CGIA exam-day guide
CGIA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID whose name matches your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types it accepts and whether a secondary ID is required; do not rely on a photocopy or digital image.
Appointment confirmation and test-center address
Save the confirmation email or number offline on your phone and write the address on paper. Confirm with the provider how to reschedule or cancel and what the deadline is, since fees may apply.
Test delivery format and platform requirements
Confirm with the provider whether your sitting is at a test center or proctored online. If online, verify the supported browser, webcam, microphone, and a wired or stable connection in advance, and run any system check the provider offers.
Allowed-aids policy
CGIA-style exams commonly restrict or forbid notes, calculators, and reference sheets. Confirm with the provider exactly what is permitted before you pack anything; when in doubt, leave it at home.
Arrival time and late-arrival policy
Plan to arrive well before your scheduled start, and confirm with the provider the cutoff after which you may be refused entry or your fee forfeited.
Break and scheduling rules
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are built into the appointment, whether the clock stops, and whether you may leave the testing room. Do not assume breaks are optional or unlimited.
Scoring and result-reporting mechanics
Confirm with the provider the score scale, pass mark, whether wrong answers are penalized, and when and how results are released. Knowing this shapes how you guess and how you pace.
Personal item and storage rules
Expect phones, watches, bags, and notes to be stored or prohibited in the testing room. Confirm with the provider what storage is available so you are not stranded with items you cannot bring in.
Travel and backup plan
Identify a backup route and a contact number for the test center or provider support. Build in buffer for traffic, parking, or check-in queues rather than cutting it close.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Sleep normally the night before, eat a real meal beforehand, and bring water only if the provider permits it in the room. Avoid new caffeine levels on exam day.
A short pre-exam review sheet
Prepare a one-page summary of formulas, definitions, and frameworks you tend to forget, and review it only in the final hour before check-in. Confirm the provider allows review materials outside the testing room.
Provider contact details
Keep the provider's support number and your registration number handy in case of a scheduling, identity, or technical problem. Confirm with the provider which channel to use for urgent day-of issues.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Reread your own summary notes, redo a small set of missed practice questions, and confirm logistics: appointment time, address or platform, ID validity, and allowed aids. Confirm with the provider any rule you are unsure about now, not on exam morning. Protect sleep across these nights rather than cramming.
Do a light review of high-yield frameworks and formulas only. Pack your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items in one place. Charge devices and set two alarms. Check travel time and any provider notices about the appointment. Go to bed at a normal hour; a rested candidate outperforms a sleep-deprived one.
Eat a normal meal, arrive early with buffer, and avoid last-minute cramming that raises anxiety. At check-in, follow identity-verification instructions exactly and store prohibited items as directed. If online, start the system check early so a technical problem does not eat your time; contact provider support immediately if something fails.
Read the instructions and note the time budget before starting. Answer confidently known questions first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock and leave time to review flagged items and confirm answers are recorded. If a break is available and permitted, use it to reset, but mind the clock. If a technical or rule issue arises, raise it with the proctor or support at once rather than after the fact.
Rules to check
Present valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID matching your registration name. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a second form is required.
Follow all proctor instructions and testing-room rules, including where personal items must be stored. Confirm with the provider the consequences of a violation, which can include score cancellation.
Do not bring notes, phones, watches, or other aids into the testing room unless the provider explicitly permits them. Confirm the allowed-aids list in advance.
Raise any technical, identity, or rule problem with the proctor or support immediately. Do not attempt to resolve it by continuing silently, as later appeals may be harder.
Understand the break policy before you start: confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, timed, or optional, and whether leaving the room is allowed.
Understand the scoring rules, including whether wrong answers are penalized and what the pass mark is. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming, since this affects guessing strategy.
Do not discuss, reproduce, or share exam content afterward. Treat questions as confidential and follow the provider's stated conduct and confidentiality terms.
If you must reschedule or cancel, follow the provider's stated process and deadlines. Confirm with the provider the fees and cutoffs that apply to your appointment.