ISTQB CT-AuT exam-day guide
ISTQB CT-AuT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID matching your registration name
Bring the same identity document you used or declared at booking. Accepted document types and whether a secondary ID is needed depend on the test centre or remote-proctoring vendor - confirm with the provider before exam day. If your name differs slightly between ID and registration, resolve it in advance, not at check-in.
Exam appointment confirmation and candidate/eligibility number
Have the booking confirmation and any candidate ID or eligibility number issued by the certification body or ISTQB Member Board accessible, printed or on your phone. The exact identifier required varies by provider - confirm with the provider which number they ask for at check-in.
Know your test delivery mode and its technical requirements
If taking the exam remotely, run the provider's system check (browser, webcam, microphone, bandwidth) on the same machine and network you will use, ideally 48-72 hours ahead. If at a test centre, confirm the address, arrival time and parking/transport plan. Do not assume a remote option exists unless the provider confirms it.
Allowed reference material status confirmed
The CT-AuT exam is a knowledge exam; whether any materials (dictionary, scratch paper, formula sheet) are permitted is set by the provider. Do not bring notes, textbooks or the syllabus into the exam unless the provider explicitly allows it. Confirm with the provider what is allowed and what is provided on screen.
Scratch paper and pen policy verified
Many providers supply or permit blank paper and a pen for rough work, but this is not universal, especially for remote proctoring where only specified items are allowed. Confirm with the provider whether you may bring your own or must use what is supplied, and whether scratch paper must be shown and destroyed on camera.
Quiet, interruption-free environment (remote) or early arrival plan (centre)
For remote exams, clear the desk, silence phones and notify household members; the proctor may scan the room. For a test centre, arrive with buffer time for check-in and security. Room-scan and desk-clear rules are provider-specific - confirm with the provider.
Timing plan for the number of questions
Confirm the exact question count and time limit for your exam version with the provider. As a working rule, budget roughly one minute per question and reserve the last 10-15 minutes to review flagged items; do not spend more than about two minutes on any single question on the first pass.
Language and any accommodations arranged in advance
If you need an exam in a particular language, extra time, or other accommodation, request it well before exam day; accommodations are rarely granted on the day. Confirm with the provider which languages and accommodations are available for CT-AuT.
Review the four syllabus areas and the glossary the night before
CT-AuT covers automotive software testing fundamentals (including the relevant standards context), testing in virtual environments (MIL/SIL/HIL), static and dynamic testing concerns for automotive, and reviews plus test processes/roles. Re-read the syllabus glossary terms rather than cramming new topics.
Plan for a result and next steps
Know in advance how and when results are communicated and what happens if you do not pass (retake windows, fees). These policies are set by the certification body or Member Board - confirm with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Work through the syllabus section by section, listing the key concepts you can explain aloud: why automotive testing differs from general software testing, the role of standards and safety integrity levels, the test environment chain from model-in-the-loop through software- and hardware-in-the-loop, and the purpose of reviews and the tester's role in the process. For each concept, write a one-line definition and one example. Identify your three weakest areas and spend most of your remaining time there.
Do timed practice under exam-like conditions: answer a set of questions with a clock running and no notes, then review every wrong answer to find the underlying gap rather than memorising the question. Practise eliminating options and recognising distractors that swap terms (for example confusing a test environment with a test level, or a review type with a test type).
Complete logistics: run the remote system check or confirm the test-centre address and travel time, verify your ID matches your registration name, and confirm with the provider what is allowed in the exam room, the exact question count and time limit, and any accommodation you requested. Resolve name mismatches or technical problems now, not on the day.
Do a light review only: glossary terms, your own one-line definitions, and the list of mistakes you made in practice. Do not start a new topic. Prepare and lay out everything you will need - ID, confirmation, water if permitted, and any provider-approved items - so the morning is frictionless.
Protect your performance: sleep a full night, avoid heavy meals or alcohol, and set two alarms. If remote, check that your equipment charges and that the network is stable; if at a centre, confirm the departure time with buffer for traffic and check-in.
Eat a normal meal and arrive early (test centre) or log in early (remote) as the provider instructs. Re-read only your short summary sheet; do not attempt to learn anything new. Close other applications, silence devices, clear your desk and keep your ID within reach for check-in.
Read the full question before looking at the options, and watch for qualifiers such as 'most likely', 'first', 'not' and 'best'. Answer the questions you know first, flag uncertain ones and return to them; never leave a question blank if there is no penalty for guessing - confirm the scoring rule with the provider beforehand.
Manage the clock: note the time limit and question count at the start, check your pace at the halfway point, and reserve the final minutes to review flagged items. If a question is consuming too much time, eliminate the clearly wrong options, make your best choice and move on. Use scratch paper for calculations or elimination only if the provider permits it.
Note which topics you found hardest while memory is fresh, in case you need to retake. Follow the provider's process for receiving results and, if needed, the retake policy - confirm with the provider how and when results are released and what the retake rules are.
Rules to check
Bring only the identity document and items the provider explicitly permits. Unapproved materials, notes, phones, smart watches and other devices are typically prohibited in the exam room; confirm with the provider what is allowed and where personal items must be stored.
Follow all proctor and invigilator instructions. For remote exams this can include a room scan, showing your desk, keeping your face in view and remaining on camera throughout; refusing a check may end the session. Specific proctoring rules are vendor-specific - confirm with the provider.
Know the break policy before you start. Some deliveries allow scheduled breaks, others do not stop the clock, and leaving the camera view during a remote exam may be treated as a violation. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are available and how they affect your time.
Do not communicate with anyone other than the proctor during the exam, and do not share, photograph or reproduce exam content afterwards. Exam content is confidential; attempting to capture or distribute questions can invalidate your result and may breach the certification body's code of conduct.
Understand the scoring model. CT-AuT is typically scored on correct answers against a pass mark set by the certification body, and there is normally no penalty for wrong answers - but question count, pass mark and guessing rules vary by version and provider, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
If a technical failure occurs (connection drop, crash, power loss), stop and contact the proctor or provider support immediately and follow their instructions. Do not attempt to restart or continue on your own unless told to; incident handling and any time compensation are provider-specific.
Declare any accommodation or special need in advance and use only approved aids. Accommodations granted for the exam are specific to what was approved; using anything beyond that, or failing to declare a need beforehand, may not be remedied on the day.
Report any irregularity or suspected security issue to the proctor and the provider. If you believe the exam environment or content was compromised, raise it through the provider's channel rather than discussing it with other candidates.