS so you know the number of questions, the time limit, and whether question types include calculation, short answer, or spreadsheet-based items. Practice pacing against that format.
Backup plan for technical failure
If testing remotely or on a center computer, know the provider's procedure for reporting a crash or connectivity loss and how to request an incident report. Confirm with the provider what documentation you need.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, lay out ID, confirmation, and calculator, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Sleep is worth more than one more formula sheet.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to consolidating. Rework your error log and the topics that repeatedly cost points, and do timed mixed sets under exam conditions rather than untimed review. Rehearse the formula and method sheets you will mentally carry into the exam. Stop introducing unfamiliar source material late; it raises anxiety without raising scores. Confirm your appointment details, ID validity, calculator policy, and travel or equipment plan so logistics are settled before the last day.
Do a light pass over your summary sheets and a small number of representative problems to stay sharp, then stop. Pack ID, confirmation, and any permitted items, and check the weather and route. For remote testing, run the equipment check again. Set alarms, eat normally, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Avoid intensive new practice; fatigue on exam day costs more than the marginal recall.
Eat a normal meal, arrive early, and keep the pre-exam review short and confidence-building, such as skimming your one-page summary. At check-in, follow staff instructions, store prohibited items, and verify your workstation works before the clock starts. If something is wrong with the setup, raise it immediately rather than after starting.
Read the instructions and note the time limit and question count, then set a rough pace. Answer the questions you know first and flag hard ones to return to, since partial credit is often available and leaving items blank rarely helps. Show key steps on calculation items so method earns credit where the grader can award it. Watch the clock against checkpoints, take permitted breaks as allowed, and if a technical problem occurs, note the time and request an incident report before leaving.
Rules to check
Bring only items the current provider policy permits, and store phones, notes, and other prohibited items as instructed. Attempting to use unauthorized material can void your result.
Present valid, unexpired identification matching your registration. If your ID name differs from your registration, resolve it with the provider before exam day; do not expect an exception at the door.
Follow all proctor and staff directions, including seating, screen sharing for remote sessions, and room conduct. Disputes raised calmly after the exam are handled better than arguments during it.
Do not communicate with other candidates about exam content during the exam or afterward in ways the CAS prohibits. Sharing or soliciting specific questions violates the confidentiality rules.
Confirm break rules with the provider in advance: whether breaks are allowed, whether the clock runs, and what you may access. Assume nothing about leaving the room or retrieving items.
Understand the scoring approach before you sit: questions may carry partial credit, and unanswered items generally earn nothing. Allocate time to attempt every question you can.
If a technical failure or disturbance occurs, stay calm, follow the proctor's instructions, and request documentation of the incident. Report it promptly through the provider's process rather than waiting.
Verify all exam-day policies against the current CAS and provider documents for your sitting. This guide is general; where any detail is uncertain, confirm with the provider.