GER Category 2 exam-day guide
GER Category 2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered with. If your registration name differs from your ID, or the provider requires a second form of ID, confirm the exact requirement with the provider before test day.
Admission or appointment confirmation
Print or save the confirmation email showing your test date, time, and location or remote-testing link. Confirm the reporting time with the provider, since arrival windows vary.
Know your testing format and delivery method
Confirm whether you are testing at a center or proctored remotely, and review that format's technical and room requirements with the provider. Remote testing usually requires a working camera, microphone, and a stable connection; verify specifics with the provider.
Permitted calculator or reference materials
Check the current permitted-materials list with the provider. If a calculator is allowed, confirm the approved models and whether an on-screen calculator is provided instead; do not assume.
Scratch paper and writing instrument policy
Many providers supply or prohibit scratch paper and pens. Ask the provider what is allowed and whether you must bring your own; do not bring your own unless explicitly permitted.
Personal items plan
Plan where your phone, bag, watch, and outerwear will go. Most centers require phones to be silenced and stored; confirm storage availability with the provider.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Schedule a normal night's sleep, a light meal, and water before reporting. Avoid trying new caffeine levels or foods on test day.
Route and arrival buffer
Reconfirm the address or remote-testing link and plan to arrive with a buffer. Traffic, parking, and check-in can take longer than expected.
Break and timing expectations
Ask the provider in advance whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or unscheduled, and whether the clock stops during breaks. This affects your pacing plan.
Review the current scoring and results policy
Confirm with the provider how the exam is scored, when results are released, and how score reports are delivered. Do not rely on secondhand information.
Medical or accommodation arrangements
If you need accommodations or have a medical condition affecting breaks or materials, confirm approved arrangements with the provider well before test day. Mark as needs_review until you have written confirmation.
Backup plan for remote testing
If testing remotely, confirm a backup internet option and a quiet, private room. Check the provider's rules on permitted items and room setup; details vary and should be confirmed.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: reporting time, location or remote link, ID requirements, and permitted materials with the provider. Do a final review of high-yield topics and your own error patterns rather than starting new material. Take one full-length or timed practice set under realistic conditions, then stop heavy study. Protect sleep and normalize your schedule.
Pack your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items in one place. Lay out clothing and plan meals and transport. Reconfirm the remote-testing setup or center address. Do a light review of formulas, definitions, and test-taking strategy only. Avoid cramming new content; aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate moderately. Arrive or log in early per the provider's instructions. Silence and store your phone as required. Do a brief warm-up of a few easy questions to activate recall, not a full practice test. Use the restroom before check-in.
Read each question fully and identify what is being asked before answering. Budget time based on the number of questions and any scheduled breaks; do not let one hard item consume disproportionate time. Mark uncertain items and return if the format allows. Use only permitted materials. If a technical or procedural problem occurs, notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Rules to check
Present the original, unexpired government-issued photo ID in the name used at registration. If your name or ID type is uncertain, confirm with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions and the provider's conduct rules. Do not communicate with other candidates, use unauthorized materials, or attempt to record or share exam content.
Keep phones, watches, and personal items silenced and stored as directed. Confirm the provider's policy on what may be brought to the testing area.
Breaks are governed by the provider's rules. Confirm in advance whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the clock runs during them; do not leave the testing area without permission.
Scoring, score reporting, and any retake or cancellation policies are set by the provider. Confirm the current policy rather than relying on memory or secondhand accounts.
If you experience a technical failure, illness, or disruption, notify the proctor or support immediately and follow the provider's documented process for reporting it.
Arrive or connect at the required time. Late arrival or failure to meet technical requirements may affect your ability to test; confirm the provider's policy on late arrival and rescheduling.