AFP Officer Candidate exam-day guide
AFP Officer Candidate · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID document in the name you registered with. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a second form is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy will be accepted.
Admission or confirmation document
Print or download the scheduling confirmation and any admission ticket the provider issues. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or whether an electronic version on a phone is acceptable.
Know your test center or remote-testing setup
Verify the exact address and arrival time, or for remote proctoring verify your room, desk, camera, microphone, and internet meet the provider's stated requirements. Confirm with the provider before test day if anything in your setup differs from the standard.
Arrival time and late-arrival policy
Plan to arrive earlier than the stated reporting time to absorb traffic and security screening. Confirm with the provider the cutoff after which you will not be admitted and whether the fee is forfeited.
Acceptable calculator, if permitted
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is allowed, which models are approved, and whether an on-screen calculator is supplied. Do not bring a model you have not verified.
Permitted personal items only
Expect phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags to be prohibited or stored. Confirm with the provider what storage is available and what counts as prohibited so you are not separated from essentials unexpectedly.
Rest, food, and medication plan
Sleep normally the night before, eat a moderate meal, and bring only medication and snacks the provider permits. Confirm with the provider how to request accommodations for medical needs or breaks in advance.
Review the published test structure
Re-read the provider's official description of sections, number of questions, and time limits so your pacing plan matches the real format rather than rumor.
Practice with the official format
Complete at least one timed practice set under realistic conditions. Note which question types consume the most time and set a per-question target.
Logistics backup plan
Identify a backup route, a contact number for the test center, and, for remote testing, a backup internet option. Confirm with the provider how to report a technical failure during the test.
Scoring and results timeline
Know how the exam is scored and when results are released. Confirm with the provider whether results are immediate, delayed, or sent to a third party.
Retake and fee policy
Understand waiting periods and costs before you sit, so a poor result does not catch you unprepared. Confirm with the provider the current retake rules, as these change.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the appointment, location or remote setup, and ID requirements with the provider. Print or save all confirmation documents. Stop learning new material; instead review your own summary sheet of formulas, definitions, and recurring error patterns from practice sets.
Do one final timed practice section at the same time of day as your real appointment to tune your body clock. Review only the questions you got wrong and write one line on why. Then close the books for the day.
Prepare clothing and permitted items, charge devices, and set out your ID and confirmation in one place. Check transport times or test your remote setup end to end, including camera, microphone, and a quiet room.
Light review only: skim your summary sheet for 30 to 60 minutes, then stop. Avoid cramming new topics, alcohol, and heavy meals. Set two alarms and confirm your wake-up time leaves a buffer for the reporting time.
Re-read the provider's day-of instructions once, note the phone number for the test center, and decide your break strategy based on the published section structure. Aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and dress in layers. Leave earlier than the map suggests. Arrive at the reporting time with ID and confirmation in hand, and follow staff or proctor instructions exactly.
Read the instructions for each section before starting. Answer easier questions first within a section if the format allows navigation, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock at quarter points and never let one question consume a disproportionate share of the section.
If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor or support channel immediately rather than troubleshooting alone. If you finish early, use remaining time to check flagged items and confirm no question was left blank unless the format penalizes guessing, which you should confirm with the provider in advance.
Note what felt difficult while it is fresh, confirm how and when results arrive, and record the retake policy in case you need it.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in your registered name. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what happens if your name does not match your registration exactly.
Follow all proctor and staff instructions. Unauthorized items, communication with others, or leaving the testing area without permission can lead to invalidation of your result, so confirm with the provider what is prohibited before you arrive.
Do not bring notes, phones, smartwatches, or other devices into the testing room unless the provider explicitly permits them. Confirm with the provider what storage is available for personal items.
Breaks are governed by the provider's rules. Confirm with the provider in advance whether scheduled breaks exist, whether unscheduled breaks are allowed, and whether the clock stops during them.
Scoring rules, including whether wrong answers are penalized, are set by the provider. Confirm with the provider before test day so your guessing strategy is deliberate rather than assumed.
Report any technical failure or irregularity immediately and ask for it to be documented. Confirm with the provider how incidents are recorded and how to appeal a result you believe was affected.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Confirm with the provider the late-arrival cutoff and whether a missed appointment forfeits the fee.
Keep any discussion of exam content within the provider's confidentiality rules. Confirm with the provider what you may and may not disclose after the test.