Months of studying, mock tests and skipped weekend plans can all go to waste because of one wrong calculator or an expired passport. That’s why having a clear CFA Exam Day Checklist is just as important as your final revision.
I have seen candidates lose an entire attempt over things that had nothing to do with finance. Exam-day rules are strict, and test centre staff are required to follow them.So, here is the CFA Exam Day Checklist I would hand to a friend one week before the exam.
Table of Contents
CFA Exam Day Documents Checklist : Check Your Passport
CFA Institute accepts only one ID, and that is a valid international travel passport. Your Aadhaar card, PAN card and driving licence will not get you inside. A photocopy won’t either.
Check three things at least a week before the exam. The passport must not be expired on exam day. The name on it must match the name on your CFA Institute account exactly. And you must carry the original.
The name match trips up many Indian candidates. Initials, a missing middle name or a different surname spelling can all cause trouble. If you spot a mismatch, fix it early, because correcting a passport or an account takes time.
For the computer-based exam there is no separate admit card to print. Still, log in to your account a few days before and read your appointment details once more.
Calculator: Only Two Brands Work
Only two calculator models are allowed. One is the Texas Instruments BA II Plus, including the Professional version. The other is the HP 12C, including its Platinum, 25th anniversary, 30th anniversary and Prestige editions.
Your Casio scientific calculator will not do. Using any other model gets your result voided, and the proctors failing to notice it before the exam does not protect you. You also cannot borrow one from the centre or from the candidate sitting next to you.
Staff will inspect your calculator before you start. You may bring a calculator cover, keystroke cards and loose batteries. Instruction manuals are not allowed. If you use the BA II Plus, you can keep a small screwdriver for changing batteries.
Put fresh batteries in the day before. Do not leave it for the morning. And practice on the same calculator for months, because muscle memory saves minutes on time value of money questions.
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CFA Exam Day Checklist: What You Can Carry Inside
Think minimal. CFA Institute itself tells candidates to leave their belongings at home or in the car. The permitted items are your approved calculator and its accessories, your passport, eyeglasses without the case, and water in a clear container with a lid or cap. Keep all of it on your desk in full view when you aren’t using it.
Everything else goes into the center’s belongings area, and you cannot touch it during the exam. That includes your phone, wallet, bags, wristwatch, notes and study material. Smart glasses are not allowed either. Food and drinks other than water also stay outside.
You get scratch material from the test centre, so don’t bring your own pens or paper. Jewellery is restricted too. Wedding and engagement rings are fine, but plan to wear nothing else.
If you need medication or a medical device in the room, ask for approval before exam day. Don’t try to explain it at the door.
Center Rules and Arrival
CFA Institute recommends reaching the centre 30 minutes before your appointment. Take that seriously. If you arrive late, you can be refused entry, and your fees are then non-refundable, non-deferrable and non-transferable.
If you live in a metro, add extra buffer for traffic. Visiting the centre a week earlier is a smart move, so you know the route, the parking and the building entrance.
Expect a proper security check. Staff inspect your belongings, clothing and eyeglasses, and use a metal detector wand. This happens again when you come back from a break. The check-in can run ahead of or behind schedule, so the tutorial and exam may begin earlier or later than the time on your appointment.
You can take up to two unscheduled breaks, but the exam clock keeps running. You can use the restroom, and with permission from the staff you can get water, food or medical items from your belongings. Phones and study material stay off limits, and you cannot leave the centre.
The Night Before
Keep it simple. Pack your passport and calculator, check the batteries, confirm your route and sleep properly. Cramming new formulas at midnight rarely helps, but a good night’s sleep does.
FAQs
Sadly, no. Only the TI BA II Plus (the Professional version is fine too) and the HP 12C family are allowed. The Casio fx-991 is great for engineering exams, but CFA Institute won’t accept it, and if you’re caught with it your result gets voided. Buy the BA II Plus early and get used to it, because most people take a few weeks to get comfortable with its keystrokes.
No, and this is the one that catches students off guard. You need a valid international travel passport, original and not expired, and the name must match your CFA account exactly. If you don’t have one, apply right now. Passport appointments in India can take longer than you expect, and you can’t even register without it.
You can’t. Watches and timers of any kind stay outside the room, so a smartwatch is out of the question too. The best fix is to do your mock exams without a watch. You’ll learn to pace yourself by the number of questions you’ve finished, which works better than checking the time every five minutes anyway.
You can take up to two unscheduled breaks. The catch is that the exam clock keeps running while you’re away. You also can’t leave the test centre, and you can’t touch your phone or notes. So, treat a break as a last resort for the restroom or a quick sip of water, not as time to calm yourself down.
Water is fine, as long as it’s in a clear container with a lid or cap. Keep it on your desk. Food isn’t allowed inside the testing room. If you really need to eat something, you can ask the staff during an unscheduled break and they’ll let you get it from the belongings area. My advice is to eat a proper meal before you leave home and not depend on that.
