AAIA exam-day guide
AAIA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original physical ID whose name exactly matches your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a digital ID is allowed - do not assume. If your ID name differs from your registration (nickname, maiden name, missing middle name), contact the provider before test day to reconcile it, since mismatches are a common cause of denied entry.
Appointment confirmation and test-day instructions
Print or save offline the confirmation email showing your appointment time, location or remote-proctoring link, and any check-in window. Re-read the provider's test-day instructions the day before, because check-in rules, arrival buffers, and remote-system requirements change and are set by the provider, not by this guide.
Know your testing format (in-person vs. remote proctored)
Confirm which format you registered for. In-person means planning travel and arrival buffer; remote means a private room, a stable wired-or-strong connection, a working webcam and microphone, and closing all other applications. The provider defines the room and desk rules - confirm them rather than guessing.
Acceptable calculator or on-screen calculator policy
Check whether a calculator is permitted, which models are allowed, and whether one is built into the test software. If a physical calculator is allowed, bring an approved model with fresh batteries and no case or manual. If not permitted, practice the arithmetic you will face without one.
Scratch materials policy
Confirm whether scratch paper, a marker board, or an on-screen notepad is provided or permitted. For remote testing, some providers require you to show and then erase or destroy scratch material on camera. Bring only what the provider allows; extra paper can be a conduct violation.
Logistics: route, parking, transit, and arrival buffer
Plan the route and a backup route, and arrive earlier than the minimum the provider states so a delay does not cost you the seat. For a remote test, do a full dry run on the same machine and network at the same time of day, and know your provider's reconnection procedure if the session drops.
Personal items plan
Most testing rooms restrict phones, watches, bags, notes, food, and drinks. Decide in advance where these will go - a companion, a locker, or your car - and assume you cannot access them during the test. Confirm the provider's rules on water, medication, and medical accommodations.
Rest, food, and medication routine
Treat the night before like an athlete's: normal sleep schedule, a meal you tolerate well, and usual caffeine only if it is your habit. If you take scheduled medication or need a accommodation such as extra time or a separate room, confirm approval with the provider well before test day - approvals are usually arranged in advance, not on arrival.
A one-page personal formula and concept sheet
Build this yourself from your own study notes: key formulas, definitions, decision rules, and the mistakes you repeatedly make. Review it in the final 72 hours and again in the last hour before check-in. Do not bring it into the test; it is a study aid only.
A pacing plan with checkpoint times
Write down the total time, number of questions, and your target average per question, plus checkpoint times at 25, 50, and 75 percent of the section. Know in advance how many minutes you can spend on a hard question before flagging it and moving on.
A guessing and review strategy
Decide your default for unanswered questions - most exams do not penalize wrong answers, but confirm the scoring rule with the provider. Plan to reserve the final minutes to clear all flags and ensure no question is left blank if there is no penalty.
Backup plan for technology failure
For remote testing, have a charged phone with the provider's support number, a hotspot as a fallback, and the provider's documented procedure for technical interruptions. Confirm whether lost time is restored or the session is rescheduled; do not rely on assumptions.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Review your own error log and concept sheet, and redo the questions you previously got wrong until you can explain why the right answer is right and each distractor is wrong. Take at most one timed practice section per day, and spend more time reviewing it than taking it. Confirm appointment details, ID, calculator and scratch rules, and your route or remote setup now, so problems surface with time to fix them.
Re-read the provider's test-day instructions and note the exact check-in time, arrival buffer, and prohibited items. Charge devices, test the webcam and microphone if remote, and print the confirmation. Protect sleep: shift bedtime earlier rather than studying later, because recall and pacing both degrade with sleep debt.
Do one short pass over your formula and concept sheet and your top recurring mistakes, then stop. No new practice exams and no late-night review. Prepare clothes, ID, confirmation, calculator, and any permitted items in one place. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. If anxiety spikes, write down your three biggest worries and one concrete action for each, then set it aside.
Eat a normal breakfast, keep caffeine at your usual level, and avoid heavy or unfamiliar food. Leave with more buffer than you think you need. At the test center or on the remote check-in, stay calm through ID verification and the room scan; follow the proctor's instructions exactly and ask if a rule is unclear rather than improvising.
Read the instructions and note the section time and question count. Do a quick brain dump of formulas onto permitted scratch material before question one. Start with a steady pace rather than racing, and answer every question you are confident about before returning to flagged ones.
Work in passes. On the first pass, answer what is clear, flag anything requiring long calculation or uncertain judgment, and move on. Check your checkpoint times at the 25, 50, and 75 percent marks; if you are behind, tighten up rather than abandoning your pacing plan. Re-read the question stem for words like 'except' or 'most likely' before committing.
Use remaining time on flagged questions, prioritizing those where you can eliminate at least one option. If there is no wrong-answer penalty, ensure nothing is blank. Then check that you have answered every section and submitted correctly, and note any post-test steps the provider requires before you leave or log off.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid identification that exactly matches your registration name; confirm accepted ID types and any digital-ID policy with the provider in advance, since mismatched or unapproved ID is the most common reason candidates are turned away.
Follow the provider's rules on what may be brought into the testing room. Phones, smart watches, notes, bags, and often food and drink are prohibited, and possession of unauthorized materials during the test is typically treated as a conduct violation regardless of intent. Confirm the specific list with the provider.
Breaks are governed by the provider. Confirm in advance whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or prohibited, whether the clock runs during a break, and what you may access. Leaving the testing area outside the allowed procedure can end your session.
Do not communicate with anyone other than the proctor during the test, and do not attempt to copy, photograph, record, or share exam content. Exam content is confidential, and disclosure can invalidate your result and affect eligibility for future attempts.
If you experience a technical failure or a disruption, stop and notify the proctor or support line immediately and follow the provider's documented procedure. Do not attempt to troubleshoot by restarting or reconnecting outside the approved steps; confirm how lost time is handled.
Understand the scoring model before test day: whether wrong answers are penalized, how sections are weighted, and what score is required to pass. Confirm these details with the provider rather than relying on secondhand reports, and use them to set your guessing and review strategy.
Request any accommodation, such as extra time or a separate room, through the provider's formal process well before the test date. Accommodations are generally arranged in advance and are not granted on arrival, so confirm your approval status and any supporting documentation.
Arrive or check in earlier than the provider's stated minimum. Candidates who arrive after the allowed check-in window may be denied entry or rescheduled at the provider's discretion, and the exact cutoff is set by the provider - confirm it and plan a buffer.