CPA Australia GSL exam-day guide
CPA Australia GSL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification matching your registration
Bring the current, valid ID type your booking confirmation specifies, with the same name spelling as your registration. If your ID uses a different name form (for example a shortened given name or a married name), confirm with the provider in advance which document is acceptable rather than assuming.
Booking confirmation and candidate number
Save an offline copy (screenshot or PDF) of your confirmation email showing your session time, location or online platform, and any candidate or booking reference. Do not rely on mobile signal at the venue.
Confirm your test format and venue logistics
Check whether your sitting is at a test centre or remote-proctored, and reconfirm the start time and arrival window with the provider. Venue rules on early arrival and late admission vary, so confirm with the provider if your confirmation is unclear.
Review the permitted-materials list for your sitting
The GSL exam is open-book in the sense that you may consult your own study materials, but the exact rules on printed notes, annotated standards, and tabbed or loose-leaf material can differ by sitting. Confirm with the provider which reference materials and formats are allowed before you pack them.
Check whether an on-screen or supplied calculator is provided
Some sittings supply a calculator within the testing platform and restrict personal devices. Confirm with the provider whether you may bring your own calculator and which models are permitted; do not assume a scientific or programmable model is allowed.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
Work out the journey in advance, including transport disruptions, parking, and building access/security screening. Aim to arrive with a comfortable margin before the scheduled start; confirm with the provider what happens if you arrive after the start time.
Prepare for remote proctoring if applicable
If sitting remotely, test your camera, microphone, browser, and internet connection ahead of time, and clear your desk of anything not permitted. Confirm with the provider the room and identity-check requirements, as these differ between proctoring vendors.
Personal comfort items within the rules
Bring water in a clear container and any medication you may need, but check the venue's rules on drinks, food, and access to medication during the test. Confirm with the provider if you need an approved adjustment or rest-break arrangement.
Know your segment structure and timing plan
Rehearse how you will allocate reading and writing time across the exam's segments and question types. The exact number and weighting of segments is published by CPA Australia; use the current exam structure from your official candidate information rather than a remembered version.
Set up your case-study and standards navigation habit
Decide in advance how you will quickly locate relevant standards, guidance, and case facts under time pressure (for example consistent tabbing or search terms). Practise this on your own materials so it is automatic on the day.
Plan the day
Switch from new content to consolidation. Re-read your own summary notes for each module, redo a timed practice set under exam conditions, and list the two or three topic areas where your accuracy is weakest. Spend remaining study time on those areas only.
Confirm logistics: recheck the booking confirmation, venue or remote-session details, ID requirements, and permitted materials with the provider. Resolve any uncertainty now rather than on the morning.
Protect sleep. Shift your body clock toward the exam start time by doing your practice set at the same hour as the real sitting, and avoid late-night cramming in the final two nights.
Do a light review only: skim your one-page summary per module, your list of commonly confused concepts, and your timing plan. Stop studying early enough to eat properly and sleep at a normal hour.
Pack your bag or set up your desk: ID, confirmation, permitted materials, water, and any approved items. For a remote sitting, run the system and equipment check and confirm the room setup meets proctoring rules.
Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy caffeine if you are not used to it, and leave with the arrival buffer you planned. Do not attempt to learn new material; a brief skim of your summary sheet is enough.
At the venue or workstation, complete identity checks and any pre-exam instructions, then set up your materials in the order you will use them. If something is wrong with your setup, raise it with staff or the proctor immediately rather than starting and hoping.
Read the requirements of each question before drafting. For written responses, identify what the question is asking for (for example identify, explain, or recommend) and structure your answer to address each required element explicitly, since marks are allocated to those elements.
Keep to your timing plan and monitor the clock at checkpoints. If a question is consuming disproportionate time, write a concise answer covering the key points and move on; a complete attempt across all questions usually scores better than a perfect answer to one.
Use your materials deliberately rather than reading broadly. Look up the specific standard or case fact you need, then return to writing. Reserve the final minutes to check that you have attempted every question and that no required part is unanswered.
Rules to check
Bring the identification document specified in your booking confirmation and ensure the name matches your registration. If your documents do not match, confirm with the provider before test day what alternative evidence is accepted; do not assume a different document will be allowed at the door.
Arrive within the admission window stated in your confirmation. Late admission and the treatment of time lost are set by the provider and the venue, so confirm with the provider in advance rather than relying on being let in after the scheduled start.
Use only the materials and devices the provider permits for your sitting. Personal phones, smart watches, and other connected devices are typically required to be stored away; confirm with the provider the exact list for your format, including whether a personal calculator is allowed.
Follow all instructions from invigilators or proctors, including identity checks, room scans, and desk-clear requirements. Attempting to communicate with another candidate, or accessing unauthorised material, is misconduct and is handled under the provider's candidate rules.
If you need to leave the room or take a break, raise your hand and wait for permission. Whether breaks stop your clock or count against your time depends on the sitting rules; confirm with the provider if this matters for your circumstances.
Request any adjustment (extra time, separate room, rest breaks, medical needs) through the provider's official process well before the exam. Adjustments are not granted informally on the day, so confirm with the provider the evidence and deadlines required.
Scoring is based on the published structure and weighting for the exam, and marks are awarded for addressing the specific requirements of each question rather than for length. Check the current candidate information for how your paper is marked and what constitutes a pass.
If equipment fails or you believe there is a disruption during the test, notify the invigilator or proctor immediately and follow their instructions; note the time and details. Special-consideration or incident processes are set by the provider, so confirm with the provider how to lodge a claim if needed.