DAWIA Contracting exam-day guide
DAWIA Contracting · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID
Name on the ID must match your registration exactly. Accepted ID forms and any secondary-ID requirement vary by testing vendor, so confirm the exact list with your provider before test day.
Appointment / registration confirmation
Bring a printed or downloaded copy showing your exam name, date, time, and testing location or remote-session link. Screenshot it in case building Wi-Fi is unavailable.
Platform login credentials (tested in advance)
Log into the learning management system and testing platform at least 72 hours out to confirm your account is active and your password has not expired. Reset early rather than on exam morning.
Remote-proctoring readiness (if testing remotely)
Webcam, microphone, stable wired or high-speed connection, and the required browser or lockdown application. Confirm with your provider whether remote proctoring is offered for your specific exam and what software is required.
Cleared, private testing space
Remove notes, books, wall charts, second monitors, and personal items from the camera view and desk surface. Proctors commonly require a room scan; confirm the room requirements with your provider.
Approved calculator
Some acquisition exams provide an on-screen calculator or prohibit physical devices entirely. Confirm the calculator policy with your provider and do not assume a personal calculator will be allowed.
Scratch paper / whiteboard and pen
Often supplied by the test center or permitted as a single erasable sheet for remote sessions; policies differ and materials may be collected or wiped afterward. Confirm what is allowed.
Accommodation request (if needed)
If you require extra time, a separate room, or other accommodation, submit the request well before the exam date and get written confirmation. Deadlines and documentation requirements are set by the provider - confirm them.
Logistics checked: address, parking, arrival time
Do a route check the day before and plan to arrive with buffer time. Late arrival can forfeit your seat and fee; confirm the vendor's cutoff policy in advance.
Know the exam structure going in
Confirm the number of questions, time limit, passing standard, whether unanswered questions count as incorrect, and the retake policy from your provider's candidate handbook - do not rely on secondhand accounts from colleagues.
Personal comfort items for breaks only
Water, a snack, and a light layer for the testing room, kept in a locker or outside the testing area. Food and drink at the workstation are usually prohibited - confirm.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the appointment date, time, and location/link in writing. Run any required system or equipment check. Verify your login works. Submit or confirm any pending accommodation request. Locate your provider's candidate handbook and read the rules on ID, materials, breaks, scoring, and retakes.
Stop chasing new material. Review the published exam content outline and spend your time on your two or three weakest domains. Practice recalling the structure of the FAR (Parts 1-53 by subject area) and core analytical distinctions such as price analysis versus cost analysis, and competitive versus noncompetitive procedures.
Protect sleep. Shift to normal hours now so exam morning is not a recovery day. Confirm transportation and, for remote sessions, that your household knows the testing window is quiet time.
Pack ID, confirmation, and any permitted items in one place. Print or download the session link and credentials. Do a final short review of a one-page summary of your weak areas, then stop. Avoid all-night cramming - fatigue costs more points than one extra hour of review gains.
Set two alarms, charge devices, and get a full night's sleep. Do not start new topics or attempt to memorize long regulatory lists at this stage.
Eat a normal meal and limit caffeine to your usual amount. For a test center, arrive early with buffer for check-in; for a remote session, log in before your scheduled start time so you can complete identity verification without eating into exam time. Have your ID out and your desk cleared before you sit down.
Read the instructions and any nondisclosure agreement carefully. If scratch material is permitted, immediately jot down key formulas or framework headings you are worried about forgetting, then begin.
Compute a rough per-question time budget from the total time and question count, and check your progress at the one-quarter, half, and three-quarter marks. Do not let one hard calculation consume several questions' worth of time.
Work in two passes: answer what you know, flag what you do not, and keep moving. Use elimination on questions that turn on a single distinguishing element (for example, which exception applies, or which contract type shifts cost risk to the contractor). Ensure every question has an answer before time expires.
If you take a break, confirm in advance whether the clock stops or keeps running. Assume it keeps running unless told otherwise, and raise your hand or notify the proctor before leaving.
Return to flagged questions, sanity-check any calculation, and confirm no question is blank. Submit deliberately and note your completion confirmation or score report for your records.
Save the score report and, if you did not pass, review the provider's retake eligibility and waiting period before rescheduling. Do not discuss specific exam content with colleagues - you have likely agreed not to.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired photo identification whose name matches your registration; confirm the vendor's accepted ID forms and any secondary-ID rule with the provider before test day.
Leave phones, smartwatches, notes, and any unapproved reference materials outside the testing area. Unauthorized materials at the workstation are commonly grounds for termination of the session - confirm the exact policy with your provider.
Treat the exam as closed-book unless your provider's handbook explicitly states otherwise. Where an authorized reference is permitted, use only the version and format specified.
Confirm break rules before you begin: whether unscheduled breaks pause the clock, whether you must remain on camera, and whether you may leave the room. Policies differ, so verify with the provider rather than assuming.
Confirm the passing standard and reporting format with your provider in advance. Many certification exams report pass/fail only, with no partial credit and no score breakdown by domain.
Answer every question unless the provider states otherwise. Most certification exams do not penalize guessing, but verify this in the candidate handbook before you rely on it.
If a technical problem interrupts a remote session, stop and contact the proctor or support line immediately, document the time and issue, and follow their instructions. Do not attempt extensive troubleshooting on your own mid-exam.
Honor the confidentiality agreement you accept at the start of the exam: do not reproduce, share, or discuss specific exam items afterward.