Apr 25, 2026
CompTIA Exam Day Prep: What to Bring, How to Manage Time, and How to Beat Test Anxiety
You can know the material and still lose points on exam day because of preventable stuff: wrong ID, slow start, spending 18 minutes on one PBQ, or spiraling when you hit a question you do not recognize.
This post is a step-by-step exam day playbook you can follow for any CompTIA exam (A+, Network+, Security+, Tech+). Use it to reduce surprises, protect your score, and walk out knowing you gave yourself the best possible shot.
Know what you are walking into (so your brain does not panic)
CompTIA exams are timed, and most have a similar structure: a few Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) plus multiple-choice questions. Your job on exam day is not to be perfect. It is to be consistent, calm, and efficient.
Quick exam facts (plan your pacing around these)
Exam | Max questions | Time limit | Passing score | Typical exam fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A+ Core 1 (220-1201) | Up to 90 | 90 minutes | 675/900 | $265 |
A+ Core 2 (220-1202) | Up to 90 | 90 minutes | 700/900 | $265 |
Network+ (N10-009) | Up to 90 | 90 minutes | 720/900 | $390 |
Security+ (SY0-701) | Up to 90 | 90 minutes | 750/900 | $392 |
Tech+ (FC0-U71) | Up to 75 | 60 minutes | 650/900 | $125 |
Actionable takeaway: treat your time like a budget. If you spend too much early, you will feel rushed late, and that is when you start making “I knew that” mistakes.
What to bring to a test center (and what to leave at home)
Bring these (non-negotiable)
Two forms of ID (primary and secondary). CompTIA and Pearson VUE require two forms of identification at the test center, and your name must match your registration.
Car keys and a simple wallet (no loose papers). Assume you will store personal items in a locker.
A light layer (hoodies are usually fine, but keep it simple). Test centers can be cold.
Leave these in your car (or at home)
Smartwatch, earbuds, phone, notes, “cheat sheets”, or anything you might fidget with.
Extra bags, hats, and complicated pockets. More items equals more check-in friction.
Practical tip: the #1 preventable exam-day failure is ID problems. Two days before your exam, open your CompTIA/Pearson VUE account and confirm your name is exactly how it appears on your IDs.
Online (OnVUE) vs test center: choose based on risk, not convenience
Online proctoring is great when it works, but it is less forgiving. Test centers are boring, and boring is good on exam day.
If you test online (OnVUE), do this the day before
Run the official system test on the same computer and same internet connection you will use on exam day.
Update and reboot (OS updates, then restart). The goal is fewer background surprises.
Disable aggressive firewall/AV popups that might block webcam or the secure browser.
Prepare the room:
Clear desk completely.
Remove extra monitors (or disconnect them).
Good lighting on your face.
No one enters the room.
If you test at a center, do this the day before
Drive the route at the same time of day if possible (traffic patterns matter).
Plan to arrive early enough to park, check in, and breathe.
Rule of thumb: if your home setup is unpredictable (shared Wi-Fi, roommates, noisy environment), book the test center. The exam is expensive and your time is more expensive.
The exam day checklist (timeline you can follow)
The night before
Set out both IDs.
Confirm appointment time and location.
Eat a normal dinner (do not “reward” yourself with something that wrecks your sleep).
Stop new studying 1-2 hours before bed. Replace it with light review:
Common ports (Network+)
Acronyms and logs (Security+)
Command-line basics and Windows tools (A+)
The morning of
Eat a simple meal with protein + carbs (steady energy).
Hydrate, but do not overdo it.
Show up early enough to settle in. Aim for “calm early”, not “sprinting late”.
Time management that actually works (PBQs, flags, pacing)
Most CompTIA time problems come from two behaviors:
1) Trying to solve the first PBQ perfectly while your brain is still ramping up.
2) Refusing to let go of a difficult multiple-choice question.
A simple pacing strategy for 90-minute exams
Use this as a default plan:
0-5 minutes: scan PBQs, do not commit
Read each PBQ prompt.
If one is clearly easy, do it.
Otherwise, flag PBQs and move on.
5-60 minutes: multiple-choice first pass (speed + accuracy)
Target about 45-60 seconds per question on average.
If you cannot eliminate at least two choices quickly, flag and move.
60-80 minutes: PBQs
Now your brain is warm and you have more context.
Treat each PBQ like a ticket: you can earn partial credit by getting key pieces right.
80-90 minutes: flagged review
Only revisit flagged items.
Do not second-guess questions you answered confidently.
How to handle PBQs without burning 20 minutes
PBQs are meant to feel like “work”. The trick is to convert them into checklists.
Read the scoring objectives inside the prompt. Many PBQs literally tell you what to configure.
Start with the easiest, highest-confidence elements.
Example: In a firewall PBQ, set obvious deny rules first (known bad ports/services).
Example: In a troubleshooting PBQ, list the fastest checks first (power, link lights, IP config).
Do not chase perfection. If you are stuck, capture the most likely correct configuration and move on.
The “two-pass” multiple-choice method (keeps you out of the weeds)
Pass 1: Answer what you know. Flag what you do not.
Pass 2: Re-attack flags with fresh eyes.
This works because it prevents time sink questions from stealing time from easy points.
Handling test anxiety: a practical toolset (not motivational posters)
Test anxiety is usually your body reacting to uncertainty. Your job is to reduce uncertainty with procedures.
Use a 30-second reset routine (during the exam)
When you feel panic rising:
Put both feet flat.
Inhale 4 seconds, hold 2 seconds, exhale 6 seconds.
Say (silently): “One question at a time.”
Return to the question and apply elimination.
This interrupts the loop where your brain starts predicting failure instead of solving.
Reframe “I do not know this” into a scoring move
When you hit a question you do not recognize:
Your goal is not to “know it”. Your goal is to maximize probability.
Do this in order:
1) Identify the domain (networking, access control, malware, cloud, troubleshooting).
2) Eliminate choices that violate a basic rule.
Security+ example: choices that weaken security (plaintext, no MFA, disable logging) are often wrong.
Network+ example: wrong layer (mixing up switching vs routing) often reveals bad distractors. 3) Pick the best remaining answer, flag if needed, move.
Avoid the biggest anxiety trap: changing correct answers
If you answered quickly and confidently, do not revisit it unless you later recall a specific fact that proves it wrong. Random review increases doubt and costs time.
Your final 7-day “exam readiness” routine (do this before every CompTIA attempt)
Use this as a mini-plan in the week before your exam.
Day 7-5: 2 timed sets per day (30-45 questions). Review every miss.
Day 4-3: 1 timed set + 20-30 minutes of weak-area drills.
Day 2: PBQ practice + light mixed questions. Stop heavy studying early.
Day 1: Setup and logistics only. Light review. Sleep.
Key rule: do not cram new topics in the last 48 hours. Instead, tighten execution: pacing, flags, PBQ workflow, and mistakes you repeatedly make.
FAQ
1) Should I do PBQs first or last?
If you are not extremely comfortable with PBQs, do them after your first multiple-choice pass. This prevents early time loss and gives your brain context.
2) What if I am running out of time?
Switch to “probability mode”:
- Stop deep reading.
- Eliminate obviously wrong answers.
- Answer, flag only if you have time left.
Unanswered questions are guaranteed zero. Educated guesses are not.
3) What is the best way to use the flag feature?
Flag questions that meet one of these:
- You narrowed to two answers but need a detail.
- The question is long and you need to regain time.
- You recognize the topic but the wording feels tricky.
Do not flag everything. Flagging is a prioritization tool.
4) How do I reduce anxiety if I have had a bad testing experience before?
Rebuild trust with reps that mimic exam conditions:
- Timed sets
- Quiet environment
- No phone
- Full review afterward
Anxiety drops when your brain has proof you can execute under constraints.
5) Is online testing (OnVUE) a bad idea?
Not inherently. It is just higher variance. If you can control your environment and your system passes the test reliably, it can be smooth. If your setup is unstable, a test center is usually the safer play.
One thing to do today
Write your personal “exam day script” on one page:
- What you bring
- When you arrive / check in
- Your pacing plan (first pass, PBQs, review)
- Your 30-second reset routine
Then follow that script in your next timed practice set. Exam day should feel like a familiar routine, not a one-time event.
Start practicing today at study.cyberexamprep.com with unlimited questions across all CompTIA exams.
