CTI exam-day guide
CTI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID in the name used on your registration. Online-proctored and test-centre deliveries both require identity verification. If your name differs slightly from your registration (e.g. a middle name or maiden name), confirm with the provider before test day how to resolve it, since mismatches can block entry.
Your registration confirmation and appointment details
Save the confirmation email or PDF offline (screenshot or downloaded copy) so you can find your appointment time, confirmation number, and provider contact details without internet access. Confirm the exact reporting time and whether the provider requires arrival earlier than the appointment slot.
Know your delivery format and platform
Confirm with the provider whether CTI is delivered at a test centre or online with a remote proctor, and which browser or client software is required. If remote, install and test the proctoring software in advance rather than on the morning of the exam.
Check the provider's allowed-materials list
Some certification exams permit a calculator, scratch paper, or a formula sheet; others prohibit all of these. Do not assume. Confirm with the provider which aids are allowed for CTI and whether any are supplied on-screen rather than physically.
Confirm the score-report and retake policy
Before test day, read how results are delivered (on-screen, email, portal) and how long they take, plus the retake and waiting-period rules. Knowing this in advance prevents post-exam confusion and lets you plan a retake window if needed.
Quiet, private, well-lit room (if remote)
For remote delivery, clear your desk of everything except permitted items, silence phones, close other applications, and tell household members not to enter. A cluttered or shared space can trigger a proctor pause or an invalidation.
Test your equipment the day before
For remote delivery, verify webcam, microphone, speakers, power, and a stable connection, and run any system check the provider offers. Have a backup plan (phone hotspot, alternate device) in case the primary connection fails.
Plan travel and arrival buffer (if test centre)
Reconfirm the test-centre address and transport route, and allow extra time for traffic, parking, and security screening. Arriving late may forfeit your seat depending on provider rules, so confirm the cut-off time with the provider.
Sleep, food, and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the 48 hours before the exam and eat a normal meal beforehand. Avoid heavy caffeine if you are not habituated to it. These are performance fundamentals, not exam-specific rules.
A study summary you can skim, not cram
Prepare a one- or two-page personal summary of key concepts and your own weak spots, and review it lightly in the final hours. Do not attempt to learn new material the night before; consolidate what you already know.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: verify appointment time, delivery format, ID requirements, and allowed materials with the provider. Reconfirm the test-centre address or run the remote-proctoring system check. Stop introducing new topics; switch to review and practice questions, and note the topics where you miss the most items.
Do a timed practice set under exam-like conditions to rehearse pacing. Review only the explanations for questions you missed, and add the underlying concept (not the question itself) to your one-page summary. Begin protecting sleep.
Light review only: skim your summary and key definitions. Pack or set up everything you need (ID, confirmation, permitted materials, chargers). Confirm the reporting time once more. Avoid all-night study; sleep is more valuable than one more hour of review.
Eat a normal meal, dress in layers, and arrive or log in early per the provider's instructions. Do a final equipment check if remote. Skim your summary once, then put it away to avoid last-minute anxiety. Use the restroom before the exam starts.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'best', 'except', and 'most likely'. Answer confident items first, flag uncertain ones if the platform allows, and return to them. Budget time so you can review flagged items before the end; do not leave blanks unless the scoring penalises wrong answers (confirm with the provider).
Note how results are delivered and when to expect them. If you did not pass, review the score report by domain to target the retake, and confirm the waiting period and any fee with the provider before rebooking.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name used at registration; without acceptable ID you may be refused entry, and the provider's ID policy governs.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted and prohibited materials exactly. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, leave it out and confirm with the provider in advance.
Do not communicate with anyone but the proctor during the exam, and do not read questions aloud if the proctor prohibits it. Any suspected communication or unauthorised aid can lead to score invalidation.
For remote delivery, remain in view of the camera, keep your desk clear, and follow any room-scan or environment instructions the proctor gives. Leaving the camera view may void the attempt.
Breaks are governed by the provider's policy. Confirm in advance whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are allowed, whether the clock stops, and whether you may leave the room; do not assume.
Scoring, pass marks, and any penalty for incorrect answers are set by the provider. Confirm the scoring model before test day so your guessing strategy matches the rules.
Report any technical failure or interruption to the proctor immediately and follow their instructions; do not attempt to troubleshoot by restarting or closing the session on your own unless told to.
If you need an accommodation, request it from the provider well before the appointment; accommodations are generally not arranged on test day.