Exam room materials

Use of materials such as supplements, exhibits, noteboards, calculators, or diagrams are dictated by the exam sponsor and are documented in the client reference. These materials should not be placed on the delivery workstations prior to candidate arrival.

Any materials the candidate brings into the testing room are subject to inspection. You must check the materials for any written or loose notes or papers. You must also check the memory of a programmable calculator before and after testing. These procedures help prevent a breach of security from occurring.

Reference materials and exam supplements

Some exam sponsors allow candidates to use reference materials (books and diagrams) in the testing room. These reference materials are necessary to respond to certain questions within the exam. The use of personal reference materials is specifically indicated in an exam sponsor's client reference.

All supplements, exhibits, closing statements, blueprints, reference books, or any other materials used in the testing room must be inspected before and after use by a candidate.

Keep all supplements and exhibits current, accessible, and in good working condition. If supplements or exhibits become damaged and need to be replaced, create a case.

Exam supplement agreement

When you provide a supplement, exhibit, or reference material, the candidate and you may be required to complete the Exam Supplement Agreement. This agreement is primarily required for regulatory exams. If an exam sponsor requires this agreement to be completed, it will be indicated in the exam sponsor's client reference.

Calculators

If a calculator is required during the exam, typically a calculator is built into the exam that candidates can use. The division symbol on this calculator is the / key.

Some exam sponsors allow candidates to use their own calculators but only if the calculator meets specific requirements, such as it must be non-programmable.

Non-programmable calculators are battery or solar-operated, silent, hand-held, and do not have an alphabetic or graphic display. Alphabetic characters are considered to be ABC, DEF (similar to a cell phone). Exceptions are mathematical symbols such as cos or sin.
Programmable calculators have storage or memory capabilities and usually include the following keys: STO (storage), RCL (recall), MEM (memory), and PRGM (program).

Make sure to refer to an exam sponsor's client reference for calculator requirements and policies. Some exam sponsors require calculators with memory capabilities to be checked by test administrators before and after a candidate's exam to prevent any possible security breach. If an exam sponsor's client reference does not indicate whether a programmable calculator needs to be checked, make sure to check the calculator.

Generally, to check a calculator's memory, press each of the memory keys and look for information saved to the calculator's memory. Use your best judgment. For instance, candidates may have personal information, such as phone numbers, stored in a calculator's memory. In these cases, do not delete the memory. Make sure to document any suspicious findings in a case.

Generally, real estate and appraiser candidates are allowed to use any type of calculator, including those with memory capabilities (that is, programmable calculators). Again, refer to the exam sponsor's client reference for information on what types of calculators are allowed.

Candidate photo identification

Candidates are required to take one form of photo-bearing identification (ID) into the testing room when they begin their exam. The candidate's ID is used to identify the candidate when they take an unscheduled break.