CPA (CPA Exam) exam-day guide
CPA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed or electronic Notice to Schedule (NTS)
Your NTS is your admission ticket for the specific section and testing window. Confirm with your state board of accountancy or the provider whether a printed copy is required at your test center - requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Primary photo ID
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo identification with your signature. The name must match your NTS exactly as registered - a nickname, maiden name, or missing middle name can cause denial of entry.
Secondary ID (if required)
Some jurisdictions require a second form of identification. Confirm with your state board or the test provider in advance rather than assuming; do not rely on a credit card or student ID to satisfy this.
Confirmed appointment details
Re-check the date, time, section, and test center address on your appointment confirmation the day before. Test centers can change or consolidate locations.
Travel and arrival plan
Plan to arrive well ahead of your appointment time (arriving roughly 30 minutes early is a common recommendation - confirm the specific window with your test provider). Account for parking, traffic, and security screening.
Nothing prohibited on your person
Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, notes, textbooks, and personal calculators are not permitted in the testing room. Leave them at home or in the provided storage; do not plan on reviewing notes in the waiting area.
No personal scratch paper or writing instruments
The test center supplies approved scratch materials (typically laminated note boards and a marker). You may not bring your own paper, pens, or pencils into the room.
No personal calculator
An on-screen calculator is available within the exam software for sections that permit it. Do not bring a physical calculator.
Pre-approved testing accommodations (if applicable)
Accommodations must be requested and approved in advance - they cannot be arranged on test day. If you have an approved arrangement, confirm it appears on your appointment record.
Comfort and practical needs
Eat a normal meal beforehand and dress in layers, since room temperature varies. Confirm with the test center whether water or medication is permitted in the testing room before you arrive.
A realistic time budget in your head
Know the total testing time for your section and roughly how many minutes you want per testlet, so you are not calculating pacing for the first time at the computer.
Your candidate ID / launch code credentials
You will be checked in at the front desk and seated at a workstation by center staff. Follow their instructions exactly and keep your ID visible until you are seated.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Review only condensed summaries, formula sheets, and your own error log. Take one timed practice section under exam-like conditions, then spend the remaining time reviewing why you missed questions rather than re-drilling what you already know.
Confirm your appointment time, test center address, and ID requirements. Verify that your NTS is still valid for the testing window and that the name on your ID matches it. Print or save whatever documentation your jurisdiction requires.
Shift your study schedule toward your actual exam start time so your concentration peaks when you will be testing. Protect sleep; a four-hour exam rewards alertness more than one extra hour of cramming.
Do a light review of high-yield lists only - no new topics, no full practice exams. Pack your ID, NTS, and confirmation in one place. Check the weather and route. Set two alarms. Go to bed at a normal hour.
Eat a real meal with protein and moderate caffeine - not more than usual. Avoid heavy last-minute cramming; a brief skim of a one-page summary is the limit. Arrive early, allow extra time for check-in and security, and expect to wait.
Follow staff instructions, store all belongings in the assigned locker, and take care of restroom needs before you are seated. Once seated, verify your name and the section title on screen before you begin.
Work testlets in order and watch the clock per testlet rather than only in total. Flag and move past questions that stall you; a hard item is worth the same as an easy one, so do not let one question consume five.
Read the requirement before the answer choices, eliminate obviously wrong options, and answer every question - there is no penalty for guessing. Be careful with 'except' and 'not' phrasing.
Read the entire prompt and all tabs before entering answers. Use the authoritative literature or research function if your section provides one, and confirm you have addressed every required field before moving on.
There is typically a scheduled break partway through, and additional breaks are generally available but the clock keeps running. Confirm the exact break policy and timing for your section with the test provider before test day, and use breaks to stand, hydrate, and reset - not to review content.
Leave the test center without attempting to reconstruct questions. Scores are released on a published schedule after the testing window; do not expect an immediate result. Note anything about your pacing or preparation that you want to change before your next section.
Rules to check
Identification must match your registration exactly. If the name on your photo ID does not match your NTS, you can be turned away and your fee forfeited - resolve discrepancies with your state board well before test day.
Bring no prohibited items into the testing room. Phones, wearable technology, notes, and personal calculators must be stored outside the room; possession inside the room can be treated as misconduct and can void your score.
Everything you see on the exam is confidential. You may not reproduce, discuss, or share exam content - including on social media or in study groups - and doing so can result in score invalidation and loss of eligibility.
Follow the test center's sign-in/sign-out procedure for any break. You typically must sign out and back in with your ID, and unauthorized departure from the testing area may end your exam.
The exam is scored on a scaled basis with 75 as the passing score for each section. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, so never leave a question blank.
Accommodations, testing-window extensions, and scheduling changes must be arranged in advance through the proper authority. Confirm the deadline and process with your state board or the test provider rather than assuming it can be handled on test day.
Do not assume a particular break length, arrival window, or ID rule because you read it online. Policies differ by jurisdiction and change over time - confirm the specifics with your state board of accountancy and the test provider before your appointment.