You've Done the Work. Don't Blow It Now.
You've spent weeks or months preparing. Your ReadyScore is above 85%. You know the material. But exam day brings its own challenges, and even well-prepared candidates can fail due to avoidable mistakes.
Here are seven exam day errors we've seen cost people their certification — and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Poor Sleep the Night Before
It's tempting to cram until midnight, but sleep deprivation significantly impairs cognitive function. Your brain consolidates memories during sleep, so a good night's rest is actually the most productive thing you can do the night before.
The fix: Stop studying by 6 PM the day before. Do something relaxing. Get to bed at your normal time. Trust that your preparation is complete.
Mistake #2: Arriving Rushed and Stressed
Traffic, parking problems, or underestimating travel time can leave you frazzled before you even start. Stress hormones impair memory recall and clear thinking.
The fix: Do a test run to the testing center beforehand. On exam day, arrive 30-45 minutes early. Use the extra time to sit quietly and center yourself.
Mistake #3: Skipping Breakfast (or Eating the Wrong Thing)
Your brain needs fuel. Skipping breakfast or eating something heavy that makes you sluggish can impact your performance.
The fix: Eat a balanced breakfast with protein and complex carbs. Avoid excessive caffeine if you're not used to it. Bring a snack if your exam allows breaks.
Mistake #4: Getting Stuck on Hard Questions
Spending 10 minutes on a single difficult question means less time for questions you could answer easily. This is how people run out of time with questions left unanswered.
The fix: Set a time limit per question based on your total time. If you hit that limit, mark the question for review and move on. Come back to it if you have time at the end.
Mistake #5: Second-Guessing Correct Answers
Research consistently shows that your first instinct is usually right. People who change answers tend to change from correct to incorrect more often than the reverse.
The fix: Only change an answer if you have a specific, concrete reason — like realizing you misread the question. Vague uncertainty is not a good reason to change.
Mistake #6: Panicking When You Don't Know Something
Every exam has questions that will stump you. If you encounter several hard questions in a row, it's easy to spiral into panic and self-doubt.
The fix: Remember that you don't need 100% to pass. Stay calm, make your best guess on tough questions, and keep moving. Your overall preparation will carry you through.
Mistake #7: Ignoring Physical Needs
Suppressing the need to use the restroom or ignoring that your neck is cramping diverts mental energy away from the exam.
The fix: Take care of physical needs before they become distracting. Use available breaks. Do quick stretches if you're getting stiff.
The Meta-Lesson
All of these mistakes share a common theme: they involve factors outside the actual material you've studied. You can know everything on the exam and still fail because of exam day execution.
This is why we emphasize at Upsero that preparation isn't just about content — it's about being ready to perform on the day that matters.
Your Pre-Exam Checklist
- [ ] Stopped studying by 6 PM the day before
- [ ] Got 7-8 hours of sleep
- [ ] Did a test run to the testing center
- [ ] Know exactly where to park/how to get there
- [ ] Have ID and any required documentation ready
- [ ] Planned a balanced breakfast
- [ ] Have a time-per-question strategy
- [ ] Mentally prepared to encounter some hard questions
- [ ] Set phone to silent and put it away
Follow this checklist, trust your preparation, and go earn that certification.