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CFA® exam day guide

Be fully prepared for your CFA exam day with everything you need to know. Learn what you need to bring and when to arrive, test center procedures, security measures, and day-of expectations.
a jacket laid out on a table with a clear water bottle and two calculators

What should I expect on exam day?

Please watch a video from our testing vendor, Prometric, to learn what the CFA exam day experience may look like. For those testing at British Council centers, your experience will be similar.

When should I arrive, and what are the test centre rules?

  • Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. If you arrive late for your appointment you may be refused admission.
  • Leave your belongings at home, in your car, or in the designated personal belongings area at the test center.
  • You may work through the exam at your own pace. See the exam breakdown below.
  • Listen for testing personnel to give you instructions, such as how to request to take a break.

What is the CFA exam breakdown?

This is the typical time allocation and structure for the exam:

Exam page

Time allotted on screen

Section: Introduction – Candidate Pledge & Exam Software Tutorial

19 minutes

Section (1 of 6): Exam Content Session 1*

135 minutes

Section (2 of 6): Break Introduction/Optional Break

31 minutes

Section (3 of 6): Exam Content Session 2 Introduction

1 minute

Section (4 of 6): Exam Content Session 2*

135 minutes

Section (5 of 6): Survey Introduction

1 minute

Section (6 of 6): Survey

8 minutes

Section: Finish

1 minute

*The time allotted for content sessions in the Level II and Level III exams will be two equal sessions of 132 minutes.

What should I bring to the CFA exam?

  1. Valid international travel passport

    Learn more about exam ID requirements.

  2. Approved calculator
    1. Texas Instruments BA II Plus (including BA II Plus Professional), or
    2. Hewlett Packard 12C (including the HP 12C Platinum, 12C Platinum 25th anniversary edition, 12C 30th anniversary edition, and HP 12C Prestige).
  3. Face mask 

    If desired or required in your test center (based on local guidelines).

  4. Additional layers of clothing 

    To ensure comfort with the temperature in the test center. 

  5. Water 

    In a clear bottle (no label and no images or writing). Food must be kept in your locker / personal belongings area.

  6. Additional personal care items

    Additional personal care items are allowed for your comfort in the test center. These items do not require pre-approval.

How is exam security managed?

Exams will be delivered in proctored exam centers with robust security measures in place. Each test center will closely monitor candidates for cheating in any form. We have strict cyber-security measures in place, and we work continuously with our IT experts to thoroughly identify any potential risks and solutions. Your test center may deploy Digital Video Recording (DVR or CCTV) within the interior of the test center to monitor the environment. Where allowed by law, this includes audio recordings within the reception/locker/personal belongings, proctor/security check-in and testing areas.

What if I need help during the exam?

During the normal course of the exam, you may need assistance from proctors. Proctors will come to workstations as quickly as possible to assist. If able, we encourage you to continue working on their exam until a proctor has assisted. Our exam writers have designed the exam to account for minor disruptions or pauses in order for candidates to still have adequate time to respond to all questions.

Are you new to the CFA Program?

If you're new to CFA Program, feel free to explore our CFA exam overview information. 

Exam guide – start to finish

Prior to exam day Hardware and software