IAR exam-day guide
IAR · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID type and name spelling your registration uses. If your registration name differs from your ID (for example, a shortened first name or a maiden name), contact the provider before test day to correct it - do not assume staff will accept an alternative document. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted for your delivery mode (test center vs. online proctored).
Confirmation email and appointment details
Have your appointment confirmation, candidate ID number, and the test center address or online check-in link accessible offline (screenshot or printed). If you are testing online, install and run the required system check on the same machine and network you will use, and do it at least 24 hours ahead so there is time to fix problems.
Permitted reference materials - verify in advance
Some aviation maintenance and regulatory exams permit specific reference documents (for example, published regulations or manufacturer data) during the test, and some do not. Do not bring anything not explicitly listed in your candidate handbook. Confirm with the provider which references, if any, are allowed and whether they must be unmarked and unannotated.
Approved calculator - needs_review
If your exam involves weight-and-balance, electrical, or other numeric work, check whether a calculator is permitted and what model restrictions apply (commonly no programmable or communication-capable models). Many computer-delivered tests include an on-screen calculator. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Knowledge of the question format and time limit
Know in advance the number of questions, the time allowed, and whether questions are multiple-choice, multiple-response, or scenario-based. This determines your pacing strategy. If the handbook does not state it clearly, confirm with the provider.
Scratch paper and writing instrument policy
Most test centers supply an erasable booklet or scratch paper and a pen, and prohibit bringing your own. For online testing, scratch paper is often allowed only if shown and erased on camera at the end. Confirm with the provider what is supplied and what is prohibited.
Personal items plan
Plan where your phone, watch, bag, notes, and outerwear will go. Phones must typically be off and stored, not merely silenced. Test centers generally provide lockers; online sessions require the phone to be out of the room entirely. Avoid bringing valuables you cannot store.
Route, arrival time, and a backup plan
Arrive earlier than the minimum check-in window so a delay does not cost you your seat. Know the parking or transit options and the building entrance. If you are late past the provider's cutoff, you may be refused entry and charged for the appointment - confirm the cutoff time with the provider.
Rest, food, and medication routine
Sleep on your normal schedule, eat a normal meal, and take prescribed medication as usual. If you need to bring medication, food, or water for a documented medical reason, ask the provider about an accommodation in advance rather than at the door.
Accommodation approval, if applicable
If you have an approved testing accommodation (extra time, separate room, breaks), bring the approval documentation and confirm the test center or remote proctor has it on file. Unapproved accommodations cannot be granted on the day.
A realistic review plan for the last day
Limit the final day to light review of your own summary sheet: regulations and inspection intervals you keep confusing, unit conversions, and the question types you miss most. Do not start new material or attempt full-length practice tests the night before.
Confirmation of your reschedule/cancellation window - needs_review
Know the deadline for rescheduling without penalty and the fee structure in case illness forces a change. These terms vary by provider and region; read your own appointment confirmation or confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Run the logistics check: confirm the appointment time and location or online check-in link, verify your ID matches your registration name, and complete any required system test for remote delivery. Resolve any mismatch or technical failure now, while rescheduling is still possible.
Do one timed practice set under exam conditions - same time of day, no phone, no notes - to calibrate pacing. Review only the explanations for questions you missed; do not chase new topics. Stop heavy study at least 24 hours out.
Build a one-page personal summary of the facts you repeatedly miss: regulatory intervals and recordkeeping requirements, inspection and return-to-service logic, safety-wiring and torque principles, unit conversions, and human-factors categories. This is the only thing you read on the morning of the test.
Prepare your physical kit: ID, confirmation, approved references if any, and a plan for personal items. Lay out clothing and confirm transport. Check the weather and any transit disruptions. Do not study past early evening.
Protect your sleep. Avoid alcohol and late caffeine, set two alarms, and go to bed at your normal time. Cramming overnight reliably costs more in careless errors than it gains in recalled facts.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate modestly - enough to be comfortable, not enough to force repeated breaks. Review only your one-page summary. Leave with buffer time so a delay does not become a crisis.
Present your ID and confirmation, store personal items as directed, and follow proctor instructions exactly. If you are testing online, clear the room of notes, devices, and other people, and complete the room scan as instructed. Ask the proctor about break rules and the clock before the exam starts.
Read the instructions and note the total question count and time limit. If the platform offers a tutorial or a place to write down reference formulas, use it. Take a few slow breaths and start on a question you can answer to build rhythm.
Compute your per-question budget from the total time and question count, then check the clock at the quarter, half, and three-quarter marks. Answer every question: on most aviation and regulatory exams there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so a blank is strictly worse than a guess - confirm this for your exam with the provider.
Read the stem to the end before looking at options, since many items hinge on a qualifier such as 'except', 'most likely', or 'minimum'. Answer from your own knowledge first, then compare. Eliminate clearly wrong options, flag items you cannot resolve quickly, and move on rather than burning five minutes on one question.
Return to flagged questions only after you have answered everything, and change an answer only when you can name a specific reason the first choice was wrong. On scenario questions, identify what is being asked (inspection, documentation, troubleshooting, or regulatory compliance) before choosing.
Note your unofficial result if one is shown, keep any score report, and record the topics you found hardest while they are fresh - useful if you must retest. If you did not pass, ask the provider about the waiting period before a retake and any remediation requirements, since these rules vary by exam and jurisdiction.
Rules to check
Bring identification that exactly matches your registration. A name mismatch, an expired document, or a photocopy is a common reason candidates are turned away, and the appointment may still be charged. If your ID and registration differ, fix it with the provider before test day.
Do not bring unauthorized materials into the testing room. Notes, study guides, phones, smartwatches, and any device that can store or transmit information are generally prohibited, and possession can lead to voided scores and a misconduct report. Confirm with the provider which references, if any, are permitted for your exam.
Follow all proctor and administrator instructions, including room scans, desk clearance, and where your belongings are stored. Disputed instructions should be raised politely before the exam begins, not argued during it.
Breaks are usually restricted and monitored. In many test centers you must remain within the facility, sign out and back in, and the clock may keep running during an unscheduled break. Ask before the exam starts whether scheduled breaks exist, whether the timer pauses, and how to request one - do not assume.
Treat the exam content as confidential. Reproducing, discussing, or sharing specific questions or answers after the test may violate the candidate agreement you accepted, regardless of whether the exam is proctored remotely or in person.
Understand how scoring works before you sit down: whether the result is pass/fail or scaled, whether unanswered questions count as wrong, and when official results are released. Unofficial on-screen results are not always final. Confirm the scoring and reporting policy with the provider.
If something goes wrong during the test - a technical failure, a distraction, illness, or a rule you do not understand - stop and notify the proctor or remote proctor immediately. Issues documented during the session are far easier to remedy than ones reported afterward.
If you must reschedule or cancel, do so within the provider's stated window to limit fees, and keep the confirmation. Policies on refunds, no-shows, and retake waiting periods differ by exam and region, so confirm the specifics with the provider rather than relying on general practice.