AARE exam-day guide
AARE · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID in the name used on your registration. Verify the exact accepted ID types and name-match rules with the provider before test day; a mismatch can bar entry.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your appointment time, test center address, and any candidate ID number. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Know your test center route and arrival time
Do a route check the day before. Arrival cut-off and late-entry policy vary by site, so confirm the required arrival time with the provider rather than assuming the appointment time is the arrival time.
Permitted calculator or reference materials
AARE-style exams may restrict or supply calculators and reference sheets. Confirm the permitted model list and whether materials are provided on screen or on paper; do not bring unapproved devices.
Comfort items allowed by policy
Layers, water, and snacks may be restricted at the workstation. Confirm what can be kept at your seat versus stored in a locker.
Review the published exam content outline
Re-read the official domain and task list so you can allocate attention during the test and recognize which topic a question is testing.
Practice the interface and question formats
If the provider offers a tutorial or sample items, complete them so navigation, flagging, and review functions are automatic on test day.
Prepare a one-page formula and concept sheet
Condense key relationships, units, and definitions onto one page for final review. Use it in the last 24 hours only; do not try to learn new material then.
Sleep and logistics plan
Set two alarms, arrange transport or parking, and protect a full night of sleep. Fatigue degrades calculation accuracy more than one extra hour of cramming helps.
Confirm break and scoring rules
Ask the provider in advance whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops, and how unanswered or flagged items are scored.
Plan the day
Stop expanding your scope. Work through the official content outline and rank domains by your weakest practice scores. Do timed mixed sets under exam conditions, then review every miss for the underlying concept rather than the specific numbers. Rehearse the calculator or reference tools you will actually have. Confirm test center logistics, ID requirements, and permitted items with the provider now, so any surprise has time to resolve.
Do a light pass over your one-page formula and concept sheet and any error log you kept. Attempt one short set of easy items to stay sharp, then stop. Pack your ID, confirmation, and approved items the night before. Avoid new topics, heavy practice exams, and late-night study; protect sleep and eat normally.
Eat a normal meal and arrive earlier than the stated cut-off. Leave your phone and smartwatch stored as directed. Do a brief warm-up of a few easy recall items, not a full practice set. At the workstation, read the tutorial screens, confirm the clock and navigation, and note how to flag and review items before starting.
Do a first pass answering items you know and flagging anything that needs calculation or a second read, then return to flagged items. Watch the clock against item count so you are not rushed at the end. Read each stem for qualifiers such as 'most likely' or 'except'. For calculation items, check units and order of magnitude before selecting. Use scheduled breaks as permitted; confirm break rules with the provider. Before submitting, confirm no flagged items remain unintentionally unanswered.
Rules to check
Present the original government-issued photo ID in the name on your registration; confirm accepted ID types and name-match rules with the provider, since a mismatch can prevent entry.
Arrive by the provider's stated arrival time, not your appointment time. Late arrival and re-entry policies vary by site, so confirm them in advance.
Bring only permitted items to the workstation. Store phones, smartwatches, notes, and unapproved calculators as directed; possession at the seat may be treated as misconduct.
Follow all proctor instructions and do not communicate with other candidates during the test. Report any equipment problem to the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Confirm the break policy with the provider: whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock runs during them, and what you may access while on break.
Confirm scoring rules in advance, including whether unanswered items are penalized and how flagged or partially completed items are treated.
If you need an accommodation or a reschedule, request it through the provider's published process well before test day; do not assume it can be arranged on site.