GitHub Foundations exam-day guide
GitHub Foundations · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
The name on your ID must match the name on your exam registration. Verify which ID types the provider accepts (passport, driver's license, national ID) before test day - confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have the confirmation email or appointment number handy in case the proctor or support team needs to locate your session.
Working webcam and microphone
You will typically need to show your ID and pan the room. Run the provider's system/equipment check at least a day ahead, not on exam morning.
Reliable internet plus a backup
Wired or strong Wi-Fi, with a phone hotspot as fallback. Know how to reconnect if the session drops.
Laptop with power adapter, fully charged
Do not rely on battery alone for a multi-hour session window.
Private, quiet, well-lit room
Close the door, clear the desk of papers, phones, and second screens, and tell household members you cannot be interrupted.
Closed background apps and silenced notifications
Quit chat, email, and sync clients; disable OS pop-ups and phone alarms. Unplanned interruptions can be flagged by the proctor.
Verify your GitHub account access beforehand
If your registration or results are tied to a GitHub account, confirm you can log in and that your email is current well before test day.
Confirm allowed materials with the provider
Rules on scratch paper, pens, water bottles, and breaks vary. Do not bring them unless the provider explicitly permits it.
Plan check-in time
Join 15–30 minutes early for identity verification and the room scan; late arrival can forfeit the appointment.
Review the exam's format and logistics
Time limit, question count, and pass score are set by the provider and can change - check the official handbook on your registration page rather than relying on secondhand numbers.
Confirm your scoring and retake policy
Understand when results are released and whether a waiting period applies before a retake - confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Run the provider's system test on the exact machine and network you will use. Resolve webcam, mic, browser, or firewall issues now. Re-read the official candidate handbook for ID, materials, and break rules.
Shift from new material to consolidation: skim your notes on repositories, commits and branches, pull requests and code review, Issues and Projects, GitHub Actions basics, GitHub Pages, Markdown, and the difference between GitHub's plan and permission levels. Do a timed practice set to rehearse pacing, not to cram facts.
Confirm the appointment time in your local time zone, check the meeting link or test launcher works, and clear your schedule so nothing overlaps. Prepare your ID and charger in one place. Stop studying in the evening and sleep a full night.
Eat, hydrate, and avoid last-minute cramming beyond a short one-page review. Close every unnecessary application, plug in power, silence your phone and put it out of reach, and tidy the room.
Start the check-in process early. Complete ID verification, the room scan, and any proctor instructions calmly; ask the proctor if a rule is unclear rather than guessing.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers like 'best', 'first', or 'not'. Answer the straightforward items first, flag and return to long scenario questions if the platform allows it, and keep an eye on the timer so the last questions are not rushed. For scenario items, ask what the GitHub-recommended workflow would be - usually the one using branches, pull requests, and review rather than direct pushes to the default branch.
Do not troubleshoot silently. Contact the proctor or provider support immediately and follow their instructions; note the time and what happened in case a case number is needed.
Rules to check
Your ID must show the same name as your registration. Bring the original document, not a photocopy, and confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Work alone: no other people in the room, no talking through questions, and no communication with anyone outside the session.
Use only materials the provider permits. Notes, printed material, phones, smartwatches, and additional monitors are generally prohibited - confirm the specifics with the provider before the exam.
Stay on one screen unless the provider states otherwise, and do not switch windows or open other applications during the session.
Breaks, if offered, follow the provider's stated rules - some exams pause the timer, others do not. Check the handbook; otherwise assume the clock keeps running.
The exam content is confidential under the provider's candidate agreement. Do not record, screenshot, or share questions afterward.
Results and the passing standard are determined by the provider, and scores are typically reported after the session ends. Do not assume a minimum number of correct answers.
If you believe a technical failure affected your attempt, report it to the proctor or support before closing the session and keep any case reference.