Password Skills Plus exam-day guide
Password Skills Plus · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the exact ID type you registered with (usually a passport). The name on the ID must match your registration exactly. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider before test day.
Booking confirmation / test link
Have your registration confirmation, candidate number, and the login link or code your provider sends, saved offline as well as in your inbox. Confirm whether a printed copy is required.
Computer that meets the technical requirements
Use a laptop or desktop that passes the provider's system check: working webcam, microphone and audio, supported browser, and enough free memory. Run the check a few days ahead, not on the day.
Any required secure browser or proctoring software
Install and test any lockdown browser or proctoring application in advance, and confirm you have the permissions needed to install it on your machine.
Stable internet connection plus a backup plan
Wired or strong Wi-Fi, with a phone hotspot or alternative network ready. Confirm with the provider whether switching networks mid-test is permitted.
Headset or speakers, if permitted
The listening and speaking sections need working audio, and speaking is usually recorded. Check which audio setup the provider allows before you rely on it.
Quiet, private, well-lit room
A closed door, a clear desk, no other people, and lighting that shows your face clearly. Tell everyone in the household your test window so you are not interrupted.
Cleared desk and silenced devices
Phone off and out of reach, notifications muted, extra screens and paperwork removed. Check whether blank paper, a pen, or water in a clear container are allowed.
Charged devices and power cable
Plug in the laptop and keep the charger connected for the whole session so a low battery cannot end your test.
Login credentials to hand
Username, password and any one-time codes written down nearby, since you may need them to reconnect if the session drops.
Confirmed time zone and start time
Double-check the start time in your own local time zone and how early the provider wants you to log in for ID verification and setup.
A plan for the speaking section
Practise speaking clearly at a normal pace into the microphone, and confirm whether the speaking section is live with an examiner or recorded for later marking.
Plan the day
Run the full technical check: webcam, microphone, audio playback, browser version and internet speed. Install any required software. Confirm your booking details, ID type and start time with the provider, and resolve anything unclear now rather than on test day.
Do one light familiarisation session on the test format (four skills, separately timed sections) so you know what each part asks of you. Confirm the exact section timings and total length with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
Set up the room: clear the desk, test the chair and lighting, and check your webcam framing. Charge the laptop, pack your ID and confirmation in one place, and silence or move anything that could interrupt you. Sleep at a normal hour; do not cram.
Re-read the provider's candidate instructions one final time, including the rules on permitted items and breaks, and note the support contact in case of technical failure.
Eat and hydrate, then log in earlier than instructed to allow time for ID verification and equipment checks. Close every other application, silence your phone, put your ID within reach, and let the household know you are starting.
Follow the invigilator's or proctor's instructions exactly, complete the ID and room check without rushing, and do not start the timed sections until you are told to.
Keep your face in view of the camera, work through each separately timed section at a steady pace, and do not spend too long on any single question. If you are allowed a break, confirm how it works before taking it.
If the connection drops or the page freezes, stay calm, do not start a new attempt on your own, and contact the provider's support immediately as instructed. Reconnect if the system allows it, and record what happened.
Rules to check
You must present a valid photo ID whose name matches your registration exactly. If your ID does not match, you may be refused entry or have your result withheld, so confirm accepted ID types with the provider in advance.
Only you may be in the room for the whole session. No other people, no unauthorised materials, notes, phones, second screens or smart devices. Anything flagged by the proctor may lead to your result being voided.
Stay in view of the camera and in the room for the duration. Leaving the camera view, covering the webcam, or moving around unexplained can be treated as a conduct issue. Confirm the break policy with the provider, since rules differ between deliveries.
Do not read questions aloud or talk to yourself, as audio is monitored and unexplained speech can be flagged as irregular behaviour.
Work only within the test platform. Do not open other tabs, applications or search tools unless the provider explicitly permits them.
If a technical failure occurs, contact the provider's support immediately rather than restarting the test independently; unauthorised restarts may not be accepted. Keep a note of times and any error messages.
The test covers reading, listening, writing and speaking, and results are typically reported against CEFR levels. Confirm the score reporting timeline, validity period and how results are sent with the provider.
Results may be withheld or cancelled for suspected misconduct or unresolved identity checks. Treat all test content as confidential and do not share, record or reproduce it.