FAA BGI exam-day guide
FAA BGI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID whose name matches your registration exactly. A passport or driver's license is typical. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID it accepts and whether a secondary ID is required; do not rely on a photocopy or a digital image.
Confirmation of your test appointment
Print or save the scheduling confirmation showing date, time, and test-center address or online-proctoring link. Confirm the provider's arrival or check-in window and any late-arrival cutoff with the provider before test day.
Authorization or eligibility documentation
If your registration required an endorsement, training certificate, or employer authorization, carry the documentation the provider says to present. Confirm with the provider exactly what is accepted and in what form.
Knowledge of the test format and time limit
Review the current published number of questions, time allowance, and passing standard on the provider's official materials shortly before the exam, since these can change. Do not rely on secondhand summaries.
Approved calculator or reference materials, if any
Check the provider's list of permitted aids. If none are allowed, plan to work without them. Confirm with the provider whether an on-screen calculator or supplied reference sheet is provided.
Test-center logistics planned
Know the route, parking or transit options, and building entrance. For proctored online testing, confirm the software requirements, room and desk rules, and a backup internet option with the provider.
Personal items plan
Most testing rooms restrict bags, phones, watches, and notes. Plan where your belongings will go and confirm with the provider what storage is available and what must be left outside the room.
Rest, food, and hydration routine
Protect sleep in the days before, eat a normal meal beforehand, and bring water only if the provider permits it in the testing room. Avoid trying new caffeine or medication routines on test day.
Break and timing strategy reviewed
Decide in advance how you will pace yourself across the question set and whether breaks are offered. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or unavailable, and whether the clock stops during them.
Scratch paper and writing tool policy confirmed
Many providers supply scratch materials and prohibit bringing your own. Ask the provider what is provided and whether you may bring a pencil or pen; mark this as needs_review until confirmed.
Review of weak topics only
In the last days, revisit a short list of high-value topics and formulas rather than starting new material. Keep sessions short and stop heavy study the evening before.
Needs_review: accommodation arrangements
If you requested testing accommodations, confirm approval and logistics with the provider well before test day. The specific process and documentation deadlines vary, so verify directly.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's current candidate handbook or test-day instructions and note the arrival time, ID rules, permitted items, and any online-proctoring setup steps. Confirm your appointment details and the test-center location or link. Build a short list of your weakest topics and schedule two or three focused review blocks, then stop adding new material.
Do a timed practice set under exam-like conditions to rehearse pacing, then review only the questions you missed and the reasoning behind them. Prepare your ID and confirmation documents in one place. Check transportation or, for online testing, run the required system and equipment check and clear your testing space of notes and prohibited items.
Light review only: skim your summary notes, key terms, and formulas for an hour or two, then stop. Lay out ID, confirmation, and any approved items. Confirm the alarm and departure plan. Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol and heavy late-night studying, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and leave earlier than the map suggests to absorb delays. Recheck that you have your ID and confirmation. Arrive within the provider's check-in window. Skip last-minute cramming of new topics; a brief glance at your own summary sheet is enough if time and rules allow.
Follow staff or proctor instructions, present your ID, and store prohibited items as directed. Ask about scratch materials, break policy, and how to flag a technical problem if anything is unclear. For online testing, complete identity verification and the room scan as instructed.
Read each question fully, watch your pace against the time remaining, and answer easier questions first if the format allows navigation. Flag uncertain items and return to them. If a question seems ambiguous, choose the best-supported answer and move on. If equipment fails or you need to leave, notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Note how you felt about pacing and topic coverage while it is fresh, in case you need to retest. Confirm with the provider how and when results are released and what the retake policy and waiting period are.
Rules to check
Bring original, unexpired government-issued photo ID with a name matching your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and whether a second form is needed; you may be turned away without acceptable ID.
Arrive within the provider's stated check-in window. Late arrival can mean forfeiture of your seat and fee; the exact cutoff is set by the provider, so confirm it rather than assuming.
Leave prohibited items outside the testing room. Phones, smart watches, notes, and bags are commonly banned; confirm with the provider what is allowed and where belongings are stored.
Follow all proctor and staff directions, including room-scan, identity-verification, and seating instructions. Suspected cheating, communicating with others, or using unauthorized aids can lead to score cancellation and further sanctions.
Do not bring unauthorized reference materials or calculators. If aids are permitted, use only those the provider lists; confirm with the provider whether an on-screen calculator or supplied reference sheet is provided.
Understand the break policy before you start. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock runs during them, and what you may access while on break.
Understand how scoring works before test day. Confirm with the provider the current number of questions, passing standard, and whether results are immediate or delayed, and how a retake is scheduled.
If a technical problem or emergency occurs during the test, raise your hand or notify the proctor immediately and follow their instructions rather than attempting your own fix.