IIBA CCA exam-day guide
IIBA CCA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID name that matches your registration. If your name differs slightly (middle name, hyphenation), confirm with the provider before test day whether additional documentation is accepted.
Appointment confirmation and test-provider login details
Save the confirmation email and your candidate/account credentials offline (screenshot or printout). For remote testing you will need to log into the proctoring platform; confirm with the provider which browser and any required software check-in steps apply.
Know your exam format and timing
Review the current handbook for question count, time limit, and whether the CCA is delivered at a test center, online-proctored, or both. Confirm with the provider, as delivery options and timing can change between handbook editions.
Confirm the current exam blueprint and weighting
Check the official IIBA CCA page for the knowledge areas and their weightings so your last-day review targets high-weight areas. Do not rely on third-party summaries for weightings.
Quiet, private, well-lit room (remote testing)
If testing online, arrange a space with a clear desk, no papers or devices in reach, and stable internet. Confirm with the provider the specific room and desk rules, since proctors enforce them strictly.
Test your equipment and internet connection
Run any system check the provider offers a day or two ahead. Have a backup plan (phone hotspot, alternate location) in case your primary connection fails.
Know the break policy
Scheduled and unscheduled break rules vary by delivery mode. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are allowed, whether the clock stops, and what happens if you leave the camera view.
Plan arrival or check-in time with buffer
For a test center, arrive earlier than the stated check-in time to absorb traffic and security screening. For remote testing, start the check-in process early; identity verification and room scans take time.
Review your personal summary sheet only
Bring or have ready a one-page summary of concepts you tend to forget (e.g., elicitation technique selection, stakeholder analysis steps, requirement lifecycle terms). Do not bring commercial question banks or brain dumps.
Sort out logistics: travel, parking, childcare, meals
Remove day-of friction. Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and avoid trying new caffeine levels right before the test.
Confirm scoring and results timing
Know whether you receive a provisional result on screen and when official results are issued. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Know the retake and reschedule policy
Understand the wait period and fees before test day so a poor result does not catch you unprepared. Confirm current terms with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop consuming new material. Re-read your own notes and the BABOK Guide table of contents to rebuild the mental map of knowledge areas. Do one timed practice set under exam conditions, then review every wrong answer for the underlying concept, not the specific question. Reconfirm your appointment time, location or platform, and ID requirements. Protect sleep: two solid nights before test day matter more than one late-night cram.
Light review only: your one-page summary and the technique/concept lists you most often miss. Prepare your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items in one place. Do a final equipment check if testing remotely. Confirm travel time and set two alarms. Avoid heavy new topics and avoid discussing exam content with others, which raises anxiety without adding knowledge.
Eat a normal meal and limit caffeine to your usual amount. Arrive at the test center early or begin remote check-in with buffer time. Skim only your summary sheet; do not attempt new practice questions. Do a brief calm-down routine: slow breathing, remind yourself that partial knowledge plus good elimination beats guessing blindly.
Read the instructions and note the time limit and question count. Write down or mentally set a per-question time budget. If a tutorial or non-scored section is offered, use it to settle in and confirm the interface (flagging, navigation, calculator if available).
Answer in passes. First pass: answer what you know and flag anything uncertain. Read the stem for the role, the task, and the deliverable being asked about before looking at options. Eliminate clearly wrong options, then choose between the remaining ones using the most appropriate BABOK-aligned practice rather than personal workplace habit. Watch for absolutes ('always', 'never') and for options that solve a different problem than the one asked.
Return to flagged questions only if time allows. For each, ask whether new information from later questions changed your reasoning. Do not change answers without a reason. Ensure no question is left blank unless the format penalizes guessing, which you should confirm with the provider beforehand. Submit deliberately and note any provisional result.
Record what felt uncertain while it is fresh, for your own development or a future retake. Wait for official results per the provider's stated timeline before making decisions about next steps.
Rules to check
Bring ID that exactly matches your registration name. If it does not match, confirm with the provider in advance what alternative documentation is accepted; do not assume a secondary ID will resolve a mismatch.
Follow all proctor instructions. For remote testing, keep your face and hands visible, do not leave the camera view, and do not have phones, notes, or second screens within reach unless explicitly permitted. Confirm with the provider what is allowed at your desk.
Do not use, share, or reproduce exam content. Brain dumps and recalled questions violate the code of conduct and can invalidate your result. Prepare only from legitimate sources.
Understand the break policy before you start. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, whether the timer runs during them, and what re-verification is required on return.
Know how scoring works. Confirm with the provider whether the exam is scored by knowledge area, whether there is a penalty for guessing, and what constitutes a passing score; do not assume a simple percentage threshold.
Reschedule or cancel within the provider's stated window to avoid forfeiting fees. Confirm the current deadline and fee with the provider rather than relying on older information.
Arrive or check in early. Late arrival may result in forfeiture of your seat or appointment; confirm the provider's cutoff for admission.
If something goes wrong during the test (technical failure, interruption), stop and follow the proctor or support channel immediately, and note the incident. Confirm with the provider afterward how the incident will be handled.