Salesforce Advanced Admin exam-day guide
Salesforce Advanced Admin · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Use a valid, unexpired ID whose name matches your certification registration exactly (including middle names). Confirm which ID types the proctoring provider accepts before exam day - needs_review: verify accepted ID list with the provider.
Appointment confirmation and exam details
Have the confirmation email or registration number handy. Double-check the exam name, date, start time, and the time zone the appointment is listed in - a time-zone mix-up is the most common avoidable no-show.
Pre-tested computer and network
Run the proctoring platform's system check on the exact machine, browser, and network you will use, at least 24 hours ahead. Wired or stable high-bandwidth connection; no VPN unless the provider permits it.
Working webcam, microphone, and speakers
You will likely need to show your ID and pan the room at check-in. Confirm whether headsets/earbuds are allowed - needs_review: headset rules vary; confirm with the provider.
Quiet, private, closed-door room
No other people, no interruptions, no pets or background traffic. Tell housemates you are unavailable for the full appointment window plus check-in time.
Cleared desk and surroundings
Remove papers, notebooks, sticky notes, books, phones, smart watches, and any second monitor. Unplug or cover extra displays; the proctor may ask you to show the desk surface.
Closed applications and silenced phone
Quit messaging, email, sync, and update pop-ups before check-in. Put the phone on silent and out of arm's reach - a visible phone is a common disqualifier.
Confirmed note-taking/whiteboard policy
Online-proctored exams typically provide an on-screen whiteboard; physical paper is usually restricted. Confirm exactly what is allowed for your delivery method - needs_review: confirm with the provider.
Knowledge of scoring and retake policy before you start
Know pass/fail timing, where results appear, and retake waiting periods and fees so you are not deciding under stress. Needs_review: confirm current retake fee and waiting period with the provider.
Payment method available for a possible retake
Keep a card on file or know your company voucher process; retake fees are charged separately from the initial registration.
Time buffer and physical prep
Plan to log in or arrive 30 minutes early for check-in, eat beforehand, hydrate, and use the restroom before you start - you generally cannot leave mid-exam without ending the session.
Your one-page review plan (mental, not printed)
You will not be able to bring notes in. Decide beforehand which 2-3 domains you will flag-and-return to, and your per-question time budget.
Plan the day
Take or re-take a full-length practice exam under timed conditions. Identify your two weakest domains (commonly security/access, automation, change management/auditing, or data management) and review only those.
Re-confirm appointment date, time, and time zone; re-read the provider's rules on ID, room, breaks, and allowed materials. Resolve anything ambiguous now, not on exam day.
Shift your sleep schedule so you are alert at your scheduled start time; avoid all-nighters - recall on scenario questions degrades faster than recognition.
Run the system test one final time on the exam machine and network. Update the browser/OS now, not the morning of, then disable auto-updates.
Light review only: decision rules you tend to invert (sharing model and org-wide defaults implications, permission set group vs. profile behavior, validation rule error location, record-triggered flow entry conditions, change set vs. metadata deploy scope). No new topics.
Clear and photograph the exam space, remove prohibited items, and set out your ID. Confirm backup internet (phone hotspot is usually not permitted - needs_review: confirm with the provider).
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and avoid cramming new material. Skim your weakest-domain list for 15 minutes maximum, then stop.
Log in / arrive roughly 30 minutes early so ID verification and room scan delays do not eat your exam time. Close every application, silence the phone, and put it away.
Read the full stem before looking at answers; watch for 'choose two' and 'which two' wording and for 'except'/'least likely' qualifiers in scenario items.
Budget roughly 1.5 minutes per question. If a question exceeds about two minutes, pick a best answer, flag it, and move on; keep the last 10-15 minutes for flagged items.
Answer every question - there is no penalty for a guess, and unanswered items score as wrong. Before submitting, confirm no flags remain and check that multi-select items have the exact number of selections.
Note your score and section-level feedback immediately; results usually appear on screen and in your certification account. If you did not pass, book the retake only after checking the current waiting period.
Rules to check
Bring exactly one valid government-issued photo ID with a name matching your registration. Name mismatches can bar entry, and a refund is not guaranteed.
No unauthorized materials in the exam space: no notes, printed guides, second screens, phones, smart watches, or reference tabs. Assume everything on the desk is inspected and that the room may be recorded.
Do not communicate with anyone during the exam. Talking to yourself, reading questions aloud, or looking away from the screen repeatedly can be flagged; if you need help, address the proctor through the approved channel.
Breaks are tightly restricted, especially in online-proctored delivery. Assume you cannot leave the camera view once the exam starts; confirm the scheduled-break policy for your delivery method with the provider - needs_review.
Scoring is criterion-based against a passing score, not curved against other candidates. Historically the Advanced Administrator exam has 60 scored items in 105 minutes with a passing score around 65%, but treat exact counts and cut scores as needs_review and confirm with the provider.
Exam content is confidential. Do not reproduce, discuss, or post actual questions afterward - this violates the certification agreement and can invalidate your result.
Retake rules include a waiting period and a fee. Confirm the current waiting period (often shorter after a first attempt and longer after subsequent attempts) and the fee amount with the provider - needs_review.
Report technical failures to the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting quietly; most providers have a documented incident process that protects your attempt only if the issue is logged during the session. Confirm that process beforehand.