New Relic Performance Engineer exam-day guide
New Relic Performance Engineer · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID matching your registration name
The name on your ID should match the name you registered with. If you have recently changed names or registered under a variant spelling, contact the test provider before exam day to correct it - confirm with the provider what alternate ID they accept.
Exam appointment confirmation and provider login credentials
Save the confirmation email and know your testing-account username and password. For remote proctoring, test the login on the same machine you will use on exam day, since some providers tie the session to a specific browser profile.
System or equipment check completed in advance
If testing remotely, run the provider's system readiness check (webcam, microphone, browser, bandwidth) at least a day early. For an in-person center, confirm the address, parking, and arrival window - confirm with the provider which checks are mandatory.
Quiet, private room with a clear desk (remote testing)
Remove papers, phones, second monitors, and notes from the desk and surrounding area. Proctors typically require a room scan, so a tidy, well-lit space speeds up check-in.
Acceptable workspace peripherals
One monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse are typical; external displays beyond one and virtual machines are often prohibited. Verify the allowed setup with the provider rather than assuming.
Knowledge of the exam blueprint and question style
New Relic certification exams are generally multiple-choice and scenario-based, covering observability fundamentals, the New Relic platform (agents, APM, infrastructure, browser, synthetics), NRQL, alerting, dashboards, and distributed tracing. Re-read the official exam guide for the current domain weighting.
Hands-on familiarity with the New Relic UI and NRQL
Be able to write NRQL queries using FACET, TIMESERIES, SINCE, percentile(), and aggregation functions, and to interpret APM golden metrics, error profiles, and distributed traces. Practicing in a free-tier account is more valuable than memorizing screenshots.
A personal timing plan
Note the total question count and time limit from your appointment confirmation, then compute your average minutes per question. Plan to flag uncertain items and return to them rather than stalling.
Water and a light snack for before the exam
Hydrate and eat lightly beforehand. Many remote-proctored sessions restrict leaving the camera view during the exam, so handle food and restroom needs before you start.
Backup plan for technical failure
Know the provider's support phone number or chat channel and keep it reachable without leaving the camera view. If the session drops, most providers allow a reconnect - confirm with the provider how interruptions are handled.
Scratch paper or on-screen notepad allowance confirmed
Physical scratch paper is often banned in remote proctoring, while some providers offer an on-screen whiteboard. Check the rules in advance so you are not caught improvising.
Rest and a realistic score expectation
Set a target based on the passing score stated in the official exam guide. Do not cram new topics the night before; consolidate NRQL patterns and alerting concepts instead.
Plan the day
Re-read the official exam guide and confirm the domain weightings, question count, time limit, and passing score. Build a one-page summary of weak areas - commonly NRQL syntax, alert condition types, and distributed tracing concepts - and spend study time there rather than re-reading material you already know.
Do a timed practice run of scenario questions. For each wrong answer, write the underlying concept in your own words. Focus on interpreting dashboards, golden metrics (response time, throughput, error rate, Apdex), and how alert policies and NRQL conditions work together.
Complete the provider's system or equipment check and log in to the testing platform once to confirm your credentials work. Confirm the appointment time in your local time zone and note whether check-in opens earlier than the start time.
Light review only: NRQL clauses and functions, agent installation concepts, and the difference between alert conditions, policies, and notification channels. Prepare your ID, confirm the room setup, and charge devices. Stop studying early enough to sleep a full night.
Eat, hydrate, and set up your workspace 30 minutes before the start. Close all other applications, silence notifications, and put your phone out of reach. Have your ID ready for the proctor and log in at the recommended time to absorb check-in delays.
Read each scenario fully before looking at the options, since distractors often describe a plausible but wrong tool or NRQL clause. Answer confident questions first, flag uncertain ones, and watch your average time per question. If a question depends on a UI detail you cannot recall, reason from the underlying observability concept rather than guessing at a menu path.
Reserve the last several minutes to revisit flagged questions and ensure every question has an answer, since unanswered items are typically scored as incorrect. Submit only after confirming there are no blank responses.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration; if it does not match, resolve the discrepancy with the provider before exam day - confirm with the provider which documents are accepted.
Follow all proctor instructions. In remote sessions, stay within camera view, avoid reading aloud if prohibited, and do not use phones, second screens, notes, or unauthorized software; violations can void your result.
Scratch paper, calculators, and reference materials are usually restricted. Use only what the provider explicitly permits, and confirm the allowed-aids list in advance rather than assuming.
Breaks are typically not permitted during a timed certification exam, or the clock keeps running if they are. Plan hydration and restroom needs beforehand and confirm the break policy with the provider.
Scoring is generally based on the number of correct answers against a passing threshold set by the certifying body; there is usually no penalty for guessing, so answer every question.
Do not share, record, or reproduce exam questions. Most certification agreements prohibit disclosing exam content, and doing so can lead to score cancellation or a ban.
If your session is interrupted by a technical failure, contact provider support immediately and follow their reconnect process; do not attempt to restart the exam on your own - confirm the incident policy with the provider.
Results reporting and any retake eligibility rules vary; check the official program terms for how and when scores are released and what the retake waiting period is - confirm with the provider.