CAQ-Psychiatry exam-day guide
CAQ-Psychiatry · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name on your registration. Confirm with the provider which specific ID forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required; policies vary by test center and are not something to assume.
Scheduling confirmation / admission document
Print or save the confirmation email or admission ticket from your scheduling portal. Some centers ask to see it at check-in; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Know your test center location and arrival time
Confirm the exact address, building entrance, and reporting time at least a week ahead. Test centers in office parks or academic buildings can be hard to find; do a dry run or map the route, parking, and public transit options.
Arrival buffer
Plan to arrive well before your reporting time to absorb traffic, parking, and security screening. Ask the provider what happens if you arrive after the reporting time, since late-arrival policies differ and are strictly enforced.
Confirm permitted items and storage rules
Ask the provider in advance what you may bring into the testing room (for example, whether scratch paper or a pencil is supplied, whether a calculator is allowed, and where personal items are stored). Do not assume; rules vary by center.
Food, water, and medication plan
Bring water and a snack for breaks if the provider permits them in the designated break area. If you take scheduled medication, plan timing around the exam and confirm with the provider how medications may be handled and stored during testing.
Comfort and layer plan
Testing rooms are often cold and sessions are long. Wear layers you can remove, and choose clothing without complicated pockets or metal that could slow security screening.
Rest and sleep plan for the night before
Protect sleep in the 48 hours before the exam. Avoid last-minute cramming the night before; consolidation matters more than one more review pass.
Know the break and timing structure
Confirm with the provider how many breaks are offered, whether they are scheduled or optional, and whether the clock stops during breaks. This shapes how you pace sections and when you eat, drink, and use the restroom.
Review the day-before logistics
Reconfirm the address, reporting time, transit plan, and what you are bringing. Lay out ID, confirmation, layers, water, and snack the night before so the morning is frictionless.
Backup plan for the unexpected
Have a contact number for the test center or provider saved in your phone for delays or emergencies, and know the provider's policy on rescheduling or cancellation. Confirm these details with the provider rather than relying on memory.
Scratch-paper and pencil expectations
Confirm with the provider whether scratch materials are provided at the seat, whether you may bring your own, and how they are collected. Item is marked needs_review because supply rules vary by center and delivery format.
Plan the day
Shift from new content to consolidation. Do a focused review of your highest-yield weak areas, re-read your own summary notes, and complete one or two timed practice sets under exam-like conditions to rehearse pacing. Stop introducing unfamiliar material. Confirm your appointment, the test center address, and reporting time, and check the provider's current rules on ID, permitted items, and breaks. Protect sleep: aim for consistent bed and wake times starting now so the morning-of is not a shock.
Do a light review only, ideally in the morning. Reconfirm logistics: route, parking or transit, reporting time, and what you will bring. Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, layers, water, and snack. Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy alcohol and late caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not start a new question bank or cram late; if you feel anxious, write down your top three test-day strategies and set them aside.
Eat a normal breakfast with protein and complex carbohydrates, and hydrate without overdoing fluids. Arrive with buffer time. At check-in, follow staff instructions for ID verification and secure storage of personal items. Use the restroom before you are seated. Take a few slow breaths and remind yourself of your pacing plan: answer straightforward questions first, flag and return to hard ones, and watch the clock per section.
Read each stem fully before looking at options; note qualifiers such as 'most likely,' 'first,' or 'except.' Answer every question, since there is typically no penalty for guessing, but confirm the provider's scoring policy. If a question stalls you, mark it and move on; return later with fresh eyes. Use scheduled breaks to stand, hydrate, and reset rather than to review content. If equipment or the environment causes a problem, raise your hand and notify the proctor immediately rather than waiting until the end.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required; do not assume a digital copy will be accepted.
Follow all proctor instructions and test-center security procedures, including screening, item storage, and any restrictions on what may be worn or brought to the seat. Ask the provider in advance rather than improvising on the day.
Do not bring unauthorized materials into the testing room. If you are unsure whether an item is permitted, ask the provider before exam day; unauthorized items can lead to removal or score invalidation.
Know the break policy before you arrive. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock runs during breaks, and what you may access during them.
Understand the scoring and guessing policy. Many standardized exams do not penalize wrong answers, but confirm with the provider whether unanswered questions are scored as incorrect and whether any sections are separately weighted.
If you experience a testing irregularity, such as a technical failure, disruptive environment, or timing issue, notify the proctor immediately and follow the provider's documented process for reporting it.
Arrive on time. Late-arrival and rescheduling policies vary and may result in forfeiture of your appointment or fee; confirm the provider's specific rules in advance.
Keep your registration and contact information current, and review the provider's candidate agreement and confidentiality rules, since misconduct can result in score cancellation.