CAS Exam 9 exam-day guide
CAS Exam 9 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name that matches your registration. Confirm with the provider which specific ID forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required before test day.
Admission confirmation / scheduling permit
Have your appointment confirmation and any candidate ID or authorization number accessible, printed or on your phone. Confirm with the provider whether printed copies are mandatory or electronic versions are accepted at the test center.
Approved calculator
CAS exams generally permit only specified calculator models. Verify the current approved model list and calculator policy with the CAS or your exam provider; do not assume a model accepted in a prior sitting is still allowed.
Writing instrument and scratch materials
Many computer-based testing centers supply scratch paper or a marker board and prohibit bringing your own. Confirm with the provider what is supplied and what is prohibited.
Review the current syllabus and exam-day instructions
Read the syllabus for your specific sitting to confirm exam format, time allowed, permitted materials, and any changes from prior sittings. Do not rely on secondhand summaries.
Know the appointment arrival time and location
Plan to arrive earlier than the scheduled start; providers typically require check-in before the exam. Confirm the required arrival buffer and the exact test center address with the provider.
Personal items plan (phone, watch, bag, food)
Most centers require personal items to be stored and prohibit phones and smart watches in the testing room. Confirm the provider's rules on storage, access to food or medication, and what can be kept at your seat.
Break and timing expectations
Confirm with the provider whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks exist, whether the clock stops during breaks, and how to request a break. Practice under the same timing before exam day.
Logistics: travel, parking, backup transport
Identify parking or transit options and a backup route. If testing remotely, confirm your platform requirements, room setup, and connection backup with the provider.
Rest and fuel plan
Protect sleep in the final nights and plan a normal meal and hydration routine. Avoid trying new caffeine or medication doses on exam morning.
Confirm accommodations if applicable
If you requested testing accommodations, confirm approval and logistics with the provider well before the exam; do not assume approval carries over between sittings.
Backup contact and provider support number
Save the provider's candidate services contact in case of scheduling or technical problems. Confirm with the provider how to report an issue on exam day.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating. Reread your own formula sheet and error log, do timed mixed problem sets under exam conditions, and stop adding new sources. Confirm appointment time, location or remote-setup requirements, ID, and calculator policy with the provider. Protect sleep starting now; do not plan an all-night review.
Do a light review of high-frequency formulas and recurring mistake patterns, then stop early. Lay out ID, confirmation, calculator, and clothing. Check travel or platform logistics one last time. Eat normally, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. If you feel underprepared, resist cramming a new topic; reinforce what you already know.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the test center or remote setup early per the provider's instructions. Leave phones and smart devices stored as required. Do a short warm-up of a few familiar formulas rather than a full problem. At check-in, follow proctor directions and ask about break and scratch-material rules before the clock starts.
Read the exam instructions and note the time budget. Work in passes: answer confident questions first, flag long or uncertain ones, and return later. Show formula setup on calculation items so partial credit is possible where the exam allows it. Watch the clock at planned checkpoints. If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone. Use breaks as permitted and return promptly.
Note which topics felt weak while memory is fresh, for future study planning. Do not discuss specific exam content with others in ways that violate the candidate agreement. Confirm with the provider the expected results timeline and next registration deadlines.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration; confirm accepted forms and secondary ID requirements with the provider before exam day.
Follow all proctor instructions and the candidate agreement. Do not communicate with other candidates about specific exam content, and do not attempt to record or reproduce questions.
Only permitted calculators and materials may be used. Confirm the current approved calculator list and prohibited items with the CAS or provider; unauthorized devices may lead to dismissal.
Phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices must be stored as directed and must not be accessible during testing. Confirm storage and access rules with the provider.
Breaks are governed by provider policy. Confirm in advance whether breaks are scheduled, whether the clock runs during them, and how to request one; leaving without proctor direction may end your exam.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the CAS and are not negotiable at the test center. Confirm the current scoring and results-release process with the provider rather than relying on rumor.
If a technical or personal issue arises during the exam, notify the proctor immediately and follow their instructions; confirm with the provider afterward how incidents are documented.
Report any suspected exam-security problem to the provider. Do not share exam content, and confirm with the provider any rules about discussing exam format or topics after the sitting.