CCI exam-day guide
CCI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered with. Test centers and remote proctors typically reject photocopies, expired documents, and nicknames. If your registration name differs from your ID, contact the provider before test day to correct it; confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Appointment confirmation and test-center address
Save your confirmation email or screenshot it so it is available offline. Verify the exact street address, building entrance, and parking or transit options the day before. Some centers sit inside office complexes or hospitals; confirm the check-in location with the provider rather than guessing.
Arrival time and check-in window
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled start unless the provider states otherwise. Late arrivals may be refused entry or lose the seat fee. Confirm the specific arrival cutoff and late-arrival policy with the provider.
Remote-testing system check (if testing online)
If you are testing remotely, run the provider's equipment and network test on the same computer and location you will use on test day. Confirm webcam, microphone, browser, and bandwidth requirements with the provider, and know whether a room scan or ID scan is required.
Acceptable calculator or none
Check the current candidate handbook for whether a calculator is provided on screen, permitted as a personal item, or prohibited. Do not assume a policy from a different exam or an older version of the handbook; confirm with the provider.
Personal items plan
Most secure testing rooms require you to store bags, phones, smartwatches, notes, and food in a locker or leave them outside. Plan to travel light and know where your belongings will go. Confirm which items are allowed at your seat with the provider.
Break and hydration strategy
Find out in advance whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or counted against your time. Drink normally rather than over-hydrating, and eat a normal meal so hunger or a bathroom urge does not cost you minutes. Confirm the break rules with the provider.
Logistics for medication or accommodations
If you take medication or have approved testing accommodations, carry the approval documentation and confirm how to present it at check-in. Arrangements are usually approved in advance, not on the day; contact the provider early if anything is unresolved.
A short, calm pre-test routine
Decide now what you will do in the 15 minutes before check-in: review one summary sheet, do a few practice questions, or simply breathe. Avoid cramming new material that morning; it raises anxiety without improving recall.
Scratch-paper and writing-tool policy
Confirm whether the center supplies an erasable board, paper, or pencil, and whether you may bring your own. Do not bring your own materials unless the handbook explicitly allows them; confirm with the provider.
Review the exam format and timing once more
Re-read the current handbook for the number of questions, time limit, question types, and whether items are scored or pretest. Knowing the structure reduces surprises and helps you pace. Confirm details with the provider if the handbook is unclear.
Backup plan for travel or technology failure
Know the provider's contact number and reschedule or technical-failure policy before test day. For remote testing, have a phone hotspot or alternate connection ready. Confirm the specific policy with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Spend the time on a light review of your own summary notes, formulas, and the questions you have missed most often. Take one timed practice set under realistic conditions, then review only the explanations for wrong answers. Confirm your appointment time, address or remote-testing setup, and ID name match. Get normal sleep; do not shift your schedule drastically.
Pack your ID, confirmation, and any approved items in one place. Run the remote-testing system check again if applicable, or do a dry run of the commute. Re-read the candidate handbook sections on conduct, breaks, and scoring so nothing at check-in is a surprise. Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy caffeine after midday, and set two alarms. Stop studying by early evening.
Eat a normal breakfast, dress in layers for variable room temperature, and leave earlier than the map suggests. Leave your phone, smartwatch, and notes in the car or at home unless the provider allows them in a locker. At check-in, present your ID, follow the proctor's instructions, and use the restroom before you are seated. Once seated, take a few slow breaths and set your pacing plan before the clock starts.
Read each question stem fully before looking at the answer choices, and watch for words like 'except', 'best', and 'first'. Answer every question; there is normally no penalty for guessing, but confirm the scoring rule with the provider. Flag uncertain items and move on rather than burning minutes. Pace against the clock at the one-quarter, one-half, and three-quarter marks. If a break is allowed, stand, stretch, and drink water, then return with a few seconds to refocus. Before submitting, check that no question is blank and that flagged items have your best answer.
Rules to check
Bring original, unexpired government-issued photo ID in the exact name on your registration. If the names differ, resolve it with the provider before test day.
Arrive before the stated check-in cutoff. Late arrivals may be denied entry or lose the fee; confirm the exact cutoff and late-arrival policy with the provider.
Follow all proctor instructions on personal items, electronics, and scratch materials. Phones, smartwatches, and notes are commonly prohibited at the seat; confirm what is allowed with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not copy, photograph, or share exam content. Candidate agreements typically prohibit disclosing questions; read and follow the one you sign.
Know the break rules before you start. Whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or counted against your time varies; confirm with the provider and plan your pacing accordingly.
Understand the scoring model before test day. Find out whether wrong answers are penalized and whether some items are unscored pretest questions; confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
If a technical failure or emergency occurs, stop and notify the proctor or support line immediately, and ask how the incident will be documented. Confirm the provider's policy for rescheduling or reporting incidents.
Report any concern about testing conditions or conduct to the provider through its official channel after the exam, and keep your confirmation and any incident reference numbers.