CAI CAP2 exam-day guide
CAI CAP2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired photo ID in the name you registered under. Confirm with the provider how many pieces of ID are required and which forms are accepted (e.g., passport vs. driver's licence) before test day - policies vary and a name mismatch can block admission.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have your scheduling confirmation, appointment number, or admission letter accessible - printed and on your phone. Some centres ask to see it at check-in; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Second piece of identification (if required)
Some providers require a second ID, sometimes a signature-bearing card. This is provider-specific - confirm with the provider and do not assume one piece is enough.
Confirmed test-centre logistics (or remote-test setup)
For an in-person sitting, know the exact address, which entrance to use, parking or transit options, and building security/check-in steps. Do a dry run of the route so the only unknown on the morning is the exam itself.
Remote-proctoring equipment check
For an online-proctored sitting, verify webcam, microphone, speakers, browser version, and upload/download speed on the same device and network you will use, and confirm whether a wired connection or a specific browser is required. Confirm with the provider which platform and system checks are mandatory.
A quiet, private, well-lit room with a closed door
Remote proctoring typically requires a room with no other people, no interruptions, and a clear desk. Tell household members your start time and expected duration, and plan for a room sweep by the proctor.
Clarify permitted materials and devices
Confirm with the provider in advance whether reference materials, a calculator, scratch paper, notes, or a phone are permitted, and under what conditions. Assume nothing is allowed unless the candidate handbook or provider says so - bring only what is explicitly permitted.
Prohibited-item plan
Leave smartwatches, fitness trackers, earbuds, and study notes at home or secured outside the testing room. Know in advance where you will store your phone if the centre provides lockers.
Water, a snack, and a light layer
Bring water and a snack only if the provider permits items in the testing room or during breaks; otherwise plan to eat before you arrive. A removable layer helps with unpredictable room temperature.
Provider support contact number
Save the test-centre or proctoring support number in your phone so a technical problem is resolved in minutes, not by searching email. Keep it written on paper too in case your phone is stored.
Candidate handbook reviewed
Read the current candidate handbook or exam regulations once in the final few days. Rules on ID, permitted items, break policy, and scoring can change between registration and test day - the handbook in force is the one that applies.
A realistic plan to be rested
Protect sleep in the 48 hours before the exam. Cramming new material the night before reliably costs more in accuracy and pace than it gains in recall.
Plan the day
Re-read the candidate handbook section on ID, permitted items, and exam-day procedures, and confirm with the provider anything still unclear. Fix logistics now: route, arrival time, parking, or remote-room setup.
Run a full timed practice set under exam conditions - no notes, no pauses, one sitting - to calibrate your pace rather than to learn new content.
Do the technology rehearsal: install or update the required browser and platform, run the system check, and test the webcam and microphone. If anything fails, contact provider support with three days of slack rather than one hour.
Stop introducing new topics. Review only your own summary sheets, error log, and the highest-yield frameworks you already know.
Lay out ID, confirmation, permitted items, water, and clothing in one place. Charge devices and pack a charger if allowed.
Confirm the exact start time and the check-in window, and whether you should arrive early. Recheck the venue address or the proctoring link; do not rely on memory.
Keep the evening light: a short review of key formulas or frameworks, a normal meal, no new practice exams, and a full night's sleep. Set two alarms.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid heavy caffeine if you are already anxious, and skim only your one-page summary. Do not attempt a last-minute practice test.
Arrive at the centre with buffer time, or log in to the proctoring platform well before your slot if your provider specifies an earlier check-in. Confirm the check-in requirement with the provider in advance.
Read the instructions and note the clock start. If permitted, jot down key formulas or frameworks on the provided material before beginning, so you are not reconstructing them under pressure.
Work in passes: answer what is straightforward, flag long or uncertain items, and return to them. Answer every item - confirm with the provider whether unanswered items are scored as incorrect.
Take a break only if your provider's policy allows it, and be aware that the clock may keep running. Confirm the break rule before test day, and stand and stretch at your seat if leaving is not permitted.
Stop starting new long items. Check that no item is blank, review flagged items only where you can add value, and confirm you have submitted rather than simply closed the window.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration exactly. A nickname, a maiden name, or an expired document can result in refusal of admission, and the provider's ID policy governs - confirm the accepted forms with the provider before test day.
Arrive or log in by the check-in time stated in your appointment confirmation. Late arrivals may be refused entry or given reduced time at the provider's discretion; do not assume a grace period.
Assume no materials are permitted unless the candidate handbook explicitly allows them. Unauthorised notes, phones, smartwatches, or earbuds in the testing area are treated as misconduct, whether or not they are used.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, do not attempt to photograph or record exam content, and do not discuss specific items afterwards. Sharing live exam content breaches most providers' confidentiality terms.
If technology fails or you feel unwell, raise your hand or contact the proctor/support line immediately and get the incident logged before you leave. Unreported problems are very hard to remedy after the fact.
Breaks, if any, are governed by the provider's policy and may not stop the clock. Confirm the break rule and the scoring of unanswered items with the provider rather than inferring them from practice material.
Scoring rules, pass marks, and result timelines are set by the provider and can change. Rely on the current candidate handbook for the pass standard and on official correspondence for your result, not on forums or recollection.