Certified General Appraiser exam-day guide
Certified General Appraiser · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID name that matches your registration. If your legal name differs from your registration record, contact the provider before test day to correct it rather than hoping for a workaround at the desk. Confirm with the provider which ID forms it accepts and whether a secondary ID is required.
Admission confirmation and testing-provider account credentials
Have your scheduling confirmation, confirmation number, and login details accessible (printed and on your phone). You may need them to check in, reschedule, or resolve a records issue. Confirm with the provider whether printed confirmation is required or a digital copy is accepted.
Know your exam's format, section structure, and time allocation
The Certified General credential involves both a licensing exam and a separate experience and education review; the exam itself is delivered through a testing provider. Confirm with the provider or your state regulator the current number of questions, time limit, whether sections are separately timed, and whether any breaks are built in. Build your pacing plan around those confirmed numbers, not rumor.
Approved calculator and familiarity with its keystrokes
Financial calculators (for example, models in the HP-12C or BA II Plus families) are standard for income-approach math, but acceptance rules vary. Confirm with the provider which calculators and models are permitted and whether memory must be cleared. Practice the six functions you will actually use: N, I/Y, PV, PMT, FV, and cash-flow registers for uneven streams.
Scratch paper and pencil policy confirmed in advance
Most testing centers supply materials and prohibit bringing your own. Confirm with the provider what is supplied and whether you may bring anything. Do not assume; arriving with prohibited items can delay or void your session.
Formula and concept review sheet you built yourself
Prepare a one- to two-page summary of the formulas you tend to forget: direct capitalization, band of investment, mortgage-equity, Ellwood-style relationships, gross income multipliers, depreciation methods, and unit-of-comparison adjustments. Rewrite it by hand during review; the act of writing is the study. Leave it at home or in a locker on test day per provider rules.
Practice under the real time limit at least once
Complete a full-length timed set in the final week so you know your per-question pace and where you slow down. Record your split between quantitative and narrative items; most candidates lose time on the former and rush the latter.
Plan for arrival time, parking, and building security
Testing centers often require arrival well before your appointment for check-in, and security screening can take time. Confirm with the provider the required arrival window and what happens if you are late. Scout the route and parking in advance if the site is unfamiliar.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
A multi-hour exam rewards sleep and stable blood sugar more than last-minute cramming. Plan a normal meal, limit caffeine to your usual amount, and avoid trying a new energy drink on test day.
Personal items plan (phone, watch, bag, outerwear)
Most centers require phones off and stored, prohibit smartwatches, and restrict bags and notes to a locker. Confirm with the provider what storage is available and what is allowed at the workstation, including whether a light layer is permitted given room temperature.
Backup plan if technology or the site fails
If the delivery system fails mid-exam, stop and follow staff instructions rather than guessing at what will be credited. Ask how the incident is documented and what the reschedule or score-review process is. Confirm with the provider in advance so you know your rights.
Verify current eligibility and jurisdiction requirements
Certified General requirements, including education, experience hours, and exam sequencing, are set by the state or territory regulator and can change. Confirm with your state regulator and the provider that you are eligible to sit before you pay for a seat.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Spend the time on retrieval practice: work problems from your own notes, redo missed calculation types, and rehearse the structure of the three approaches. Do one timed mixed set to confirm pacing, then review only the errors. Reconfirm your appointment time, site address, ID requirements, and calculator policy with the provider. Lay out your ID, confirmation, and calculator the night before so the morning is boring.
Do a light review of your formula sheet and the definitions you confuse (for example, the difference between various depreciation and obsolescence concepts, or between the several income multipliers). Do not attempt a full practice exam; fatigue costs more than it gains. Check the weather and traffic for your route, set two alarms, and go to bed at your normal time. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive at the confirmed check-in time, and bring only what the provider permits. At the workstation, before the clock starts, confirm you understand how to move between questions, flag items, and review. If a whiteboard or scratch paper is supplied, set up a simple layout: one column for given data, one for the formula, one for the answer with units.
Answer items you can resolve quickly and flag anything requiring a long calculation or a judgment call you want to revisit. Do not let a single appraisal problem consume five minutes early. Watch the clock against your planned per-question pace and note the halfway checkpoint.
Write the formula before entering numbers. Track units and time periods (monthly versus annual, per-unit versus total). For income capitalization, confirm whether you are solving for value, rate, or income before you touch the calculator. Sanity-check results: a negative value, a cap rate outside a plausible range, or an adjustment that moves a comparable in the wrong direction usually signals an input error.
Return to flagged items, then verify that every question has an answer, since unanswered items usually score as wrong. If a narrative or short-answer section exists, confirm it is complete and addresses each part of the prompt. Use remaining time for review rather than leaving early.
Note which topics felt weak while the memory is fresh, since a retake may be needed. Keep your score report. If you did not pass, ask the provider about the score breakdown and any waiting period before retaking, and confirm with your state regulator how the exam result feeds into your license application.
Rules to check
Bring identification that exactly matches your registration. If it does not, resolve the discrepancy with the provider before test day; do not expect staff to make an exception at check-in.
Follow the provider's rules on what may be brought into the testing room, including calculators, notes, phones, and wearables. Confirm with the provider in advance rather than deciding for yourself what seems reasonable.
Breaks are typically governed by the provider's policy and may be unscheduled or counted against your time. Confirm with the provider how breaks work for your specific exam before you sit.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not attempt to record, photograph, or transmit exam content. Item content is confidential, and misconduct can void your score and affect future eligibility.
If you believe an item is defective or the delivery system malfunctions, note it and report it to staff immediately after the session. Do not stop working unless instructed; ask how the incident will be documented.
Understand how your exam is scored before you sit. Confirm with the provider whether scoring is criterion-referenced, whether sections must be passed individually, and how and when results are reported.
Your exam result is only one requirement. Education and experience requirements are verified separately through your state regulator; passing the exam does not by itself confer the Certified General credential.
Do not rely on memory of exam policies from a previous attempt. Requirements, permitted items, and scheduling rules can change; confirm with the provider each time you schedule.