CFA Exam Day Rules 2026: Approved Calculators, ID and What to Bring

The CFA exam has strict exam-day rules, and the best-known one is the calculator policy. CFA Institute approves the Texas Instruments BA II Plus, including the BA II Plus Professional, and the Hewlett Packard 12C family, and using any other model can result in your exam results being voided. This guide covers the approved calculators, what you can and cannot take into the room, the ID rules, the exam format by level and what happens if you miss your appointment. Read the CFA Institute page for your own window, because policies can change. For the exam itself, see our CFA exam guide, and for dates and deferral rules see our CFA exam windows and deferral guide.

At a glance

Approved calculators

CFA Institute's calculator policy lists the TI BA II Plus, including the BA II Plus Professional, and the HP 12C. The HP 12C list includes the Platinum, the Platinum 25th anniversary edition, the 30th anniversary edition and the Prestige. Loose batteries are permitted, and a small screwdriver is permitted for changing BA II Plus batteries. You may not borrow a calculator from the test centre or another candidate. The policy page does not address whether you may bring a spare, so we do not state a rule either way. Check before exam day.

What happens with the wrong calculator

CFA Institute says that using a non-approved calculator will result in your exam results being voided. That is a severe penalty for a simple mistake, so check the exact model name printed on your device against the policy page well before the exam.

What you can take into the room

The personal belongings policy allows the approved calculator with its case, keystroke cards and loose batteries, eyeglasses without a case, your passport and water in a clear lidded container. Prohibited items include bags and wallets, study materials, phones, smartwatches, wristwatches and timers, food and drinks other than water, most jewellery apart from wedding or engagement rings, and prescription smart glasses. Writing tools and scratch paper are prohibited unless the test centre provides them.

ID and check-in

CFA Institute requires a valid, original, unexpired, machine-readable passport at check-in for both sessions, and the name on your account must match the passport. Alternative documents are listed by country, and approval requests are due at least 30 days before the exam. If your ID is not valid you cannot sit the exam and you forfeit the fee. Arrival 30 minutes early is recommended, and check-in includes a security inspection and a wand check.

Format by level

Level I is 180 multiple-choice questions in two sessions of 90, with three answer options, and each session lasts 135 minutes. Level II is 22 vignette item sets with 88 questions, in two sessions of 11 sets, each of 132 minutes. Level III is 11 item sets with 44 multiple-choice questions and 11 constructed-response sets, in two sessions that each mix item sets and essay sets, again of 132 minutes. CFA Institute notes that some sets are unscored trial items at Levels II and III. We read these figures through summaries, so confirm them on the level page. Our CFA Level III guide covers Level III in more detail.

Breaks

The exam-day guide describes an optional break, and the admission policy mentions up to two unscheduled breaks with the clock still running. We could not reconcile the two descriptions, so read both CFA Institute pages and plan to use any break sparingly.

Missed or cancelled appointments

Fees are non-refundable, non-deferrable and non-transferable if you fail to schedule or sit, according to the admission policy, and a late refusal counts as failing to sit. Moving within your window costs USD 250 plus tax, and moving to another window needs a deferral. We did not read the deferral policy terms for this guide, so see our CFA exam windows and deferral guide.

What we could not confirm

We found no CFA Institute page describing a remote option for the CFA exam, so we make no claim about one. We also did not check 2026 exam dates for this guide. Read the dates and fees page before you register, and the level pages for the latest format.

Frequently asked questions

Which calculators are allowed on the CFA exam?

The Texas Instruments BA II Plus, including the BA II Plus Professional, and the Hewlett Packard 12C family, according to CFA Institute.

What happens if I use a non-approved calculator?

CFA Institute says your exam results will be voided.

Can I bring a phone or a watch?

No. Phones, smartwatches, wristwatches and timers are prohibited.

What ID do I need?

A valid, original, unexpired, machine-readable passport, with a name that matches your account.

Can I take the CFA exam online?

We found no CFA Institute page describing a remote option, so do not assume one.

Next steps

Read our CFA Level I study guide, CFA Level II syllabus guide and CFA Level III guide to plan your study. If you are comparing study options, see our Learnsignal pricing page.

Source: CFA Institute calculator policy, personal belongings policy, identification policy, exam admission and appointment policy, exam-day preparation guide, exam registration and scheduling guide and the Level I, II and III exam pages. Checked October 2026.