NBTA Family Trial exam-day guide
NBTA Family Trial · 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 ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required; some testing centers reject photocopies and expired documents.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation email showing your appointment time, test center address, and any candidate or registration number. If you are testing remotely, confirm the platform and login link with the provider in advance.
Know your exact appointment time and arrival window
Arrive earlier than the stated check-in time, but confirm the provider's specific arrival and late-admission policy. Many centers deny entry to candidates who arrive after the cutoff, and the cutoff is not always the appointment time itself.
Review the current candidate handbook
Download the latest version from the provider shortly before test day. Rules on permitted items, breaks, and scoring can change, so rely on the current handbook rather than older study material.
Confirm permitted and prohibited items
Ask the provider whether scratch paper, a basic calculator, earplugs, water, or a watch are allowed. Assume phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags must be stored or left outside unless explicitly permitted.
Plan your route and backup transport
Do a dry run or check transit schedules and parking options. Identify a backup route and leave buffer time for delays; arriving flustered is one of the most avoidable score losses.
Prepare for security screening
Expect ID verification, possibly a photo, a metal detector, and a locker for personal items. Confirm with the provider whether lockers are available or whether you should bring only essentials.
Sleep and nutrition plan for the night before
Protect a normal sleep schedule for at least two nights before the exam and plan a light, familiar meal. Avoid new caffeine levels or unfamiliar food that could disrupt you mid-test.
Logistics for remote proctoring (if applicable)
If testing online, confirm system requirements, camera and microphone checks, room-clear rules, and the check-in process with the provider. Have a backup internet option such as a phone hotspot ready.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the testing provider's contact number so you can report an emergency, illness, or technical failure. Confirm the provider's policy on rescheduling and documented emergencies before test day.
Personal comfort items within the rules
Bring layers in case the room is cold and any medication you may need, but confirm with the provider how medication and personal items are handled during the test.
A calm pre-test review plan
Prepare a short one-page summary of key concepts to skim only in the final hour. Do not attempt new material on test day; use the time for orientation and settling nerves.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new topics. Review your error log and the highest-weight domains, take at most one full-length timed practice test early in this window, and spend the rest correcting weaknesses. Confirm appointment details, ID validity, and the current candidate handbook. Finalize transport and, for remote testing, run the full system check. Begin shifting sleep earlier.
Do a light review of summaries and formulas only, then stop studying by early evening. Pack your ID, confirmation, and permitted items in one place. Check the weather and transit advisories, set two alarms, and go to bed at a normal hour. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive early per the provider's check-in window. Skim only your one-page summary. At the center, complete ID verification and store prohibited items. Use the restroom before check-in. If a technical or personal emergency occurs, contact the provider immediately rather than improvising.
Read the instructions and confirm the number of questions and time limit before starting. Do an initial pass answering questions you know, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock and reserve time for review. Use scheduled breaks only as permitted, and note that the clock may or may not stop during breaks, so confirm the provider's rule. If a technical problem occurs, raise your hand or contact the proctor immediately and note the time.
Rules to check
Present valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID matching your registration. Confirm accepted ID types and name-change documentation with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions and the current candidate handbook. Prohibited devices such as phones and smartwatches must be silenced and stored as directed; possession during the test can lead to dismissal.
Do not communicate with other candidates, share materials, or attempt to record or reproduce exam content. Confirm the provider's specific misconduct and confidentiality policy in the handbook.
Breaks are typically allowed only at designated points and may be subject to proctor supervision and room-clear rules. Confirm with the provider whether the timer pauses during breaks and how unscheduled breaks are handled.
Scoring policies, including whether wrong answers are penalized and how results are reported, vary by exam. Confirm the current scoring rules with the provider rather than assuming.
If you need testing accommodations, request them well before test day and confirm approval and arrangements with the provider. Do not assume accommodations will be available on arrival.
If illness, an emergency, or a technical failure affects your test, notify the provider immediately and ask about documented exception or rescheduling procedures. Do not simply leave without reporting the issue.