CDDP exam-day guide
CDDP · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification named in your appointment confirmation. The name must match your registration exactly, including middle names. If your ID is expired or the name differs, contact the provider before test day; do not assume a secondary ID will be accepted.
Appointment confirmation and scheduling details
Have the confirmation email or scheduling record accessible, including your confirmation number, test location or remote-proctoring link, and start time. Note the time zone shown on the confirmation, since remote sessions may display a different zone than your local one.
Provider-specific technical requirements (remote testing)
Confirm with the provider which browser, camera, microphone, and system check are required, and run any required equipment check in advance. Requirements vary by delivery vendor, so verify rather than relying on another candidate's experience.
Approved calculator or on-screen calculator policy
Check the current candidate handbook for whether a calculator is permitted, whether it must be a specific model, and whether an on-screen calculator is built into the exam. Do not bring an unapproved device into the testing room.
Reference material policy
Confirm whether the exam is open-book, closed-book, or provides embedded reference tables. If printed references are allowed, verify which documents and formats are accepted before packing anything.
Scratch paper and writing instrument policy
Many testing centers supply erasable materials and prohibit bringing your own. Confirm the provider's rule so you are not turned away for carrying paper or pens into the room.
Personal items plan
Plan where your phone, watch, bag, and study notes will go. Most providers require these to be stored or left outside the testing room, and some prohibit wearing a watch. Confirm storage availability at your site.
Break and timing expectations
Review the handbook for scheduled breaks, whether the clock stops during breaks, and whether you may access personal items during them. Confirm with the provider if the handbook is ambiguous.
Rest, travel, and arrival buffer
Plan to arrive or log in well before your start time, accounting for check-in and identity verification. For in-person testing, confirm parking or transit options and the site's arrival window in advance.
Score reporting expectations
Know whether a preliminary result appears at the end of the session and how the official score is delivered. Confirm the provider's timeline rather than expecting an immediate official result.
Accommodations confirmation
If you requested testing accommodations, confirm approval and the specific arrangements with the provider before test day. Bring any approval documentation the provider instructs you to present.
Emergency contact and rescheduling policy
Save the provider's contact information and review the rescheduling, cancellation, and illness policy. If something goes wrong on test day, contact the provider directly rather than the test site alone.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Review condensed summaries of your weakest domains and re-read the candidate handbook sections on identification, permitted items, break rules, and score reporting. Confirm your appointment time, location or remote link, and time zone. Run any required system or equipment check for remote proctoring. Prepare your ID and confirm the name matches your registration. Protect sleep and avoid an all-night review, since fatigue affects judgment on scenario items more than on recall items.
Do a light pass over formulas, definitions, and process steps rather than full practice sets. Pack your ID, confirmation details, and any approved items in one place. Decide your route or set up your testing space, including a clear desk, stable connection, and power. Review the break policy so you know whether you can leave the room and whether the clock runs. Set two alarms and plan to sleep at your normal time. If you feel unwell, check the provider's illness and rescheduling policy immediately rather than waiting until morning.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate, but avoid heavy caffeine if you are not accustomed to it. Arrive at the site or log in early enough to complete identity verification without rushing. Keep your phone stored as instructed and avoid last-minute cramming that can increase anxiety. Before starting, read the on-screen instructions, confirm how to flag items for review, and note how to request assistance from the proctor. Take a few minutes to settle your breathing and plan your pacing.
Read each scenario stem fully before looking at the answer choices, and identify what the question is actually asking. Answer every item; if the exam does not penalize wrong answers, an educated guess is better than a blank. Flag uncertain items and move on rather than losing time. Watch the clock against the number of remaining items and adjust your pace at natural checkpoints. Use scheduled breaks as permitted, and if a technical problem occurs, notify the proctor immediately and note the time. Before submitting, review flagged items if time remains and confirm you have answered everything.
Rules to check
Bring the exact identification the provider requires, with a name matching your registration. If you are unsure which ID forms are accepted, confirm with the provider before test day; do not assume a second form of ID will resolve a mismatch.
Follow the provider's rules on personal items, phones, watches, and notes. Assume these must be stored outside the testing room unless the handbook explicitly states otherwise, and confirm with the provider if the policy is unclear.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the session, and do not share, photograph, or reproduce exam content afterward. Confidentiality and misconduct rules are set by the provider; review them in the candidate handbook.
Use only approved calculators, reference materials, and scratch materials. If you are unsure whether an item is permitted, leave it outside the room and confirm with the provider rather than risk a conduct finding.
Take breaks only as the provider allows, and know in advance whether the clock continues to run during them. If break rules are not stated clearly in your materials, confirm with the provider.
Report any technical failure, interruption, or suspected irregularity to the proctor immediately and follow their instructions. Do not attempt to troubleshoot a remote session in ways the proctor has not authorized.
Scoring, pass points, and score reporting timelines are set by the provider and may not be announced at the end of the session. Treat any preliminary result as unofficial and confirm the reporting process with the provider.
If you cannot test because of illness, a technical failure, or another emergency, contact the provider directly and promptly. Rescheduling and refund eligibility depend on the provider's policy, so confirm the terms rather than assuming an automatic remedy.