CyberArk CDE (CAU302) exam-day guide
CyberArk CDE (CAU302) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID with signature and photo (driver's license or passport). The name must match your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted for online proctoring versus test-center delivery.
Exam appointment confirmation and registration login
Have your confirmation email and the testing-provider account credentials ready. You will need them to launch the exam or check in at the center. Verify the exact start time and time zone in the confirmation.
Quiet, private, well-lit room (online proctoring)
Clear the desk of papers, phones, and notes. Use a hard-wired or stable internet connection. Close all other applications. Confirm with the provider whether a whiteboard or scratch paper is permitted and how it must be shown on camera.
Webcam, microphone, and system check completed
Run the provider's system test at least 24 hours ahead. Update the browser and disable pop-up blockers. Have a backup plan (phone hotspot, alternate machine) in case the primary setup fails.
Review the official exam guide and topic weights
Confirm the current blueprint from the provider or vendor page: domains, number of questions, time limit, passing score, and delivery format. Do not rely on third-party summaries for these facts.
Confirm break and scoring policy
Ask the provider whether breaks are allowed, whether they are timed, and how unanswered or flagged items are scored. Do not assume a break is permitted; confirm with the provider.
Confirm allowed materials and calculator policy
Ask whether any reference material, calculator, or on-screen tool is provided. For most CDE-style exams, external notes and devices are not allowed. Confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Plan arrival or login time with buffer
Arrive or log in 20–30 minutes early to complete identity verification and room scans. Account for traffic, parking, or building security at a test center.
Hydration, meal, and medication plan
Eat a normal meal and limit caffeine before the exam. Bring water only if the provider allows it and it is visible on camera. Keep any needed medication accessible and inform the proctor if you must step away.
Backup contact and provider support number
Save the testing provider's support number and your registration ID. If the session disconnects, contact support immediately rather than restarting on your own.
needs_review: Retake and reschedule policy
Policies on rescheduling, no-shows, and retake waiting periods vary by provider and region. Confirm the current terms in your registration agreement before the exam day.
needs_review: Score report delivery method
Confirm whether the pass/fail result appears on screen at the end and how the official score report is delivered. Do not assume immediate results; confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Do a final blueprint review: list the domains and write two or three key facts per domain from memory. Take one timed practice set under exam conditions, then review only the missed topics. Stop adding new material after this point. Confirm your appointment time, time zone, and delivery mode. Run the system test and test your backup internet. Prepare your ID and desk setup. Sleep on a normal schedule.
Light review only: skim your own summary sheet and the topics you flagged as weak. Do not attempt full-length mocks. Re-read the provider's candidate rules for ID, breaks, and prohibited items. Charge devices, clear the desk, and set out your ID and confirmation. Confirm the support number. Go to bed early and avoid heavy study late at night.
Eat a normal meal and avoid excess caffeine. Log in or arrive 20–30 minutes early. Complete ID verification and any room scan. Close all other applications and silence notifications. Keep water and tissues only if allowed. Take a few slow breaths and read the first question carefully before answering.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'best', 'most likely', 'first', and 'except'. Answer every question; there is no penalty for guessing unless the provider states otherwise. Flag uncertain items and return to them after finishing the easier ones. Manage the clock: divide the total time by the number of questions and check your pace at the halfway point. For scenario items, identify the component or workflow being tested before choosing. If a technical issue occurs, pause and contact the proctor or support immediately. Review flagged items only if time remains, and change an answer only when you have a concrete reason.
Rules to check
Present a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider before the exam day.
Do not bring or use unauthorized materials: notes, phones, smartwatches, or other devices. Confirm the provider's prohibited-items list and whether any scratch material is allowed.
Stay in view of the camera and in the exam room for the duration unless the provider's break policy explicitly allows otherwise. Confirm break rules with the provider.
Follow all proctor instructions immediately. If a proctor asks you to adjust the camera, show your desk, or repeat an ID check, comply without argument.
Do not communicate with anyone other than the proctor during the exam. Do not read questions aloud if it could be captured by the microphone.
If the session disconnects or the platform fails, stop and contact provider support; do not attempt to restart the exam independently.
Understand the scoring rules before you begin: confirm the passing score, whether unanswered questions count as incorrect, and how flagged items are treated.
Report any suspected exam-content or security issue to the provider after the exam rather than discussing exam content with others.