Google IT Automation with Python exam-day guide
Google IT Automation with Python · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the same ID you used when registering. The name must match your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Stable internet connection and backup plan
If you are testing remotely, run a speed test the day before and have a phone hotspot or alternate network ready. Confirm with the provider whether a wired connection is required and what happens if you disconnect mid-exam.
Computer that meets the technical requirements
Check the provider's system requirements for browser version, webcam, microphone, and operating system. Close background apps that use bandwidth or could trigger a proctoring flag. Confirm with the provider whether a second monitor must be disconnected.
Quiet, private, well-lit room
Clear your desk of notes, phones, and smart devices. The proctor may ask you to pan the camera around the room. Confirm with the provider which items are allowed on the desk (for example, water in a clear container).
Know your login and scheduling details
Find the confirmation email with your exam link, start time, and any access code. Log in early to catch account or password problems. Confirm with the provider how early you may check in.
Review the exam format and scoring
Know the number of questions, time limit, whether it is multiple-choice or performance-based, and the passing score. Confirm with the provider whether questions are weighted or whether partial credit applies.
Practice with the official exam guide or sample questions
Use only materials the provider publishes. Do not rely on recalled questions from other candidates, which may be inaccurate and may violate the honor code.
Scratch paper and pen or whiteboard if permitted
Some remote proctoring rules allow a small whiteboard or blank paper that must be shown and erased at the end. Confirm with the provider what is allowed before you sit down.
Charger and power cable
Keep your laptop plugged in for the whole session. A low battery shutdown can end the exam and may require a reschedule.
Watch or clock visible in the room
Know how much time remains. Confirm with the provider whether the exam interface shows a timer and whether you may wear a watch.
Water and a bathroom break plan
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are allowed and whether the clock keeps running during them. Plan hydration around the exam length.
Read the honor code and testing rules
Understand what counts as misconduct, such as talking aloud, leaving the camera view, or using unauthorized materials. Confirm with the provider how incidents are reported and appealed.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment, time zone, and delivery method (remote or test center). Re-read the provider's candidate handbook for ID, room, and materials rules. Run the system check on the exact computer and network you will use, and update your browser. Write a one-page sheet of Python topics you keep missing, such as file I/O with open and with, regular expressions, subprocess, and error handling with try/except, and review only that sheet. Do not start new topics.
Take one timed practice set under exam conditions: no notes, no phone, single screen. Review every wrong answer and write the reason in one sentence. If the exam includes performance-based tasks, practice writing short scripts from a blank editor rather than editing existing code.
Stop heavy study. Re-read your one-page sheet and the exam format and scoring rules. Charge your laptop, test your webcam and microphone, and confirm your login works. Prepare your ID and desk setup. Check the provider's instructions for what to do if you are late or disconnected. Sleep a full night; do not cram overnight.
Eat a normal meal and avoid heavy caffeine if you are prone to anxiety. Clear your desk and room, silence your phone and put it out of reach, and close all other applications. Log in at the earliest permitted time. Have your ID ready and your charger connected. If a proctor check is required, follow instructions calmly and speak clearly.
Read each question fully before answering; watch for negation words such as NOT and EXCEPT. For code questions, trace the code by hand on scratch paper if allowed, and check indentation, quoting, and off-by-one errors. Answer easy questions first and flag hard ones to return to. If a question is ambiguous, choose the best answer and move on; do not spend more than a few minutes on one item. Keep an eye on the timer and reserve the last few minutes to review flagged questions. If your connection drops, follow the provider's reconnect procedure immediately and note the time.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID used at registration and be ready to show it on camera or at the test center. If your name or ID type is uncertain, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Do not use unauthorized materials, notes, phones, smart watches, or other people during the exam. Talking aloud, leaving the camera view, or having another person in the room may be treated as misconduct.
Breaks are not guaranteed. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are allowed, whether the timer keeps running, and what check-out and check-in steps apply.
Scoring rules, including the passing score and whether questions are weighted, are set by the provider. Confirm these details in the official candidate handbook rather than relying on forum posts.
If a technical failure interrupts the exam, stop and follow the provider's support procedure. Do not attempt to restart or reschedule on your own without instructions, and record the time and error message.
Follow the provider's rules on scratch paper, whiteboards, and permitted desk items. Show both sides of any paper or board at the start and erase it at the end if asked.
Do not share, record, or discuss exam content afterward if the provider's terms prohibit it. Recalled questions may be inaccurate and sharing them can violate the honor code.
Arrive or log in early as instructed. Confirm with the provider how lateness is handled, since late arrivals may be refused entry or given reduced time.