AAISM exam-day guide
AAISM · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification the testing provider requires, with the name matching your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is needed; do not assume a work badge or expired document will be accepted.
Appointment confirmation and test-taker credentials
Have your registration confirmation, candidate ID or eligibility number, and provider login details accessible before test day. Confirm with the provider how you will be admitted (in person or online proctored) and what reference number the proctor will ask for.
Know your test format and duration
Confirm the current number of questions, time limit, and whether any breaks are scheduled. Confirm with the provider, since formats and timing can change; plan your pacing around the confirmed structure rather than secondhand reports.
Check the testing location or remote setup
For in-person testing, confirm the address, arrival time, and parking or transit options. For remote proctoring, confirm system requirements, browser, webcam, microphone, and a quiet private room. Run any required system test the day before.
Review the provider's permitted-items list
Confirm what you may bring into the test room and what must be stored. Rules on notes, phones, watches, water, and calculators vary; confirm with the provider rather than relying on memory or forum posts.
Plan arrival with a buffer
Arrive earlier than the stated check-in time to absorb traffic, security screening, and ID verification. Late arrival can result in forfeiture of your seat or fee; confirm the provider's cutoff policy.
Sleep and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the final two nights and plan a normal meal before the test. Avoid unfamiliar caffeine or energy products on test day to reduce the risk of restlessness or a mid-test crash.
Pacing plan for question blocks
Decide in advance how many minutes per question you will allow and when you will flag and move on. Practicing this on timed sets in the final 72 hours makes the plan automatic under pressure.
Review only your own summary sheet
Bring a one-page condensed review of frameworks, terms, and personal error patterns, not new material. Review it in the final hours before the test, then set it aside.
Backup logistics for remote testing
If testing remotely, have a charged backup device, a phone for provider support, and a stable network alternative such as a hotspot. Confirm with the provider whether a disconnection pauses or invalidates the session.
Emergency contact and provider support number
Save the provider's support contact in your phone in case of scheduling, login, or connectivity problems. Confirm with the provider which channel to use and how quickly you should report an issue.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to consolidation. Take one or two timed mixed sets under realistic conditions, then review every miss for the reason (knowledge gap, misread, or pacing) rather than just the correct answer. Build your one-page summary sheet from those error patterns. Confirm appointment details, ID requirements, and permitted items with the provider. Stop introducing new topics after this window unless a gap is clearly high-yield.
Do a light review of your summary sheet and the areas you have repeatedly missed. Confirm travel or remote-setup logistics, charge devices, and prepare your ID and confirmation in one place. Avoid heavy practice sets that can erode confidence. Keep the evening calm, eat normally, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a normal meal, review your summary sheet briefly, and arrive or log in early. Skip last-minute cramming of unfamiliar material, which tends to increase anxiety without improving recall. Do a final check of ID, confirmation, and permitted items.
Read the full question and all options before answering, and watch for qualifiers such as 'best', 'except', or 'most likely'. Answer easier questions first and flag long or uncertain ones for return. Use any scheduled break as permitted by the provider, and keep an eye on the clock to reserve time for review. If a technical problem occurs, stop and contact the proctor or support immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Rules to check
Follow all identification requirements exactly; the name on your ID must match your registration. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what happens if they do not match.
Do not bring unauthorized materials, devices, or notes into the test environment. Confirm the permitted-items list with the provider in advance, since violations can lead to score cancellation.
Use only breaks the provider authorizes, and return within the stated time. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and how they affect your time.
Understand the scoring and reporting rules before test day: whether wrong answers are penalized, how results are reported, and when they are released. Confirm with the provider rather than relying on assumptions.
Report any technical, environmental, or proctor issue immediately and follow the provider's instructions; do not attempt to fix or restart a session on your own without guidance.
Keep test content confidential. Do not reproduce, discuss, or share exam questions after the test, as this may breach the provider's candidate agreement.
Confirm the provider's policy on rescheduling, cancellation, and score validity if anything goes wrong, and keep records of your appointment and any support correspondence.