CFE exam-day guide
CFE · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring a current, unexpired photo ID whose name exactly matches your registration. If your legal name differs from the name on your registration record, resolve it with the ACFE before exam day rather than at check-in.
Appointment confirmation and section schedule
Have your confirmation email, registration/eligibility number, and the exact date, start time, and time zone of each section you are sitting. The CFE Exam is delivered in four separately timed sections, so double-check whether you are taking one section or several.
Confirmed delivery mode: test center or remote proctoring
Confirm with the ACFE which delivery mode your appointment uses. If remote, complete any required system test, software installation, and identity verification well before exam day; if at a center, confirm the address, parking, and arrival buffer.
A private, quiet, well-lit room (remote proctoring)
Clear the desk and the area around you of notes, books, phones, smart watches, and papers. Proctors commonly require a room scan and a closed door; tell household members not to enter during the session.
Reliable computer, webcam, microphone, and internet
Use a wired or strong connection, close bandwidth-heavy applications, and have a backup plan (mobile hotspot or phone number for support) in case the connection drops mid-section.
Power adapter and a backup power source
A laptop on battery alone is a risk across a two-hour timed section. Plug in and confirm the charger works before you start.
Closed-book environment: no notes or reference materials
The CFE Exam is closed-book. Do not plan on using textbooks, outlines, or your own notes. If you have questions about what is permitted at your workstation, confirm with the provider in advance.
Calculator availability
Some calculation items appear in the fraud schemes and financial transactions section. Confirm with the provider whether an on-screen calculator is supplied or whether a basic calculator is permitted; do not assume your own device is allowed.
Scratch paper and writing instrument
Rules on scratch paper vary by delivery mode and are often supplied (or prohibited) by the proctor. Confirm with the provider rather than bringing your own.
Water and comfort items
Beverage and snack rules vary by proctor and venue. Confirm what is allowed at your workstation; in a remote session, keep anything you use in a clear container and inside camera view.
Account credentials and support contact
Know your login for the ACFE/testing platform and have the technical support phone number saved offline, not only in your email.
A written pacing plan for 100 questions in 120 minutes
That is roughly 70 seconds per question. Plan to finish the first pass with 15-20 minutes left for flagged items and a check that nothing is left blank.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Review only your own summary sheets and the areas where practice scores were weakest. Confirm your appointment details, delivery mode, room, and equipment. Sleep on a normal schedule; do not trade sleep for extra review.
Do one timed practice set per section you are sitting, strictly at exam pace, to rehearse the 70-second rhythm and the flag-and-move-on habit. Review answers, then stop.
Resolve any administrative risk now: name mismatches on your ID, unclear rules on calculators or scratch paper, or uncertainty about remote-proctoring requirements. Ask the provider in writing.
Run a full equipment check if testing remotely: camera, microphone, browser, platform login, and internet stability. Charge devices and stage your charger and ID where you will sit.
Confirm the start time in your local time zone and set two alarms. Clear your desk and the room so there is nothing to remove under time pressure tomorrow.
Light review only: skim your one-page list of formulas, fraud scheme categories, and legal thresholds. Then stop. Eat a normal meal and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a real meal and hydrate. Avoid cramming new material; a last-minute fact rarely helps and often erodes confidence.
Log in or arrive early enough to absorb an unexpected delay. Have your ID out, the room cleared, and the phone silenced and out of reach before check-in begins.
First pass: answer every question you know, flag anything that takes more than about 90 seconds, and move on. Never leave a question blank, since there is no credit for unanswered items.
Use process of elimination on fraud-scheme and legal items, and sanity-check calculations by estimating the order of magnitude before choosing.
Second pass: return to flagged items with fresh eyes, then confirm no unanswered questions remain before submitting. Change an answer only when you can identify a specific reason the first choice was wrong.
If a technical problem interrupts a timed section, stop and contact proctor or technical support immediately and note the time; do not keep working around a broken connection without reporting it.
Rules to check
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID with a name matching your registration. You will not be admitted without acceptable identification, and the specific list of accepted documents should be confirmed with the provider.
The exam is closed-book. Do not use notes, textbooks, search engines, messaging apps, or AI tools. Unauthorized materials or devices are grounds for invalidation of your result.
The CFE Exam consists of four sections of 100 multiple-choice questions each, with two hours allotted per section. Each section is scored independently, and the ACFE's stated passing standard is 75 percent per section; confirm the current passing standard and retake policy with the ACFE before you sit.
Breaks during a timed section are generally not permitted, and the clock does not stop if you step away. Confirm your provider's break policy in advance, and plan hydration and restroom visits around your scheduled sections.
Follow all proctor instructions, including room scans, desk clearance, and identity verification. Do not communicate with anyone but the proctor during the session.
Scoring is based only on recorded answers. There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question even when uncertain.
Attempting to capture, reproduce, or share exam content violates the ACFE Code of Professional Ethics and the exam agreement, and can result in score cancellation and loss of eligibility.
If your appointment must change, contact the provider as early as possible. Rescheduling and cancellation windows, fees, and eligibility periods are governed by provider policy, so confirm the terms that apply to your registration.