From my personal experience, there are two things you need to pay attention to: absolutely no prohibited programs running unexpectedly. For example, if you're taking an exam and such a program pops up, and the proctor catches you (which they will), you'll fail immediately. In such cases, support emails rarely get a reply, and calling them often costs hundreds of thousands of dong just to be told you violated the rules.
The second thing is to use the same computer for system testing and for the exam; don't switch machines. You should also visit the camera test page to see if your browser can take photos (because fumbling with configurations during the exam will waste time and might make you flustered and unable to finish on time).
Other issues are generally easy, but remember to communicate with them (just say "Hello," listen to what they say, and then say "Confirm," and everything should be fine). If you can't hear them well, ask them nicely to text or chat; they will chat, but don't ask them to chat 100% of the time. If you get a difficult proctor, they might make you reschedule or retest your machine. I've experienced this because they told me they couldn't hear what I was saying when I asked them to chat too much, probably because their hands got tired. One rather strange thing is that they often tell me not to use the TouchPad (I guess there's some trick that their software can't control, so remember to say you're not using it and just use a mouse. They ask this several times).
And a crucial survival tip is to study thoroughly. If you get an exam voucher with 100% retake insurance, and it's cheaper than a single-attempt voucher from Security365, your chances of passing are 99%.
Taking online exams at home is a reasonable choice for those in other provinces or who cannot arrange time to go to a testing center. However, it is also the format with the most ways to fail — and when you fail, you lose the exam attempt.
This article lists everything you need to prepare, and what you absolutely must not do.
First: should you take the exam online?
Online exams are suitable if:
- You live far from a testing center
- You need a time slot outside of business hours
- You have a private room that can be closed, and no one will enter for 2 hours
- Your home internet connection is stable
Choose a testing center if:
- This is your first international certification exam
- You live in a shared room, or have small children or pets at home
- Your internet connection is often unstable
- You easily get stressed by technical procedures
The decisive factor is not convenience, but your level of environmental control. At a testing center, if the computer breaks down, that's their problem. At home, all risks are yours.
Equipment Requirements
Computer: laptop or desktop running a supported version of Windows or macOS. Tablets and phones cannot be used for exams.
Webcam: mandatory, and must be movable — you will need to use it (or your phone, depending on the process) to scan the entire room for the proctor. Webcams permanently attached to desktop monitors can cause difficulties.
Microphone and speakers: mandatory. Headphones are usually not allowed during the exam.
A single monitor. This is where many people get tripped up: a laptop connected to an external monitor will be considered two monitors. You must unplug the cable and completely turn off the secondary monitor.
Administrator rights on the computer. The monitoring software needs to be installed and run. Company computers usually cannot be used for exams because they are blocked by security policies or device management software. Don't wait until exam day to find this out.
Internet connection: stability is more important than high speed. A flickering Wi-Fi connection is more dangerous than a slow but consistent network. If possible, use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi.
Run the System Check – Mandatory
Pearson VUE provides a system check tool before your exam date. Run it at least twice:
- Immediately after scheduling, to allow time to address any issues if your computer doesn't meet the requirements
- One day before the exam, in case an operating system update breaks something
Important: run the system check on the exact machine, in the exact room, and with the exact internet connection you will use on exam day. Checking at the office and then taking the exam at home is pointless.
Exam Room Regulations
This is the strictest part and also where examinees often have their exams canceled.
The room must be private and able to be closed. Do not take the exam in a living room, coffee shop, library, or shared office.
No one is allowed to enter the room for the entire duration of the exam. Not even a family member opening the door to ask a question. Inform everyone in the house beforehand, lock the door, hang a sign if necessary.
The desk must be completely clear. No books, no papers, no pens, no water cups, no phones, no decorations. Clear means clear.
No materials allowed within camera view. Even bookshelves behind you may be required to be covered.
No watches, no headphones, no hats. Small jewelry is usually allowed, but the proctor has the right to ask you to remove it.
No physical scratch paper. The exam has an electronic notepad on the screen. Familiarize yourself with it beforehand by trying it during the system check.
Exam Day Procedure
Log in 30 minutes early. This isn't just a polite recommendation — the check-in process takes quite a while, and starting late may result in your exam attempt being canceled.
Check-in steps:
- Take a photo of your face
- Take photos of your identification (both sides)
- Scan the entire room: all four walls, ceiling, floor, desk, under the desk
- Wait for the proctor to approve
The room scan step often needs to be repeated several times if you scan too quickly. Take your time, rotate to all angles.
Once approved, the exam begins. From this point until the end:
- Do not leave the camera frame, even for a few seconds
- Do not talk, even to yourself or read aloud under your breath
- Do not cover your mouth or put your hand on your face for too long
- Do not continuously look away from the screen
- No breaks. 90 continuous minutes. Use the restroom before starting.
Errors Leading to Exam Cancellation
This is a real list, not just for show:
| Error | Severity |
|---|---|
| Another person enters the room | Immediate exam cancellation |
| Leaves the camera frame | Immediate exam cancellation |
| Speaks aloud | Warning or cancellation |
| Phone within reach | Warning or cancellation |
| Second monitor not turned off | Not allowed to start the exam |
| Late beyond allowed time | Loss of exam attempt |
| Prolonged loss of connection | May lose exam attempt |
| Name doesn't match ID | Not allowed to take the exam |
Exam cancellation means losing the voucher. There are no exceptions for objective reasons such as power outages or family members being unaware.
Practical Preparation for Exam Day
One day before:
- Run the system check again
- Turn off automatic operating system updates
- Check that your ID is still valid
- Clean up the room and desk
On exam day, 1 hour before:
- Inform everyone in the house of the exam time, instruct them not to knock
- Turn off notifications on your computer, close all applications
- Unplug secondary monitors
- Use the restroom
- Put your phone out of the room, not just in a drawer
30 minutes before: log in and begin the check-in process.
If an issue occurs mid-exam
A brief loss of connection usually self-recovers, and the exam continues from where you left off. Don't panic, don't turn off your computer, don't restart.
If it doesn't recover, contact Pearson VUE support immediately. Note the time and describe the incident — if you want to appeal, this is the only evidence you have.
Honestly: the chances of being granted another exam attempt due to technical issues on the candidate's side are low. That's why the preparation part above is so important.
A Way to Think About This Risk
Online exams come with a long list of things that can go wrong that you don't fully control: electricity, internet, family members, a cat jumping on the desk. Thorough preparation can mitigate most, but not all.
If you choose to take the exam online due to circumstances rather than preference, having a backup exam attempt is much more worthwhile than for someone taking it at a testing center. Not because you're a weaker student, but because you're taking on an additional type of risk that has nothing to do with your knowledge.
See also: How to register for the Security+ exam from A to Z · How to retake the Security+ exam if you fail