FBR Customs Inspector exam-day guide
FBR Customs Inspector · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID document. Confirm with the provider which specific forms of ID are accepted and whether a second piece is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy will be accepted.
Admission or scheduling notice
Print or save the confirmation showing your test date, time, and location (or remote-testing link). Re-read it the night before for any change to reporting time or venue.
Confirm reporting time and arrival window
Check the provider's instructions for how early to arrive and what happens if you are late. Late-arrival and cutoff policies vary, so confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Know the test location and route
Plan the route and a backup route, note parking or transit options, and add buffer time for security screening or check-in lines.
Review the test-day rules packet
Read the provider's rules on permitted items, prohibited items, calculators, phones, and personal belongings before test day so nothing is confiscated at check-in.
Confirm what is provided vs. what you bring
Find out whether scratch paper, a writing instrument, or a calculator is supplied. Bring only items the provider explicitly permits.
Know the section structure and timing
Write down the number of sections, question counts, and time limits from the official study materials so you can pace yourself and know whether sections are separately timed.
Confirm scoring and retake policy
Check how the exam is scored, whether wrong answers are penalized, and the retake waiting period. Confirm with the provider; do not rely on secondhand accounts.
Plan for breaks and food/water
Confirm whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are allowed, and eat a normal meal beforehand. Avoid heavy caffeine or unfamiliar foods that could disrupt focus.
Prepare for remote testing if applicable
If testing remotely, confirm the platform, system check requirements, camera and microphone setup, room rules, and a quiet space with reliable internet. Run the system check in advance.
Light review only in the final day
Review summary sheets, key definitions, and formulas rather than new material. Stop studying early enough to sleep a full night.
Backup plan for emergencies
Save the provider's contact information and know the procedure for illness or technical failure. Confirm with the provider how to report an issue and whether rescheduling is possible.
Plan the day
Re-read the official candidate handbook or instructions end to end, focusing on check-in, permitted items, and timing. Confirm your appointment details and venue or remote-testing link. Do a final pass over your weakest topic areas using practice questions, and stop adding new study material after this point.
Take one timed practice set under realistic conditions to check your pacing, then review only the explanations for questions you missed. Confirm your route and transportation or, for remote testing, run the platform's system check with your camera and microphone.
Pack your ID, confirmation notice, and any permitted items in one place. Lay out comfortable clothing and set two alarms. Review summary notes for no more than a short session, then stop. Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and leave earlier than the map suggests to absorb delays. Leave prohibited items such as phones and smart watches behind or stored as the provider directs. Arrive within the reporting window and complete check-in calmly.
Read the instructions for each section before starting. Answer easier questions first if the platform allows navigation, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock against the number of remaining questions rather than checking constantly. If a question is unclear, eliminate obviously wrong options before guessing, unless the scoring rules penalize wrong answers, which you should confirm with the provider beforehand. Use breaks only as permitted.
Note any technical issues or irregularities immediately and report them through the provider's stated channel. Confirm how and when results will be delivered and what the retake process is, in case you need it.
Rules to check
Bring only the identification and items the provider explicitly permits. Confirm the permitted-items list with the provider in advance; do not assume phones, notes, or smart watches are allowed in the testing room.
Follow all check-in and identity-verification procedures, including any photograph, signature, or palm-vein or fingerprint capture the test center uses. Refusal to comply may result in being turned away.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not attempt to view another candidate's screen or materials. Follow the proctor's directions immediately.
Breaks are generally only at times the provider specifies. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether the clock stops during them; leaving the room without permission may end your session.
Understand the scoring rules before test day, including whether unanswered or wrong answers are penalized and what score is passing. Confirm with the provider rather than relying on rumor.
Keep any scratch materials, if provided, in the testing room and surrender them at the end. Do not remove notes, question content, or test materials from the premises.
If you experience a technical failure, illness, or other disruption, notify the proctor or provider immediately and follow their documented process. Do not attempt to resolve it silently.
Report to the test center or remote session only for yourself and only on your scheduled date. Impersonation or allowing another person to test in your place is grounds for disqualification.