TR-C exam-day guide
TR-C · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered with. Confirm with the provider which ID types it accepts and whether a secondary ID is required.
Appointment confirmation and test-center address
Save the confirmation email or booking reference offline and check the exact address, building entrance, and arrival time. Confirm with the provider whether you must arrive a set number of minutes early.
Login credentials for computer-based delivery
If the exam is delivered on a computer, verify your account username and password work before test day and keep them retrievable without email access.
Approved calculator or reference materials
Check the current candidate handbook for the exact calculator model or on-screen calculator policy and which reference sheets are supplied versus prohibited. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Permitted personal items plan
Decide in advance where your phone, watch, bag, and notes will go. Most providers require phones to be powered off and stored; confirm the specific storage rules with the provider.
Comfort and medical essentials
Bring water, a light snack for the break, and any pre-approved medication or accommodation documentation. Confirm with the provider how to request accommodations and what proof is needed.
Directions and backup transport plan
Map the route, note parking or transit options, and identify a fallback if your first route fails. Aim to arrive with buffer time rather than exactly on time.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, lay out ID and confirmation documents, and protect a full night of sleep. Avoid last-minute cramming that displaces sleep.
Read the current candidate handbook
Verify scoring, break policy, permitted items, and rescheduling rules directly from the provider's current handbook, since these details change between versions.
Plan the day
Confirm the appointment time, address, and delivery format. Re-read the provider's candidate handbook for permitted items, ID rules, and break policy. Stop learning new topics; switch to reviewing your own summary sheets and error log.
Take or finish one timed practice set under realistic conditions, then spend more time analyzing misses than taking new questions. Write a one-page sheet of formulas, definitions, and decision rules you keep forgetting.
Do a light review only, no new material and no full-length practice test. Prepare ID, confirmation, calculator, and clothing. Check transport and weather. Confirm whether the provider allows rescheduling at this point, since late changes may forfeit fees.
Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy alcohol and late caffeine, set two alarms, and go to bed at your usual time. Pack your bag by the door so the morning requires no decisions.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive early with buffer for transit delays. Leave notes and phone stored as required. Do a short warm-up of a few easy items only if it calms you rather than raising anxiety.
Present your ID and confirmation, follow the proctor's instructions exactly, and ask clarifying questions before the clock starts if anything about the interface or break rules is unclear.
Read each question fully before answering. Flag uncertain items and move on rather than stalling. Watch the clock against the number of remaining questions, and use any scheduled break to stand, hydrate, and reset.
Reserve time to return to flagged questions and ensure no item is left blank unless the scoring rules penalize guessing. Confirm with the provider whether unanswered items score as incorrect before deciding to guess.
Note which topics felt weak while memory is fresh, and check the provider's stated timeline for score release and any retake waiting period.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid identification matching your registration name. Expired, photocopied, or mismatched ID is commonly grounds for refusal, but confirm accepted forms with the provider.
Follow all proctor instructions and testing-center regulations. Unauthorized materials, notes, or devices at the workstation can lead to invalidation of your result.
Power off and store phones, smartwatches, and other devices as directed. Do not access them during the test or during unscheduled breaks.
Ask the proctor before the exam begins about break timing, leaving the room, and what happens to the clock during a break. Policies differ, so confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Do not communicate with other candidates about content during the test or afterward in a way that shares specific questions. Discussing live exam content may violate the candidate agreement.
Understand the scoring model before test day: check whether the exam is scaled, whether unanswered questions count as wrong, and whether any sections are weighted. Confirm with the provider.
If equipment fails or you feel unwell, notify the proctor immediately and ask for the incident to be documented. Do not attempt to troubleshoot a testing terminal yourself.
Know the rescheduling, cancellation, and retake rules in advance. Deadlines and fees vary, so confirm current terms with the provider.