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Written Exam Day Checklist: What to Bring and What to Know

Tap each step to make sure you are ready before you walk into the test room.

  1. Bring photo ID and your admission ticket

    A valid, government-issued photo ID and your admission ticket or confirmation (a printout or the confirmation email/text is usually fine) are almost always required, and showing up without ID can get you turned away at the door.

  2. Check the allowed and banned item list

    Pens or pencils of a specific type, a basic analog watch, and sometimes a calculator are commonly allowed, while smartwatches and other connected devices are almost always banned. Read the official notice rather than assuming, since the list differs by test and institution.

  3. Look up the venue and plan your travel time

    Check the venue location and route the day before, and aim to arrive at least 30 minutes to an hour before the check-in cutoff. Many test centers refuse entry once the doors close, no exceptions.

  4. Know the phone and electronics storage rules

    Most test centers require you to power off your phone and other electronics and hand them in or store them in a designated spot before the exam starts. Being caught with a phone during the test is often treated as cheating, even if you never touched it.

  5. Pack a light snack and water if allowed

    For exams that run long or span a morning and afternoon session, a small snack and water can help you stay sharp between sections -- just confirm they are permitted in the room first.

  6. Re-read the official exam notice the night before

    Allowed items, seating rules, and dress or mask policies differ by institution, so a last read of the official instructions the night before catches anything you might have missed or misremembered.

The official notice beats general advice every time

Generic checklists like this one cover what is true most of the time, but the exact rules for allowed items, seating, and phone storage are always set by the individual test administrator. When the official notice says something different from general advice, follow the official notice.

Lay everything out the night before, not the morning of

Set your ID, admission ticket, pens, and any allowed snacks by the door the evening before, rather than searching for them half-awake the morning of the test. A five-minute check the night before removes most of the last-minute panic that causes people to forget something important.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I forget my ID -- can I use something else instead?

Usually only a valid, government-issued photo ID is accepted, and most test centers will not make exceptions unless they have announced a specific backup procedure in advance. Do not rely on a backup option that has not been explicitly confirmed by the test administrator.

Can I use the restroom during the exam?

It is usually allowed, but often with a proctor escort or a time limit, so it is safer to go before the exam starts whenever possible.