HI Court Reporter exam-day guide
HI Court Reporter · 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 second piece is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy will be accepted.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your test date, time, and location or online session details. Verify the reporting time, since check-in usually closes before the start time.
Approved equipment for skills portions
If your exam includes a dictation or transcription practical, confirm with the provider whether you must bring your own stenotype machine, laptop, headphones, or foot pedal, or whether equipment is supplied. Verify permitted models and any software restrictions in advance.
Backup stenotype or keyboard accessories
Where allowed, bring a backup writer cable, paper, and any approved accessories. Confirm with the provider whether backup equipment may be brought into the testing room and whether it must be inspected at check-in.
Reference materials only if permitted
Most court reporter exams restrict or prohibit dictionaries, style guides, and notes during the skills and knowledge portions. Confirm with the provider exactly what reference material, if any, is allowed and in what format.
Personal items plan
Plan for storage of bags, phones, and smartwatches, which are typically prohibited in the testing room. Confirm with the provider where personal items must be left and whether lockers are available.
Water and a light snack for breaks
Bring only items the provider permits in or near the testing area. Confirm break rules, since some exams do not allow leaving the room during timed sections.
Comfort items for long sessions
Dress in layers and consider earplugs or other comfort items only if the provider allows them. Confirm with the provider before bringing anything that could be considered unauthorized.
Rest and travel plan
Confirm the route, parking, and arrival buffer for an in-person exam, or test your camera, microphone, and internet connection in advance for a remote session. Aim to arrive or log in well before the reporting time.
Review of format and scoring basics
Re-read the official candidate bulletin for the number of sections, time limits, and passing standards. Confirm with the provider any details you cannot find in writing rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the testing provider's contact number in case of a delay, illness, or technical failure. Confirm with the provider the procedure for reporting a problem before or during the exam.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment details, location or remote-session link, and reporting time. Re-read the official candidate bulletin for rules on ID, equipment, prohibited items, and breaks, and note anything you still need to confirm with the provider. Take one full timed practice run under exam-like conditions, including the dictation speeds or transcription limits that apply to your exam, and review only the areas where you lost accuracy or speed. Stop heavy new study at this point and protect your sleep schedule.
Prepare your ID, confirmation, and approved equipment, and test any technology you will use. Pack bags and lay out clothing. Confirm your travel or login plan and set two alarms. Avoid cramming new material; a short review of your own notes and a light practice dictation at a comfortable speed is enough. Eat normally, limit caffeine late in the day, and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, arrive or log in early with your ID and confirmation ready, and follow check-in instructions exactly. Do a brief warm-up if the provider allows it before the session begins. Silence and store your phone and smartwatch as directed. Use the restroom before the timed sections start, since breaks may be limited. If a technical problem occurs, notify the proctor immediately and note the time.
Read each section's directions before starting and note the time limit. On dictation or transcription portions, prioritize accuracy and clean output over raw speed, and keep a steady rhythm rather than chasing a burst you cannot sustain. On knowledge or multiple-choice portions, answer the straightforward items first and flag uncertain ones to revisit if the format allows. Watch the clock at the midpoint of each section. If equipment fails or you lose audio, raise your hand or alert the proctor at once and record what happened, since providers usually have a procedure for documented technical issues.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID in the name on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and what to do if your name has changed.
Follow all proctor instructions and the candidate conduct agreement. Unauthorized materials, notes, or communication during the exam can lead to dismissal or score cancellation; confirm with the provider the specific consequences and appeal process.
Phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices are generally prohibited in the testing room. Confirm with the provider where devices must be stored and whether any exceptions apply to approved equipment.
Break availability and timing vary by exam and section. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, whether the clock stops, and whether you may leave the room during timed portions.
Scoring and passing standards are set by the provider and may combine accuracy, speed, and knowledge sections. Obtain the current standard in writing from the provider rather than relying on informal reports.
If you arrive late, become ill, or experience a technical failure, notify the provider immediately and ask about rescheduling or incident-report procedures. Confirm with the provider the deadlines and any fees involved.
Do not discuss, record, or reproduce exam content afterward in any form. Confirm with the provider the confidentiality terms you agreed to at registration.