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Chapter 15: Ten Test Day Tips

In This Chapter

Preparing yourself physically and mentally
Bringing the right stuff to the exam

Overview

Well, your big day has finally arrived. After months of study and mind-numbing stress, you cram all night before the exam, skip breakfast because you’re running late, argue with the proctor about the way that you’re dressed, and then forget everything you know because you’ve got a splitting headache for the next six hours while sitting for your exam! That isn’t exactly a recipe for success - but the following ten test day tips will definitely get you on the right track.

Get a Good Night’s Rest

The night before the exam isn’t the time to do any last-minute cramming. Studies have proven that a good night’s rest is essential to doing well on an exam. Have a nice dinner (We recommend going for some carbohydrates and avoiding anything spicy) and then get to bed early. Save the all-night party for the day after the exam.

Dress Comfortably (And Appropriately)

You should dress in attire that’s comfortable - remember, this is a six- hour exam. It’s also a good idea to dress in layers - the exam room could be warmer or cooler than normal. Be sure to dress appropriately because some test locations might have specific dress requirements, such as business casual. Consider wearing slip-on shoes if you like to kick off your shoes to get more comfortable.

Eat a Good Breakfast

Mountain Dew and doughnuts: because breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Seriously, though, even if you’re not a breakfast person, try to get something down before sitting for the CISSP exam. No extra time is allotted for lunch breaks, so plan on eating a good, hearty breakfast.

Arrive Early

Absolutely, under no circumstances, do you want to arrive late for this exam. Make sure that you know where the exam site is located, what the traffic is like that time of the day, and where you can park. The doors to the testing site generally open at 8:00 a.m. for registration. At 8:30 a.m., the exam proctor will provide a brief introduction, including break rules and restroom locations. You’ll also receive instructions for filling out the answer sheets - you don’t want to miss any of this information. The actual exam begins at approximately 9:00 a.m. Be first in line when the doors open - you don’t want to be “that guy” arguing with the proctors and frantically scurrying around at the last (or after the last) minute. Remember, this isn’t a computer-based exam center or training facility: You’re not the only person taking the exam, and everybody starts at the same time.

Bring Your Registration Letter and ID

After you register online, International Information Systems Security Certifications Consortium (ISC) ² e- mails you a confirmation letter twice. Print the e-mail and the confirmation letter and bring both with you to the exam. You also need to bring your driver’s license, government-issued ID, or passport - these are the only forms of ID that are accepted.

Forward the e-mail to a Hotmail or Yahoo! account. You can download it in your hotel room if you lose your printed letter.

There’s a problem table at the test site that is available at 7:30 a.m. in case you don’t have your confirmation letter or have other problems.

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Miller L. H., Gregory P. H.

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