CAQ-HM exam-day guide
CAQ-HM · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID in the name you registered with. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy will be accepted.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have the confirmation email or scheduling receipt with your appointment time, test center or remote-proctoring link, and any candidate ID number. Confirm with the provider how the appointment is verified at check-in.
Login and system check for remote delivery
If testing remotely, run any required system or equipment check ahead of time and confirm browser, camera, microphone, and connection requirements with the provider. Keep the check-in link and support phone number accessible.
Acceptable testing environment
For remote proctoring, use a private, quiet, well-lit room with a clear desk and no prohibited materials in reach. Confirm with the provider the rules on other people entering the room, wall coverings, and allowed items.
Approved calculator or reference materials
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is permitted, whether an on-screen calculator is built into the exam, and which reference sheets or formulas are supplied versus prohibited. Do not bring your own unless explicitly allowed.
Scratch paper and writing instrument policy
Confirm with the provider what writing materials are allowed and whether the test center supplies them. For remote testing, note whether erasable sheets or on-screen notes are required.
Personal items storage plan
Plan for phones, watches, bags, and notes to be stored away from the testing area. Confirm with the provider where personal items go and whether a locker is provided.
Break and timing expectations
Know the total appointment time, whether breaks are scheduled or optional, and whether the clock stops during breaks. Confirm with the provider, since break rules differ by delivery mode.
Review the exam content outline
Use the official content outline to confirm the domains and approximate weighting, and spend the final days on your weakest high-weight areas rather than re-reading everything.
Rest, hydration, and arrival buffer
Plan to arrive or log in early enough to complete check-in without stress. Get normal sleep the night before; last-minute cramming tends to cost more in focus than it gains.
Provider contact and support number
Save the provider's candidate support contact so you can resolve technical or scheduling problems quickly. Confirm with the provider the procedure if the exam cannot be delivered as scheduled.
Score reporting and retake policy
Confirm with the provider when and how results are released, what passing score applies, and any retake waiting period or attempt limit. Do not rely on secondhand reports of these policies.
Plan the day
Shift from broad review to targeted practice. Take one timed practice set under exam-like conditions, then spend the remaining time on the domains where your accuracy is weakest. Re-read the official content outline and confirm logistics: appointment time, location or remote link, ID, and allowed materials. Stop introducing new reference material you have not already studied.
Do a light review of summary notes, key formulas, and frequently confused concepts only. Confirm your route or remote setup, gather your ID and confirmation, and charge devices. Set two alarms. Avoid heavy practice tests the night before; protect sleep and stop studying early enough to wind down.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and arrive or log in with a comfortable buffer for check-in. Leave your phone and notes stored as required. Skim only a short summary sheet, then put it away. If something goes wrong with delivery, contact provider support immediately and document what happened.
Read each question fully and identify what is being asked before looking at options. Answer easier items first if you track time well, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Eliminate clearly wrong options, then choose the best remaining answer; do not leave blanks if there is no penalty for guessing, but confirm that with the provider. Watch the clock at planned checkpoints, take scheduled breaks as allowed, and reserve the final minutes to review flagged items and confirm you have answered everything.
Rules to check
Bring only the identification and permitted items the provider specifies. Confirm with the provider the complete list of allowed and prohibited items before exam day.
Your registration name must match your ID. Contact the provider in advance if your legal name or registration details differ, rather than resolving it at check-in.
Do not communicate with anyone other than the proctor during the exam, and do not read questions aloud in a way that could be captured or overheard during remote delivery.
Follow all proctor instructions, including room scans, desk clearance, and any identity verification steps. Noncompliance can lead to dismissal, so confirm with the provider what each step involves.
Breaks are governed by provider policy and may or may not stop the clock. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are permitted and what happens to your time if you take one.
Scoring, passing standards, and any scaled or equated scoring method are set by the provider. Confirm with the provider how your result is calculated and reported rather than assuming a simple percentage.
If you experience a technical failure or interruption, notify the proctor or provider support immediately and keep any case or ticket number. Confirm with the provider the process for reporting and resolving delivery problems.
Do not disclose, reproduce, or discuss specific exam content afterward. Confirm with the provider the confidentiality terms you agreed to when you registered.