STS exam-day guide
STS · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document (not a photocopy). The name on it should match your registration record exactly. Accepted ID types vary by provider and test center, so confirm the approved forms with the provider before exam day.
Appointment confirmation or admission ticket
Have your confirmation number, appointment time, and test center address available in printed or digital form. Screenshot it in case connectivity is poor at the site.
Exact arrival time and location logistics
Confirm the required check-in time with the provider (many centers ask candidates to arrive well before the start). Plan parking, transit, and a buffer for traffic, and know the building and suite number.
Candidate account login or program code
Confirm with the provider whether the proctor launches the exam for you or whether you type credentials at the workstation. If you need a password, verify it works the day before.
Approved calculator and reference materials
Confirm what the provider permits. Many computer-based exams supply an on-screen calculator and prohibit personal ones, and most do not allow outside notes or reference sheets. Do not assume; verify.
Scratch paper and writing instrument
Most test centers issue a whiteboard or scratch paper and a pen and require you to return them. Do not bring your own unless the provider explicitly permits it.
Comfort and logistics items
Water and a snack for the break period, a light layer in case the room is cold, and any medication you may need. Expect to store personal items in a locker rather than at your seat.
Phone number for test center or provider support
Save it in advance so you can call about a closure, weather delay, or illness. Ask the provider about the reschedule and no-show policy while you still have time.
A single-page review summary
Keep it short and use it in the car or waiting area only. Plan to leave it outside the testing room; outside study material is generally not allowed at the workstation.
Score-report expectations
Confirm how and when results are delivered and what the passing standard is, so you are not surprised at the end of the session.
Rest plan for the night before
Protect sleep rather than adding new material late. Fatigue costs more points than one extra hour of cramming gains.
Plan the day
Confirm appointment time, address, and ID requirements with the provider. Do a dry run of the route or check transit schedules. Review your weakest two or three topics only, using practice questions rather than rereading. Stop introducing new material.
Pack your ID, confirmation, and comfort items in one bag. Charge your phone and any devices, but plan to leave them in a locker. Confirm the check-in time once more. Eat a normal dinner, set two alarms, and go to bed at your usual hour rather than studying late.
Eat a real meal with protein and slow carbs, hydrate modestly, and avoid heavy caffeine if you are already anxious. Leave earlier than the map suggests. Arrive at the building, find the suite, and use the waiting time for breathing and a brief skim of your one-page summary, not for new material.
Present your ID, complete any signature or nondisclosure agreement, store personal items in the assigned locker, and use the restroom before you are seated. Ask the proctor how to request a break and how to flag a technical problem.
Read the interface tutorial or instructions even if you think you know them, note the time remaining and the question count, and confirm how to flag and revisit items. Write down your time-per-question target if scratch materials are provided.
Work in passes: answer what comes quickly, flag anything that needs more thought, and return to flagged items. Answer every question unless the provider states otherwise about scoring penalties. If a question stalls you, mark it and move; do not let one item consume your pace.
If a scheduled break is offered, take it, stand up, drink water, and return with a minute to spare. If you take an unscheduled break, assume the clock keeps running until the provider confirms otherwise.
Stop opening new flagged items unless they are quick. Verify you have no unanswered questions, resolve or release your flags, and submit deliberately, confirming the submission screen before you leave the workstation.
Note when results will be released and how to appeal or retake if needed. Write down nothing about specific question content; confidentiality obligations typically continue after the exam.
Rules to check
Bring the ID the provider specifies and make sure the name matches your registration. A mismatch or missing ID can bar you from testing, and the remedy policy varies by provider, so verify in advance.
Assume no personal items are allowed at the workstation. Phones, smart watches, and other wearables usually must be stored in a locker, and a device found on you, even powered off, can invalidate your score. Confirm the exact policy with the provider.
Use only the scratch materials the test center issues, and return them at the end of the session. Do not write down or remove exam content.
You will likely sign a confidentiality or nondisclosure agreement. Do not discuss, reconstruct, or share specific exam questions with anyone afterward, including in study groups or online forums.
Break and timing rules differ between providers and delivery formats. Confirm before exam day whether breaks are scheduled or unscheduled and whether the clock runs during them.
If equipment fails, the screen freezes, or you feel unwell, raise your hand and notify the proctor immediately. Do not reboot or troubleshoot the workstation yourself, and ask for an incident record.
Most credentialing exams do not penalize wrong answers, making a reasoned guess preferable to a blank, but confirm the scoring rule for this exam rather than assuming.
Passing standards, score reporting timelines, and retake limits are set by the provider. Do not rely on secondhand accounts; confirm the specifics in your candidate handbook.