CRAT exam-day guide
CRAT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID type and name spelling your registration uses. If your name on the registration differs from your ID (maiden name, hyphenation, middle name), contact the provider before test day to correct it - confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Confirmation notice and appointment details
Print or save offline a copy of your scheduling confirmation showing test date, time, location or remote-proctoring link, and your candidate ID. You may not be permitted to sit without proof of appointment; confirm with the provider what documentation is required at check-in.
Know your delivery format and platform
Confirm whether you are testing at a test center or via remote proctoring, and which browser/software and system check are required for remote delivery. Run any required system test at least 24 hours ahead so a failed check does not cost you the appointment.
Review the current candidate handbook or policy page
Policies on rescheduling, late arrival, prohibited items, and score reporting change over time. Read the version currently posted by your provider rather than relying on a study guide or forum post.
Confirm permitted reference materials
Some exams allow a provided formula sheet, on-screen calculator, or scratch materials; others prohibit all of it. Confirm with the provider exactly what is supplied at the workstation and what you may bring, and do not assume any aid is allowed.
Plan arrival and buffer time
Aim to arrive or log in well before your appointment so that check-in, ID verification, and security screening do not eat into testing time. Confirm with the provider the latest arrival time after which you may be turned away.
Leave prohibited items behind or plan storage
Phones, smart watches, notes, and bags are typically banned from the testing room, and test centers may offer only limited storage. Confirm with the provider what storage is available and what happens to items you bring.
Prepare for breaks and timing
Find out in advance whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or unscheduled, and whether the clock stops during a break. Confirm with the provider, since unscheduled breaks often do not pause the timer.
Know the score-report timeline and retake policy
Understand when and how you receive results and what the waiting period and attempt limits are before you sit, so you can plan a retake without surprises. Confirm current specifics with the provider.
Rest and logistics the night before
Confirm travel time, parking or transit, and the exact building or room. Sleep and a normal meal do more for a timed exam than a last-minute cram session.
Plan the day
Stop adding new material. Review your own error log and the topics you have repeatedly missed, and do short timed sets that mirror the real question format rather than rereading notes. Reconfirm appointment time, location or remote-proctoring link, and ID requirements, and resolve any name mismatch now rather than at check-in.
Do a light review of high-yield summaries and any permitted reference conventions (units, notation, terminology), then stop. Run the remote system check if applicable, charge devices, pack ID and confirmation, and set two alarms. Avoid intensive practice tests the day before - fatigue costs more than the extra questions gain.
Eat a normal meal, arrive or log in early with buffer time, and keep the pre-test period calm. Do not cram new content in the waiting area; a brief skim of your own summary sheet is enough. Complete ID verification and any security screening without rushing.
Read the instructions and note the time budget before starting. Answer in passes: handle clear questions first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock against the number of items remaining, and leave time to revisit flagged items and confirm any required submission step. If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting silently.
Note which topics felt weak while it is fresh, and record when results are expected and what the retake rules are. Do not attempt to reconstruct or share specific exam content with others.
Rules to check
Bring and present valid government-issued photo ID matching your registered name exactly; confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a second ID is needed.
Follow all proctor instructions and security procedures, including any screening, room scan, or workspace check. Noncompliance can lead to removal or score invalidation.
Keep prohibited items out of the testing area. Do not bring phones, smart watches, notes, or study materials into the room, and do not access them during breaks unless the provider explicitly allows it.
Use only the aids the provider supplies or permits - for example an on-screen calculator or provided reference sheet. Do not use outside tools, and confirm in advance what is allowed.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not record, photograph, reproduce, or discuss specific exam content afterward. Content confidentiality is a standard condition of testing.
Understand the break rules before you start: scheduled versus unscheduled breaks, whether the timer pauses, and what you may access. Confirm with the provider, because unscheduled breaks commonly do not stop the clock.
Report any technical or environmental problem to the proctor immediately. Do not attempt to fix software or hardware yourself, as doing so may be treated as a conduct issue.
Scores and retake eligibility are governed by the provider's current policy. Confirm the reporting timeline, passing standard, attempt limits, and waiting period with the provider rather than relying on secondhand information.