I-CAR AWQT exam-day guide
I-CAR AWQT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID with a signature and photo. Confirm with the provider which specific ID types and names must match your registration before test day.
Appointment confirmation and candidate/registration number
Have the confirmation email or printed copy showing your test date, time, location or remote-testing link, and candidate ID. Store it offline as well as on your phone.
Provider testing rules and candidate agreement
Read the current candidate handbook or test-day rules on the provider's site in the week before the test. Policies on permitted items, calculators, and scratch materials change; confirm with the provider rather than relying on secondhand advice.
Approved calculator (only if permitted)
I-CAR written assessments are generally knowledge-based, but confirm with the provider whether any calculator is allowed and which models qualify. Do not bring one unless it is explicitly permitted.
Required PPE for any practical portion
If your assessment includes hands-on tasks, bring safety glasses, hearing protection, and any gloves or footwear the provider specifies. Confirm the exact PPE list with the provider and the test site.
Arrival logistics plan
Confirm the address, parking, building entrance, and check-in desk. Plan to arrive ahead of your appointment time; ask the provider how early you should report and what happens if you are late.
Remote-testing environment (if applicable)
If testing online, confirm the platform, camera and microphone requirements, and room rules with the provider. Test your equipment and internet connection the day before.
Rest and travel buffer
Protect sleep in the final 48 hours and build in extra travel time. Fatigue and rushing are common causes of avoidable errors on technical questions.
Review plan for weak topics
Use your prior practice results to list the two or three topic areas you will review last. Focus on repair procedures, materials, and estimating logic rather than memorizing trivia.
Personal items plan
Confirm with the provider where phones, watches, bags, and notes must be stored. Most testing rooms prohibit bringing these to the workstation.
Needs_review: exact permitted-items list
Specific rules on scratch paper, pens, water bottles, and outerwear vary by site and are not confirmed here. Verify with the provider before test day.
Needs_review: retake and rescheduling policy
Confirm the current policy on rescheduling, cancellation windows, fees, and retake limits directly with the provider; do not assume terms from older materials.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's test-day rules and confirm your appointment details, ID requirements, and location or remote link. Resolve any name mismatch or missing documentation now, while there is still time to fix it.
Do a focused review of your weakest two or three topic areas using your own notes and practice results. Work through a small set of realistic repair or estimating scenarios and explain your reasoning out loud.
Stop learning new material. Consolidate what you already know, and avoid late-night cramming that trades sleep for marginal recall.
Lay out your ID, confirmation, approved calculator or PPE, and any permitted items. Check the weather and travel route, and confirm parking or transit times.
If testing remotely, run the platform's equipment check, confirm your room meets the rules, and note the support phone number in case of technical failure.
Do a light review of key procedures and terminology early in the day, then stop. Eat a normal meal and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive early with your documents in hand. Leave your phone and other prohibited items where the provider requires.
Skim only your own short summary sheet if permitted; do not start new topics. Keep the mood calm and routine.
Read each question fully, including qualifiers such as 'best', 'first', or 'except'. Answer the questions you know first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them if the platform allows.
For scenario-based items, identify what is being asked, eliminate clearly wrong options, and choose the answer that reflects accepted repair and safety practice. Do not overthink single-word clues.
Watch the clock and reserve time to review flagged items and confirm you have answered every question before submitting. Follow the proctor's instructions on breaks and leaving the room.
Note which topics felt uncertain while they are fresh. If a score report is provided, use it to plan any future training or retake, and confirm next steps with the provider.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. The name must match your registration; confirm with the provider how to handle a mismatch or name change before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions and the provider's candidate agreement. Do not bring notes, phones, smart watches, or other unauthorized materials into the testing area; confirm with the provider where such items must be stored.
Ask the provider in advance about breaks, water, medication, and any accessibility accommodations. Do not assume breaks are allowed during a timed section.
If a question seems ambiguous, answer according to accepted repair, safety, and estimating practice rather than personal shop habit. Where the provider publishes a scoring or passing standard, confirm it directly rather than relying on rumor.
If you experience a technical failure or interruption during a remote test, stop and contact the provider's support line immediately, and follow their instructions on documenting the incident.
Do not discuss, reproduce, or share specific test questions after the exam. Treat exam content as confidential under the provider's candidate agreement.