CNN exam-day guide
CNN · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the primary ID type the testing provider requires (typically a current driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID). Check that it is unexpired and that the name matches your registration exactly. Confirm the accepted ID list and name-matching policy with the provider before test day.
Second form of identification
Some testing vendors require a secondary ID (e.g., a signed credit card or employee badge). Requirements vary by site and delivery mode, so confirm with the provider whether a second ID is needed.
Appointment confirmation / eligibility record
Bring a printed or saved copy of your scheduling confirmation and your authorization-to-test notice, including your candidate or eligibility number. You may not be asked for it, but it resolves check-in problems quickly.
Test center logistics or remote-proctoring setup
For an in-person site, confirm the address, parking, entrance, and arrival window. For online proctoring, run the required system check in advance and confirm your room, webcam, microphone, and internet meet the provider's specifications.
Arrival time buffer
Plan to arrive or log in well ahead of your appointment; many vendors deny entry to candidates who arrive after a stated cutoff. Confirm the exact late-arrival and check-in window with the provider.
Layered, comfortable clothing
Test room temperatures vary and sessions are long. Dress in layers and avoid clothing with large logos, hoods, or excessive pockets that may trigger additional screening.
Leave prohibited items at home or in the car
Phones, smartwatches, notes, study guides, and bags are almost always restricted in the testing room. Confirm the site's storage options and prohibited-item list in advance.
Know the exam blueprint, length, and time limit
Review the candidate handbook so you know the content domains, number of scored items, and total appointment time. This shapes your pacing plan more than any last-minute content review.
Approved calculator or scratch materials
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is provided on screen, whether scratch paper or a marker board is supplied, and whether you may bring your own. Do not assume either way.
Approved accommodations documentation
If you requested extra time, a separate room, or another accommodation, confirm it was approved and appears on your appointment record. Accommodations generally must be requested well before test day.
A realistic pacing plan
Before the exam, decide how many minutes per question you can spend, based on total items and time allowed, and how much time to reserve for flagged items at the end.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the final nights, eat a normal meal before the appointment, and limit caffeine to your usual amount. Fatigue and hunger cost more points than one extra hour of cramming.
Plan the day
Re-read the candidate handbook: appointment time, address or remote check-in steps, ID rules, prohibited items, break policy, and scoring. Print or save your confirmation. Verify your ID is unexpired and the name matches your registration. Do a timed set of practice questions to rehearse pacing, then review only your weak domains. Stop introducing brand-new content.
Confirm transportation, parking, and timing, or complete the online-proctoring system test. Resolve childcare, work coverage, and any other logistics now so the morning is calm. If you requested accommodations, confirm they are recorded on your appointment.
Pack your ID, confirmation, and clothing. Charge devices and set two alarms. Do a short, light review of high-yield lists, normal lab values, and terminology you already know, then stop. Avoid alcohol and late-night study. Go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate. Recheck your appointment time and route or check-in link. Leave early enough to absorb delays. Do not cram in the parking lot or at your desk; arrive at the site or log in with your planned buffer and follow check-in instructions exactly.
Read the full question stem before the options, identify what is being asked, and predict an answer before looking at the choices. Answer every item; leave nothing blank unless the provider penalizes incorrect answers, which you should confirm in advance. Flag uncertain items and return to them. Track your pace at planned checkpoints against your minutes-per-question budget. Take scheduled breaks if allowed, and confirm whether the clock stops during them.
If a question feels ambiguous, look for the safest, most standard nursing action and for wording such as 'first,' 'initial,' 'priority,' or 'except.' If technology fails, stop and notify the proctor immediately, and note the time; do not attempt to fix the system yourself.
Rules to check
Bring identification that exactly matches the name on your registration. If your legal name has changed, contact the provider before test day to update your record; mismatched names can block admission.
Do not bring notes, study materials, phones, smartwatches, or other electronic devices into the testing room. Storage availability and the exact prohibited-item list vary, so confirm them with the provider.
You will likely be asked to accept a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement covering exam content. Do not discuss, photograph, record, or reproduce exam questions, before or after the test.
Once the exam begins, treat it as individual work: no talking, no assistance, and no reference materials. Follow all proctor instructions; policy violations can result in score invalidation.
Breaks may be scheduled, unscheduled, or not permitted, and the clock may or may not pause. Confirm your exam's break rules and plan hydration and restroom use around them.
Results are typically reported as pass or fail based on a scaled score against a passing standard, and some exams score only certain items or include unscored pilot items. Confirm the specific scoring and reporting method, and whether wrong answers are penalized, with the provider.
Accommodations must be requested in advance and approved before test day; they generally cannot be arranged at the door. Confirm your approval and how to invoke it on the day.
If you must reschedule or cancel, do so within the provider's stated window to avoid forfeiting fees. Confirm the deadline and any fees when you book.