CASM exam-day guide
CASM · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID the registration was made under, with a matching name and signature. If your ID name differs from your registration (nickname, married name, hyphenation), confirm with the provider before test day whether a second document is required; do not assume it will be accepted.
Confirmation of appointment and test location
Save or print the scheduling confirmation with the date, time, address, and any check-in instructions. Confirm the reporting time with the provider - it is often earlier than the start time. If testing remotely, confirm the platform, system check, and any required software download in advance.
Provider-approved calculator or on-screen calculator
Check the provider's current policy on calculators before assuming one is allowed. If a physical calculator is permitted, bring only the approved model with no stored programs or notes. If testing remotely or on a locked-down browser, expect an on-screen calculator and practice with it beforehand - confirm with the provider which applies to you.
Scratch paper and writing instrument policy
Many providers supply or permit scratch materials and require them to be collected or destroyed at the end. Bring only what the provider explicitly allows; confirm with the provider whether you may bring your own and whether you must surrender them after the exam.
Knowledge of the exam format and timing
Know the number of questions, the total time, whether sections are timed separately, and whether you can flag and revisit questions. Confirm the current format with the provider, since question counts and timing can change between administrations.
Personal timing plan
Compute your average allowed time per question and a checkpoint you should hit at the halfway mark. Decide in advance how long to spend before flagging and moving on, so one hard question cannot consume the section.
Arrival and logistics plan
Plan to arrive with margin for traffic, parking, security screening, and check-in. For remote testing, plan for a quiet, private room, a stable connection, and a backup plan such as a phone hotspot or a nearby alternative location.
Review of unclear or disputed content
Re-read any topic where your study sources conflicted, and note the interpretation you will apply. If a question seems ambiguous on test day, answer according to the most standard, widely accepted definition rather than a niche reading.
Rest and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the final nights and plan a normal meal and hydration before the exam. Avoid new caffeine levels or unfamiliar foods on test day; the goal is a stable, predictable state, not a peak.
Personal items and storage expectations
Expect phones, watches, bags, and notes to be stored or prohibited during the exam. Leave non-essential items at home or in the car. Confirm with the provider what is allowed at your seat, since rules vary by site and delivery mode.
Score reporting and retake understanding
Know how and when results are released and what the passing standard is. Confirm with the provider whether a retake is permitted, any waiting period, and how attempts are reported, rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Backup contact and contingency
Save the provider's contact information for scheduling or technical problems. If something goes wrong before or during the exam, document it and contact the provider promptly; do not assume the issue will be resolved automatically.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating. Re-read your own summary notes and error log, focusing on topics you have repeatedly missed. Do one timed mixed set under exam conditions to calibrate pacing, then review only the questions you got wrong or guessed. Stop adding new sources. Confirm your appointment details, ID, and travel or remote-testing setup, and resolve any open question with the provider now rather than on test day.
Do a light review of formulas, definitions, and your short list of high-risk topics - no full practice exams. Prepare and lay out your ID, confirmation, approved materials, and clothing. Check the location or, for remote testing, run the system check and clear your desk. Set two alarms. Eat normally, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at a reasonable hour; if you cannot sleep, rest quietly rather than studying.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate moderately. Do a brief 15- to 20-minute skim of your one-page summary only - no new problems. Arrive early or log in early as instructed, allowing time for check-in. Keep conversation with other candidates light and avoid comparing preparation, which tends to raise anxiety without improving performance.
Read the instructions and confirm the question count, time remaining, and how flagging and navigation work. Take a few slow breaths, then start. If an on-screen calculator or reference sheet is provided, locate it before you need it so you are not searching mid-question.
Work in passes. Answer questions you know, flag anything that requires long calculation or feels ambiguous, and move on. Keep an eye on the clock against your checkpoint plan. Read each question stem fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'most likely', 'except', and 'first'. When returning to flagged items, commit to a best answer rather than leaving blanks unless the scoring penalizes wrong answers - confirm that policy with the provider beforehand.
Use remaining time to confirm you have answered every question and that flagged items have a committed response. Revisit only items where you have a concrete reason to change an answer; second-guessing without new reasoning tends to hurt. Submit deliberately and confirm the submission screen before leaving or logging off.
Rules to check
Bring the ID that matches your registration exactly and present it when asked. If your documents do not match or you lack acceptable ID, you may be denied entry and your fee may not be refunded; confirm acceptable ID forms with the provider in advance.
Follow all instructions from the proctor and the testing platform. Prohibited behavior includes using unauthorized materials, communicating with others about content, taking screenshots or photographs, and attempting to access the internet or unauthorized applications during a remote session.
Do not bring notes, phones, smart watches, or other devices to your seat unless the provider explicitly permits them. Assume devices must be stored or turned off; confirm the specific policy with the provider for your delivery mode.
Breaks are governed by provider policy and may be scheduled or unscheduled, and unscheduled breaks may be recorded or may not stop the clock. Confirm the break rules before test day so you can plan hydration and timing.
Scoring rules, including whether unanswered or incorrect answers are penalized, are set by the provider. Confirm the current scoring policy rather than assuming there is no penalty for guessing.
Report any technical failure, interruption, or irregularity to the proctor or provider immediately and keep a record. Do not attempt to fix platform problems yourself in ways that could be interpreted as unauthorized access.
Do not discuss, reproduce, or share exam content afterward. Many providers require you to accept a confidentiality agreement as a condition of sitting the exam; read it and comply.
If you believe a question is flawed or ambiguous, answer it as best you can and note the issue for later feedback to the provider. Do not expect a real-time ruling during the exam, and confirm with the provider how content concerns are submitted.