RHU exam-day guide
RHU · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID you registered with. The first and last name on the ID must match your registration record exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types (passport, driver's license, national ID) are accepted and whether a second form of ID is required.
Appointment confirmation
Have your appointment confirmation number, date, time, and time zone available - printed and on your phone as a backup. Check the email again the day before in case the provider changed the link or check-in window.
Candidate account login
Know the username and password for the testing platform, not just your provider portal. Test the login before exam day so a password reset does not eat into your exam time.
Exam format and timing facts
Write down the number of questions, total time allowed, whether questions are equally weighted, and the passing standard as stated in the official candidate handbook. Confirm these with the provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Permitted-materials list
Designation exams are usually closed-book, but confirm in writing whether any official reference, formula sheet, or on-screen calculator is allowed. Assume nothing you have not verified is permitted.
Calculator
If a basic calculator is allowed, bring a simple non-programmable one with fresh batteries. Confirm both whether a physical calculator is permitted and whether an on-screen calculator is built into the platform.
Scratch paper and writing instrument
Many remote-proctored exams prohibit physical paper and require an on-screen notepad or a wipeable board. Confirm the rule for your delivery method before the exam, then bring exactly what is allowed and nothing more.
Compliant testing environment
For remote delivery: a private, quiet, well-lit room, a clear desk, a closed door, and no other people entering. For a test centre: confirm the address, parking or transit plan, and how early to arrive.
Working equipment and system check
Run the provider's system test 48-72 hours ahead and again the day before: camera, microphone, speakers, browser version, and bandwidth. Confirm the minimum technical requirements from the provider.
Backup internet and power
Have a phone hotspot ready as a fallback connection and keep your laptop charged and plugged in. Know the provider's technical-failure procedure and where to call if the session drops.
Break and timing plan
Decide in advance whether you will take any permitted break and budget for it. Confirm with the provider whether the clock runs during breaks and whether leaving the camera view is allowed at all.
Water, snack, tissues
Bring these only if the provider's rules permit items at your desk. If unsure, ask - an unapproved item in view can trigger a proctor flag.
Plan the day
Re-read the official candidate handbook section on exam-day rules, ID, materials, and technical requirements. Confirm your appointment time and time zone, verify that your ID name matches your registration, and resolve any mismatch with the provider now, not on exam day.
Sit one full-length timed practice exam under realistic conditions - same time of day, no interruptions, no notes. Then spend the remaining time only on the two or three weakest topic areas; do not start new material.
Complete the provider's system test and prepare the testing space: clear the desk, remove papers and devices, check lighting and camera angle, and warn household members about the time block.
Light review only: skim your own summary sheets, key definitions, and any lists or formulas you have struggled to retain. Stop by early evening.
Pack and stage everything: ID, confirmation, login details, calculator if permitted, water. Charge laptop and phone, plug in the charger, and re-run a quick camera and microphone check.
Check email and the provider portal for last-minute changes. Set two alarms, confirm the check-in window and how early you should log in, and protect a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and avoid cramming new material. Do a five-minute warm-up of high-yield lists or definitions only.
Close every other application, silence your phone and put it out of reach, log in at the provider's stated check-in time, and have your ID in hand for the identity check.
Read each stem twice and watch for qualifiers such as 'except', 'best', and 'initial'. Answer, flag anything uncertain, and move on - do not let one hard question consume several minutes.
Track pace against the clock: divide total time by question count and check your position at the quarter marks. Reserve the final 10-15 minutes to revisit flagged questions and confirm submission.
If the platform fails, follow the provider's technical-failure instructions immediately, note the time, and get a case or ticket number before ending the session.
Rules to check
The name on your photo ID must match your registration exactly; if it does not, contact the provider well before the exam to correct it, since this cannot usually be fixed at check-in.
Assume the exam is closed-book unless the provider states otherwise in writing. Unauthorized notes, devices, or materials in the testing area can result in score cancellation rather than a warning.
Keep your desk clear and stay within the camera view for the entire session. Phones, smartwatches, second screens, and other people in the room are standard grounds for a proctor to invalidate a session.
Do not leave the testing area during the exam. Confirm with the provider in advance whether any break is permitted, how long it may be, and whether the clock continues to run.
The passing standard, question weighting, and score-reporting timeline are set by the provider and are not necessarily a simple percentage correct - confirm the current standard in the official handbook rather than relying on exam-room folklore.
Retake policies, waiting periods, and attempt limits vary by program; confirm the current rules with the provider before your exam so you know your options if the result is not what you hoped.
Bring only what the provider's rules permit, and ask before the exam day rather than deciding at your desk - a proctor cannot grant exceptions once the session has started.
If a technical failure occurs, stop and contact the provider's support line, record the time and any case number, and follow their instructions rather than repeatedly restarting on your own.