TX Property & Casualty exam-day guide
TX Property & Casualty · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID with your photo and signature. The name must match your exam registration exactly - a mismatch or missing signature can keep you out of the testing room.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have your confirmation number and candidate ID handy before you enter the building (view it on your phone in the parking lot, since the phone stays outside the testing room).
Proof of prelicensing course completion
Texas requires a prelicensing course before you can sit for the General Lines Property & Casualty exam. Schools usually report completion electronically; bring a copy of your certificate anyway as a backup.
Testing center address, parking, and route
Look up the center the day before, note parking costs and entrance location, and plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment time. Office-park centers can be hard to find on the first try.
A short list of what stays in the car or locker
No notes, textbooks, flashcards, phones, smartwatches, fitness bands, or bags in the testing room. Keep your study materials in the car so you are not tempted to carry them in. Confirm locker or cubby availability with the center.
Scratch paper and calculator expectations
Most centers issue scratch material at the desk and provide any calculator on screen. Do not bring your own. Confirm what the center supplies when you check in.
Water and a light snack for before/after
Eat a normal meal beforehand. Anything you consume mid-exam happens on the clock, so plan on a snack in the car rather than a break.
A final review sheet of Texas-specific topics
The night before, skim only the state-specific material: TDI licensing and regulatory rules, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, coastal windstorm and hail issues, dwelling and homeowners basics, personal auto, and flood as a separate federal program.
Knowledge of reschedule and retake rules
Before test day, confirm the deadline and fee for rescheduling, and the waiting period and fee if you need to retake. Get these in writing from your exam provider.
Approved accommodations confirmed in advance
If you requested extra time or a separate room for a documented condition, confirm approval in writing before you arrive. Accommodations are not arranged at the door.
Earplugs or noise policy
Some centers supply earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones and prohibit bringing your own. Ask when you schedule.
Phone charged and silenced before entry
You will need it to check in and to call if you are delayed, but it must be powered off and stored before you enter the testing room.
Plan the day
Reconfirm your appointment date, time, and location in your scheduling account. Verify your ID is unexpired and the name matches your registration. Take one or two full-length practice exams under timed conditions, then spend remaining study time only on your weakest two or three content areas - stop adding new material.
Do a focused pass on Texas state-specific rules and the coverage comparisons that trip people up: named perils vs. open perils, coinsurance and deductibles, liability limits, exclusions, and endorsements. Write a one-page summary in your own words and reread only that.
Light review only - no cramming after dinner. Pack your ID and confirmation number, set out clothes, confirm the center's hours and parking, set two alarms, and get a full night's sleep. Avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine.
Eat a normal breakfast. Leave earlier than the map suggests so traffic or parking does not eat your check-in buffer. Arrive 30 minutes early, use the restroom, store everything in the car or locker, and present your ID.
Answer every question you know quickly. Read the whole question and watch for qualifiers like EXCEPT, NOT, and BEST. On calculation items, write the formula on scratch paper before computing. Flag and move past anything that takes more than about a minute.
Return to flagged items with fresh eyes. Eliminate two choices first, then decide. Never leave a blank - there is no penalty for guessing. Check your remaining time at the halfway point and adjust pace accordingly.
You will normally receive a pass/fail result at the center before you leave. Read the printed score report carefully, note any content areas flagged as weak, and keep the document - you may need it for your license application or a retake.
Rules to check
Your ID must be unexpired, government-issued, and show both a photo and your signature. The name must match your registration exactly; a discrepancy can bar you from the exam and forfeit your fee. If your name recently changed, resolve it with the provider before test day.
No electronic devices of any kind are permitted in the testing room - phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, earbuds, and recording devices included. Possession during the exam can void your score regardless of whether you used it.
You may not bring notes, books, flashcards, or your own scratch paper, and you may not write anything down outside the materials the center provides. Do not attempt to photograph, transcribe, or discuss exam content - you sign a confidentiality agreement at check-in.
Unscheduled breaks are generally available, but the exam clock keeps running and you must sign out and back in with ID. Plan to take the exam in one sitting rather than relying on breaks.
Most licensing exams are scored on a scaled basis with a passing score around 70. Confirm the current passing standard and whether your report shows a scaled score or only pass/fail before you sit.
If you do not pass, you must reschedule and pay another exam fee, and a waiting period may apply before your next attempt. Confirm the exact waiting period, fees, and any attempt limits with your exam provider and the Texas Department of Insurance.
Testing center rules, prohibited-item lists, and check-in procedures change periodically. Read the current candidate handbook from your exam provider the day before your appointment rather than relying on what a classmate told you.
Follow all proctor instructions immediately. Arguing with staff, leaving the testing area without signing out, or being disruptive can result in your exam being terminated and your fee forfeited, with an appeal process you would have to pursue afterward.