Exam Day Checklist

The night before

• Stop studying NEW material after 8 PM - brain consolidation time

• Review the Rapid Recall section - recall only, no deep dives

• Prepare ID and exam confirmation email - check what is required (typically 2 forms for in-person)

• If online proctored: test your webcam, microphone, and the testing environment

• Clear your desk of all materials, papers, electronic devices

• Get 7-8 hours of sleep. A tired brain fails pattern-recognition questions.

The morning of

• Light meal - heavy food causes brain fog

• Caffeine if you usually have it, but not more than usual

• Arrive 15-30 minutes early for in-person, log in 15 minutes early for online

• Bathroom break right before the exam starts

During the exam

• Read every question twice before answering

• Identify the keywords (least privilege, lowest cost, no public internet, etc.)

• Flag anything you are unsure about - first instinct usually right

• Yes/No solution questions: default to NO when uncertain

• Case studies: read the scenario once, then map each question to relevant sections

• Budget 2 minutes per question, no more than 90 seconds before flagging

• Save 15 minutes at the end for flagged questions

• Never leave anything blank - no penalty for wrong answers

• Trust your preparation. You only need 700/1000.

After the exam

• You see your score immediately (pass/fail at minimum)

• If you failed, the score report shows weakest domains - hit those, retake (14 day wait)

• If you passed, the badge appears in your Microsoft Learn profile within 24 hours

• Add to LinkedIn, update your resume - this is a real certification, treat it like one