Kaplan Nursing exam-day guide
Kaplan Nursing · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered under. Confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether a second ID is required; if your name changed, confirm the documentation needed before test day.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Have your appointment confirmation, test confirmation number, and the test center address and phone number accessible. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Know your exact arrival time and location
Confirm the reporting time, which is usually earlier than the start time, and the exact building and room. Do a route check the day before and plan to arrive early; late arrival can mean forfeiting your seat, so confirm the provider's late-arrival policy.
Confirm what is prohibited and what is provided
Ask the provider in advance about personal items, phones, smart watches, notes, food and drink, and whether scratch paper or a calculator is supplied. Do not assume any item is allowed.
Review the official test plan and format
Know the sections, the number of questions, and how scoring works from the provider's official materials. Confirm with the provider the current format and timing, since details can change.
Practice under timed conditions
Complete at least one full-length timed practice set in the final days so you know your pacing and can identify which sections need a slower, more careful approach.
Prepare a simple logistics plan
Decide transportation, parking, and backup options, and note a contact number in case of delay. If you are traveling, confirm the check-in time and any building access rules with the provider.
Plan sleep and food
Protect sleep for the two nights before the test and eat a normal meal before you go. Avoid new caffeine levels or unfamiliar foods on test day.
Confirm break and scoring policies
Ask the provider whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops during breaks, and how unanswered or incorrect questions affect your score. Do not rely on assumptions.
Confirm retake and score-report rules
Ask how and when scores are reported and what the retake policy and waiting period are. Confirm with the provider rather than relying on secondhand information.
Prepare a calm pre-test routine
Choose a short routine, such as a light review of formulas or a breathing exercise, that lowers anxiety without introducing new material in the last hour.
Confirm accommodations if needed
If you need testing accommodations, confirm approval and arrangements with the provider well before test day. This item is needs_review because requirements and deadlines vary.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Review your own error log and the highest-yield topics from the official test plan, then take one full-length timed practice set and review every miss to identify the cause: content gap, misread question, or pacing.
Confirm logistics: address, reporting time, ID requirements, prohibited items, and what the center provides. Lay out your ID and confirmation in one place. Do a light review of the sections where your practice scores were weakest.
Do a short review only, no more than about an hour, focused on memory aids and test-taking strategy. Prepare clothes and food, charge nothing you cannot bring in, and go to bed at your usual time. Avoid cramming new material, which raises anxiety without improving recall.
Eat a normal meal, arrive early, and leave personal items as instructed. Use the waiting time for slow breathing and a brief reminder of your pacing plan rather than last-minute content review. Follow all check-in instructions from staff.
Read each question stem fully before the options, answer every question unless the format penalizes guessing, and flag and move on from items that stall you. Watch the clock at natural checkpoints rather than every question. If a break is offered, use it to stand and reset, and return on time.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in your registered name; confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and what to do if your name has changed.
Arrive at the reporting time, not the start time. Late arrival can result in being turned away or losing your seat, so confirm the provider's late-arrival policy.
Follow the test center's rules on personal items, phones, smart watches, and notes. Do not bring prohibited items into the testing room, and confirm in advance what is allowed.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not attempt to copy, photograph, or share test content. Doing so can void your score.
Follow the provider's break rules exactly. Confirm whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the timer runs during them.
Understand the scoring rules before test day, including whether unanswered questions or guessing affect your score. Confirm with the provider rather than relying on rumor.
If a technical problem or distraction occurs, raise your hand and notify staff immediately so it is documented; do not try to fix equipment yourself.
Confirm score reporting and retake policies with the provider, including any waiting period between attempts.