ClickHouse Certified exam-day guide
ClickHouse Certified · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID matching your registration name
Use the exact name you registered with; if your ID uses a different form of your name (middle name, transliteration), confirm with the provider in advance whether it will be accepted. Remote proctoring typically requires a live ID check before the timer starts, so have it out of your wallet and on the desk before you launch the session.
Second form of identification if the provider requires it
Some proctoring vendors ask for a secondary ID or a confirmation email/registration code. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether digital copies are allowed.
Exam confirmation email and registration/order number
Keep it accessible on a second device or printed, not only in the browser tab you are testing in. It is the fastest way to resolve a check-in problem with support.
Stable wired or strong Wi-Fi connection, tested end to end
Run the provider's system check on the same machine and network you will use, at roughly the same time of day as your slot. If remote proctoring is used, confirm with the provider whether a wired connection is required and whether a backup hotspot is permitted.
Working webcam, microphone, and speakers/headset
Test all three in the system check. For remote-proctored exams, an external webcam may be required if you use an external monitor, and headsets may be restricted to one-ear models or banned entirely. Confirm with the provider which peripherals are allowed.
Clean, well-lit desk and an empty room
Clear the desk of papers, phones, smart watches, and secondary screens unless explicitly permitted. Remote proctoring commonly requires a room scan and a closed door; tell household members not to enter during the slot.
Closed-book environment: no notes, docs, or second monitor
Open-book and notes policies vary by exam and delivery mode. Confirm with the provider exactly what reference material, if any, is allowed, and assume everything else is prohibited.
Scratch paper and pen only if permitted
Many proctored exams allow blank paper that must be shown and destroyed on camera; some ban it. Confirm with the provider before the exam day, and do not improvise.
Water and any permitted medication within reach
Leaving the camera view mid-exam can void the attempt. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed and whether medical accommodations must be pre-approved.
Bathroom and meal handled before check-in
Breaks are often not permitted during a timed exam. Plan to sit for the full duration plus check-in time without leaving your seat.
Review the exam guide's section weighting and format
Know the number of questions, time limit, question types, and whether partial credit exists before the day. This is published in the provider's candidate handbook, not in third-party material.
Backup plan for technical failure
Know the provider's support phone number or chat and their policy for rescheduling after a technical failure. Confirm with the provider in advance so you are not searching for it while a timer runs.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics and switch to consolidation. Re-read your own summary of the exam guide's domains and section weights, and list the three areas where your practice scores are weakest. Spend the remaining study time only on those, using short hands-on exercises rather than new reading.
Run the provider's system check on your exam machine and network. Update the operating system and browser now, not later, then re-run the check after updating. Confirm your registration details, exam slot, time zone, and the exact name on your registration.
Confirm with the provider the rules you are unsure about: permitted peripherals, scratch paper, breaks, ID requirements, and the reschedule/cancellation window. Write the answers down in one place so you are not guessing on the day.
Take one timed full-length practice set under exam-like conditions, then review only the explanations for questions you missed. Do not chase a score; use it to confirm pacing and to catch misread question stems.
Do a short practical pass over the core ClickHouse skills the exam covers: reading an execution plan with EXPLAIN, reasoning about primary key and ORDER BY choice, table engine selection, and interpreting a query log entry. Keep it to a couple of hours and stop while you are still fresh.
Do a light review only: your one-page summary of key facts and the list of mistakes you made in practice. No new material, no full mock exam, no late-night study.
Prepare the physical setup: clear the desk, charge devices, test webcam and microphone once more, print or save the confirmation email, and put your ID in a fixed spot. Set two alarms and check the slot time in your local time zone.
Protect sleep. A tired candidate misreads question stems far more often than a slightly underprepared one. Avoid caffeine late in the day and avoid last-minute cramming that displaces sleep.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and avoid starting any new technical rabbit hole. Do a five-minute skim of your summary sheet only.
Log in early, well before the slot, to complete ID verification, room scan, and any proctor chat. Have your ID, confirmation email, and support contact within arm's reach.
Read the full question stem before the options; watch for qualifiers such as 'most likely', 'except', and 'first'. For multi-select items, count the selections you made against what the stem asks for before moving on.
Do a first pass answering what you know, flag uncertain items, and return to them. Never leave a blank if there is no penalty for guessing, unless the provider states otherwise.
Watch the clock at roughly the one-third and two-thirds marks and adjust pace. If a scenario question is long, identify what is being asked before reading the details, then eliminate options that contradict documented behavior.
If a technical problem occurs, do not keep clicking. Note the time, use the provider's support channel, and follow their instructions, since the provider decides whether an attempt is voided or rescheduled.
Note which domains felt weak while memory is fresh, and confirm with the provider how and when results and any certificate or badge are issued.
Rules to check
Follow the provider's identification policy exactly: the name on your registration must match your photo ID, and you may be asked to show the ID on camera. If your documents do not match, confirm with the provider before the exam rather than at check-in.
Assume a closed-book exam unless the provider states otherwise. Notes, documentation, search engines, messaging apps, and AI assistants are prohibited during a proctored exam, and unauthorized materials can void the attempt.
Keep your face, hands, and screen visible for the entire session when remote proctoring is used. Leaving the camera view, covering the camera, or having another person enter the room may be treated as a violation; confirm with the provider how short absences are handled.
Do not communicate with anyone but the proctor during the exam. If you need help, use the proctor chat or the provider's support channel, not a phone call to a colleague.
Breaks are typically not allowed during a timed exam. If you need an accommodation, request it from the provider in advance with whatever documentation they require; do not assume it will be granted on the day.
Scoring rules, pass marks, and whether wrong answers are penalized are set by the provider and published in the candidate handbook. Confirm the current pass score and any guessing penalty with the provider rather than relying on secondhand reports.
Rescheduling, cancellation, and retake policies have deadlines and fees. Confirm the window and any fee with the provider before your slot, and keep the confirmation in case of a dispute.
Report technical failures immediately and follow the provider's instructions. Whether a disrupted attempt is voided, paused, or rescheduled is the provider's decision, so document times and screenshots where possible.