ETMD EP Paralegals exam-day guide
ETMD EP Paralegals · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy will be accepted.
Admission or confirmation document
Print or save the confirmation email showing your test date, time, and location (or remote-proctoring link). The provider may require a specific admission ticket; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Know the exact reporting time and arrival window
Arrive at the time stated on your admission materials, not merely at the scheduled start. Late-arrival and seating cutoff rules vary; confirm with the provider how many minutes before the start you must be checked in.
Confirm test format and permitted materials
Verify whether the exam is paper-based or computer-delivered and whether any reference materials, statutes, or notes are allowed. Do not bring outside materials unless the provider's candidate handbook explicitly permits them.
Remote-proctoring setup (if testing online)
If you are testing remotely, confirm the required platform, camera, microphone, browser, and room-scan procedure with the provider. Run the system check at least 24 hours ahead. Requirements change; confirm with the provider rather than relying on older instructions.
Acceptable calculator or none
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is permitted and, if so, which models. Many professional exams prohibit programmable or phone-based calculators. If calculators are not allowed, do not bring one into the testing room.
Personal items plan
Plan for keys, phone, wallet, and outerwear to be stored as directed. Most testing centers prohibit phones in the testing room. Confirm with the provider what storage is available and what is barred from the room.
Break and accommodation plan
If you have an approved testing accommodation, bring the approval documentation if instructed. Confirm with the provider how breaks are timed, whether the clock stops, and whether you may access food, medication, or notes during breaks.
Hydration, snack, and medication
Bring water and a light snack only if the provider permits them at your seat or during scheduled breaks. If you need medication or a medical device, confirm the provider's policy in advance and carry only what is approved.
Directions, parking, and backup transport
Confirm the test center address and parking or transit options the day before. For remote testing, confirm your internet backup plan (for example, a phone hotspot) and the provider's procedure if your connection drops.
Review the candidate handbook and scoring policy
Read the current candidate handbook for conduct rules, scoring, and score-report timing. Policies on rescheduling, cancellation, and score validity are set by the provider; confirm with the provider rather than relying on secondhand summaries.
Rest and a realistic study cutoff
Stop heavy new-topic study the night before. Review only summary outlines, procedural checklists, and frequently confused terms. Sleep is more valuable than one more practice set.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's current candidate handbook and admission instructions. Confirm your test date, time, location or remote link, and ID requirements. Check that your name on the registration matches your ID. Resolve any discrepancy with the provider immediately, because name mismatches can bar admission.
Do a final content triage. Review your error log from practice questions and focus on recurring mistakes in e-discovery procedure, legal terminology, document review workflows, and privilege concepts. Do not start a new topic area this late.
If testing remotely, run the full system check and a mock session with your camera and microphone. Confirm your room meets the provider's requirements for a clear desk and a closed door, and confirm how the room scan is performed.
Confirm travel logistics: route, parking, transit, and expected travel time. For an in-person test, consider a dry run or check traffic patterns. For remote testing, confirm your backup internet and power plan.
Lay out your ID, admission document, and approved items. Prepare clothing with no prohibited pockets or accessories if the provider restricts them. Set two alarms.
Do a light review only: a one-page outline of key definitions, the e-discovery lifecycle, and privilege and confidentiality basics. Stop studying by early evening. Eat a normal meal and protect your sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate, but avoid excessive caffeine if you are sensitive to it. Recheck your ID and admission document. Leave earlier than you think necessary to absorb delays.
For in-person testing, arrive at the reporting time, not the start time. Expect check-in, ID verification, and a secure-storage procedure for personal items. For remote testing, log in early and complete the room scan as instructed.
Read the instructions screen carefully, including the number of questions, time limit, and how to flag and review items. Note whether unanswered questions are scored as wrong and whether there is a penalty for guessing; confirm the provider's scoring rule if it is not stated.
First pass: answer the questions you know and flag the rest. Do not let one hard item consume your time. Second pass: return to flagged items and apply elimination. Final pass: confirm no question is left blank unless the format penalizes guessing.
For scenario questions, identify the role you are playing (paralegal, reviewer, or litigation support), the procedural stage, and the governing rule before choosing. Watch for absolute words such as always and never, which are often wrong in privilege and confidentiality scenarios.
Use breaks only as permitted. If the clock does not stop during breaks, keep them short. If you feel anxious, use a brief breathing pause and return to the next known item rather than rereading the same question repeatedly.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name on your registration. A name mismatch or expired ID can result in denied admission; confirm with the provider what secondary ID or name-change documentation is accepted.
Follow the provider's rules on personal items. Phones, smart watches, notes, and outside materials are commonly prohibited in the testing room, and possession can lead to score cancellation. Confirm with the provider what is allowed at your seat.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not share, photograph, or reproduce exam content afterward. Exam content is confidential; unauthorized disclosure can void your score and affect eligibility.
Breaks are governed by the provider's timing rules. Confirm in advance whether the clock stops during breaks, whether you may leave the testing area, and what you may access. Unapproved behavior during a break can be treated as a conduct violation.
Scoring, passing standards, and score-report timing are set by the provider and may change. Do not rely on rumors about cut scores. Confirm the current scoring and reporting policy in the candidate handbook.
If you test remotely, follow the proctor's instructions for the room scan, desk clearance, and identity check. A disconnected session or an unapproved device in view may be flagged; confirm the provider's reconnect and incident-reporting procedure before test day.
If you have an approved accommodation, follow the provider's process for confirming it before test day and bring any required approval documentation. Accommodation arrangements are not made at the test center on the day of the exam.
Report any testing irregularity, such as a technology failure or a disturbance, to the test administrator immediately and follow the provider's incident process. Do not attempt to resolve a technical problem on your own if the provider has a designated support channel.