CPA REG exam-day guide
CPA REG · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID the testing provider requires (typically a current government-issued photo ID with signature). The name must match your exam registration. Confirm the specific ID requirements with the provider before test day.
Admission/confirmation document
Bring your scheduling confirmation (Notice to Schedule or equivalent) if the provider requires it. Confirm whether a printed copy is needed or whether digital is acceptable.
Know your test center location and arrival time
Confirm the address, parking/transit options, and the arrival time the provider specifies. Arrive earlier than the minimum to allow for check-in and security screening.
Review the provider's security and prohibited-items policy
Most testing providers restrict phones, watches, notes, and other personal items. Confirm what is allowed into the testing room and where personal items must be stored.
Calculator policy
Confirm with the provider whether an on-screen calculator is provided and whether any physical calculator is permitted. Do not assume; check the current policy.
Scratch paper / writing materials policy
Confirm whether scratch paper or an erasable board is provided and whether you may bring your own. Follow the proctor's instructions exactly.
Break policy
Confirm the number and length of breaks, whether they are timed, and what you may access during breaks. Plan hydration and snacks around the stated policy.
Timing and section structure
Know the total test time, number of testlets/sections, and whether you can move between sections. Confirm the current structure with the provider or official exam blueprint.
Rest and logistics plan
Plan sleep, meals, and travel so you arrive calm. Avoid last-minute cramming that disrupts sleep.
Backup plan for delays
Have a backup route and a contact number for the test center in case of transportation problems. Confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating. Review high-yield topics, formulas, and frequently tested rules. Take one or two timed practice sets to rehearse pacing, then stop adding new content.
Confirm all logistics: test center address, arrival time, ID requirements, and prohibited-items policy with the provider. Assemble your ID and confirmation documents in one place.
Do a light review only of summary sheets and areas you repeatedly miss. Avoid full-length practice exams the day before. Protect sleep.
Lay out clothing, ID, confirmation, snacks, and transportation plan. Set multiple alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the test center earlier than the minimum arrival time. Leave your phone and prohibited items secured as the provider directs.
Complete check-in and follow all proctor instructions. Read each question stem fully, watch your per-question pace, and flag uncertain items to revisit if the interface allows.
Use breaks as permitted to reset. Manage the clock so you leave time to review flagged questions within each section. Answer every question; there is no penalty for guessing on most standardized exams, but confirm the scoring rule with the provider.
Rules to check
Bring the exact government-issued photo ID the provider requires, with a name matching your registration. Confirm the specific ID policy with the provider before test day.
Follow the provider's prohibited-items and security-screening rules. Do not bring notes, phones, or watches into the testing room unless the provider expressly permits them.
Arrive by the provider's stated time. Confirm the late-arrival and rescheduling policies in advance, since missing the cutoff may forfeit your seat or fee.
Follow all proctor instructions and the provider's conduct rules. Attempting to access unauthorized materials or communicate with others during the exam can void your score.
Use only the calculator and scratch materials the provider allows. Confirm the calculator and scratch-paper policies before test day.
Take breaks only as the provider permits and return within the stated time. Confirm whether break time counts against your testing time.
Understand the scoring model before you sit: confirm whether unanswered questions are scored as incorrect and whether there is any penalty for guessing.
If you are unsure about any policy (ID, breaks, calculator, arrival time), confirm directly with the testing provider rather than relying on secondhand information.