IT certification exam day guide

The short version

On exam day you check in with a government-issued ID, accept the exam rules, answer your questions on a timer, and usually see a result soon after you finish. You can sit the exam at a test center or, with most major vendors, at home with online proctoring. Rules differ by vendor and by provider, so the provider’s page for your exam is always the final word.

Nothing about exam day is hard. It is just unfamiliar, and unfamiliar things are stressful. This guide removes the surprises.

Who runs the exam?

Most big IT vendors do not run their own test centers. They use a delivery provider. Pearson VUE is the one you will meet most often. From the vendors’ own pages, here is what we could verify (October 18, 2026):

  • Microsoft: exams are delivered through Pearson VUE, at a test center or online. Microsoft Office Specialist exams and exams for students and academic institutions can go through Certiport instead.
  • CompTIA: online exams run on Pearson VUE’s OnVUE software, and test center exams are available too.
  • AWS: exams are currently offered through Pearson VUE, with online proctoring available for all AWS Certification exams and test centers too.
  • Cisco: Pearson VUE administers all Cisco exams except the CCIE lab exams. Most written, proctored Cisco exams can be taken online with OnVUE, where the proctoring software and support are currently English and Japanese only.

Delivery providers and options can change, and not every country has an online option. When you book, you will see what is offered for your exam and region.

Test center or online?

A test center gives you a quiet, pre-configured room. You do not need to test your own computer. The trade-off is travel and a fixed location.

Online proctoring lets you test at home or in an office. You are responsible for your computer, your internet connection, and your room. A proctor watches you by webcam and microphone, and the session is recorded. Microsoft notes that the greeter and proctor support is in English even when the exam itself is in another language. Pearson VUE may also use facial comparison to check your identity. If you do not want that, or do not want to be recorded, choose a test center.

Pick online if your home setup is quiet and reliable. Pick a test center if you share space, have an unstable connection, or know that a technical hiccup would rattle you.

Arriving and checking in

At a test center. CompTIA’s own guidance recommends arriving at least 15 minutes before your appointment. Expect a photo at check-in, a quick review of the rules, and a secure place or instructions for your belongings. Phones, bags, notes, and watches stay out of the testing room. Some centers have lockers, so bring as little as possible. Ask your center ahead of time if you are unsure.

Online. Check-in opens about 30 minutes before your appointment time. Both Microsoft and AWS describe this window, and CompTIA adds that you cannot test if you are more than 15 minutes late. The check-in itself takes around 15 minutes according to Microsoft, and longer if your computer needs attention. You will typically:

  1. Start the exam from your vendor or provider account and run the check-in.
  2. Take a headshot and a photo of your ID, usually with your phone.
  3. Take photos of your room and desk.
  4. Wait for a greeter to review everything, then for a proctor to connect.

Do not worry if the greeter asks you to move an item or show your sleeves. It is routine.

ID requirements

You need a current, government-issued photo ID, and the name on it must match the name you registered with exactly. Microsoft stresses this and says forms such as ID renewal paperwork are not accepted for online exams. CompTIA says digital copies, photocopies, and expired IDs are not accepted.

The number of IDs differs. For online exams, CompTIA asks for one valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with your signature; for test centers, check CompTIA’s current test policies for the ID rules. Cisco’s exam policies page asks for two types of identification at test centers, both with your signature and one a government-issued photo ID, and AWS asks for one primary ID for online exams, while at a test center it asks for two primary IDs or one primary plus one secondary ID, with a name that matches your registration exactly. Rules also vary by country and by age. Check the ID policy in your appointment confirmation and on the Pearson VUE page for your vendor. If something about your ID or name is unusual, sort it out before exam day, not at the desk. Mismatched names are a common reason people are turned away, and fees can be forfeited.

The online room and system test

Run the provider’s system test well before exam day, on the same computer, internet connection, and in the same room you will use. Then run it again on exam day.

Common requirements from Microsoft and CompTIA:

  • A private, quiet, closed room. No one else may enter during the exam.
  • A clear desk. Books, notes, scrap paper, and writing tools stay out of reach.
  • One display. Unplug or turn away extra monitors.
  • A wired connection if possible. CompTIA lists minimum speeds of 6 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up, and says not to use a corporate network or VPN.
  • Admin rights on the computer. Work laptops often block the exam software, so a personal computer is safer.
  • Your phone nearby but out of arm’s reach, in case the proctor needs to call.

What is not allowed

The details differ by provider, but these are not allowed almost everywhere:

  • Phones, smartwatches, headphones, and other devices within reach.
  • Notes, books, and any outside help, including from AI tools.
  • Copying, photographing, or sharing exam questions, during or after the exam.
  • Eating, smoking, or chewing gum during an online exam, unless you have an approved accommodation. Microsoft allows a drink in a transparent, spill-proof container.
  • Reading questions aloud. CompTIA warns that repeating it can end your exam.

Breaking these rules can invalidate your result and can lead to a ban from the vendor’s program. This is also why we never describe real exam questions. See how we write our questions.

Breaks

Breaks depend on the vendor and the delivery method. Verified examples:

  • Microsoft: unscheduled breaks are allowed without asking in advance. Five minutes are built into the exam time, but the clock keeps running during the break. Once you start a break, you cannot return to the questions you saw before it.
  • AWS: unscheduled breaks are allowed at a test center, with the timer running. For online proctored exams, no breaks are permitted.
  • CompTIA: the online guidelines say breaks and leaving the webcam view are not permitted without a pre-approved accommodation, and that restroom breaks are not allowed during the exam.

The practical advice is the same everywhere: use the restroom, drink some water, and eat before you check in. If you need accommodations, request them before you book, because approval takes time.

Timing strategy

A scaled score or a percentage does not tell you how many questions you can afford to miss, so the goal is simple: answer every question.

  • Read the intro screen. It tells you the time, the number of questions, and whether there are case studies or labs.
  • Do the math early. Divide the time by the number of questions to get a rough minutes-per-question figure. Check yourself at the one-third and two-thirds marks.
  • Do not leave blanks. AWS and Microsoft both say incorrect answers are not penalized, so a guess beats an empty answer.
  • Do not burn time on one item. If you are stuck after a minute or two, choose your best answer, flag it, and move on.
  • Budget extra for labs and case studies. Microsoft says lab tasks take about three times as long as a standard question and that case studies are not timed separately.
  • Save comments for the end. AWS notes that writing comments counts against your exam time.

Our guide to exam question types shows what each format looks like so none of them surprises you.

Flagging and reviewing

Most exams let you flag a question and come back to it. AWS and Microsoft both show a review screen at the end of the main set. Two cautions:

  • Some sections lock after you leave them. Microsoft case studies and labs cannot be revisited once you move on. The exam tells you at the start of a section whether review is allowed, so read that screen.
  • Some question sets do not allow going back at all. If the interface says so, answer carefully before you click next.

A good rhythm is a first pass where you answer everything and flag the uncertain ones, then a review pass on the flagged items. Change an answer only if you can name a reason. Second-guessing without a reason usually does not help.

The end of the exam

After your last answer you will usually see a short survey, then your result.

  • Microsoft: most exams give results within minutes, labs take longer (about 30 minutes or more), and your score appears in your Learn profile within 24 hours. A passing score is 700 on a 1 to 1,000 scale for technical exams, and the score report shows a bar chart per skill area.
  • CompTIA: you get a score report at the end of the exam, and test center reports include your photo. CompTIA does not state a separate timeline for online results, so check your appointment emails.
  • AWS: results are available within 5 business days after you complete the exam, in your AWS Certification account under Exam History.
  • Cisco: written exams give a score report at completion, with a breakdown by section. Cisco notes that scores can be revised later, so confirm your official result online.

The score report is where to look for weak areas if you need to retake. Whether an on-screen result is final or provisional depends on the vendor, so read your result email and your vendor account.

If something goes wrong

  • Technical problem online: contact the proctor through the chat in the exam software. CompTIA’s guidelines say proctors cannot pause the exam, add time, or fix your equipment, so you want your setup solid before you start.
  • Equipment failure or internet loss: write down the Pearson VUE case number. Microsoft says it can waive the retake waiting period only when a Pearson VUE case documents a connectivity or equipment problem.
  • Late or missed appointment: online CompTIA exams lock you out if you are more than 15 minutes late. AWS says a missed appointment forfeits the fee.
  • Rescheduling or cancelling: Microsoft and AWS both say to change or cancel at least 24 hours before the appointment, or the fee is forfeited. AWS also says each appointment can be rescheduled only twice. For CompTIA test center exams, change at least one full business day (24 hours) ahead or the fee is forfeited. For online CompTIA exams, you can reschedule up to the scheduled start time. Cisco’s page for lab exams has stricter rules, so read the policy for your exam type.
  • Failing: it happens. See certification costs for retake waiting periods and fees.

Checklist: the day before

  1. Re-read your appointment confirmation: time, time zone, location, and ID rules.
  2. Check that the name on your ID matches your registration exactly.
  3. Online: run the system test again on the exact computer and network. Install updates now, not tomorrow.
  4. Clear your desk and room. Plan where the phone will sit.
  5. Test center: check the route, parking, and opening hours.
  6. Do a light review of your weak areas, then stop. A practice set timed like the real exam is better than cramming. For planning, see how to study for IT certification exams.
  7. Sleep.

Checklist: the morning of

  1. Eat and drink something. Use the restroom before you check in.
  2. Pack ID (original, unexpired) and nothing else for a test center.
  3. Online: close all other programs, turn off pop-up blockers, disconnect extra monitors, silence notifications, and rerun the system test.
  4. Log in early. Check-in opens about 30 minutes before your start time.
  5. Keep your phone out of reach but audible.
  6. Read the intro screen slowly. Then start your timer plan.

Next step

Learn which question formats to expect in exam question types, and see what it all costs in certification costs. When you want to rehearse, browse the practice exams.

FAQ

Can I bring notes or a calculator?

Usually not. Microsoft, CompTIA, and AWS all restrict notes and outside materials. Some exams offer an on-screen whiteboard or calculator. The exam intro screen and your confirmation say what is allowed.

Is online or test center easier?

Neither is easier overall. Online saves travel but puts the room, computer, and connection on you. A test center removes those risks.

What if my name does not match my ID?

Fix it before the exam. Microsoft says the names must match exactly. Contact the vendor’s support or the provider to update your profile.

Do I find out my score right away?

Often, but not always. Results are quick for many Microsoft and CompTIA exams, while AWS posts them within about five business days. Check the vendor’s page for your exam.