What It’s Like Taking the PL-300 at a Pearson VUE Test Center
- Sarah Rajani
- Jun 26
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 5
A look inside the test center experience, including what to expect on exam day, how the test center works, and what surprised me
If you read my previous post about the PL-300 exam, maybe you wondered what exam day would be like?
I have test anxiety, always have, and I need to know the layout of the land before I take a test. I wanted to know exactly where the exam place was, and what I needed to do once I got there. Could I bring water with me? Could we take breaks? Where do I put my stuff?
If you don't wonder about these things, then that's okay, I'm just an overthinker, and these are the things that keep me up at night. 😅
The Pearson website mentioned a few basic details, but it wasn't enough for me. I wanted to know exactly what I would experience when I went to take my exam.
Yes, I know if I took my exam at home via the online proctored option, some of those fears would have been reduced, but I just did not have enough clear space where I could take the exam at home... so in person it was!
For a bit of context, the PL-300 was not my first exam at a Pearson VUE location. I took my CTP (Certified Treasury Professional) exam at a Pearson location. Now, if you want to talk about tough exams, the PL-300 was a piece of cake compared to the CTP exam. The CTP one was a 4-hour exam, no open book, and was notorious for having a less than 50% pass rate. I was lucky I passed the first time, but I still had the same questions about what exam day would be like.
The place I took my PL-300 exam was different from the one I took my CTP exam at, but when I explain details about exam day, I might include some descriptions of both locations.
So if you are interested in what exam day will be like when you write your PL-300 on exam day, or are just curious what it's like to write an exam at a Pearson VUE center, keep reading!
And if you are curious about the PL-300 exam itself, make sure to check out my previous post:
NOTE: All opinions and experiences in this post are my own. You may have different experiences at the test center, but I wanted to share mine so you have an idea before you walk into your exam.
Booking the PL-300 Exam at Pearson VUE
You need to book the PL-300 through Pearson VUE (I booked mine using the link on the Microsoft Learn site). Once you fill out your name and address (make sure it's your legal name and address that matches your driver's license), you will be able to select a location where you would like to take your exam. Unfortunately, there was only one location in my city that offered the PL-300, so I had only one choice.
Because there was only one option, there weren't any open slots to book my exam for more than a month away. So I scheduled my exam about six weeks in advance, that way I had some more time to continue with prep and review. There were several slots available to choose from during regular business hours.
You do have the option of taking the exam online at home, instead, but I didn’t go that route.
Why I Chose an In-Person Pearson VUE Exam (Not Online)
Even though Microsoft lets you take the PL-300 exam at home, I knew I wanted to write mine in person at a Pearson VUE test center.
There were a few reasons for this.
First, my house is way too cluttered for the online proctoring rules. You need a completely clear desk, and the room itself has to be free of distractions. I didn’t really have a space that would work for that.
Second, I didn’t want to have to worry about possible tech issues. You need a stable internet connection, a functioning webcam, and everything has to pass an online system check. I figured it would be a lot less stressful to just show up in person and not have to worry about my Wi-Fi cutting out mid-exam (which was very likely to happen, and I would have been even more stressed).
And third, I just felt more comfortable going to an official test center. As I mentioned previously, I had taken my CTP exam in a Pearson VUE center, and I liked the idea of being in a professional environment without any distractions.
What I Brought on Exam Day
I tried to limit what I brought on exam day. I made sure to leave my smart watch at home. I brought my purse and phone with some water, and also my ID. All you really need to bring, though, is your photo ID (either a passport or driver’s license works).
You can’t bring any personal items into the exam room with you, so there’s no need to bring anything extra. Everything gets put into a locker.
Arriving at the Pearson VUE Test Center
I live in Edmonton, Canada, but from what I’ve read, the process at Pearson VUE test centers in the US and other countries is very similar.
When I arrived at my test center, I went up to the front desk to check in. There was one person at the desk, and she asked for my ID and what exam I was taking.
She scanned my ID first, then asked me to sign a form. Basically, it explained the rules of the exam, that you couldn't bring anything inside, and how long it would take. You also can’t leave the building during the exam, even if you take a quick break. If you finish early, you can leave, but once you step out, you can’t go back in.
NOTE: You can take a break, but only to go to the restroom or grab a drink of water; no checking your phone or notes. But the timer does not stop! So, do not go for a break unless it's an emergency, because you will likely run out of time during the exam.
She then took a photo of me, and this is the photo that shows up on your exam results after you complete the test.
After that, she gave me a locker key to store all my personal items, like my purse, phone, wallet, keys, and anything else I had on me.
She then asked me to roll up my sleeves and my pants to check if I was hiding any study aids. She also checked behind my hair. (They don't like hoodies, so make sure you keep your hoodies at home or put it in your locker... You might hide something in there, who knows.)
You get one last chance to go to the restroom, which I highly recommend you do, so that you don't have to step away during the exam.
Once I was checked in and had stored my things, I waited in a small seating area just outside the exam room until the proctor called me in.
Inside the Pearson VUE Exam Room for PL-300
I was led to a small room with a desk, chair, and computer. There were some disposable earplugs on the desk I was free to use, and there was a video camera pointed at the computer. There was also a small whiteboard and a marker on the desk to write notes, if needed. You will leave the whiteboard and marker there once you are done... they will clean it up after.
This part might vary from location to location, but when I took my CTP exam, there was one large room with cubicles and a proctor seated behind a glass barrier, with cameras pointed on each cubicle. This location has private rooms, which I kind of liked better.
In the location where I took the PL-300, the proctor monitored the room through a video camera. It was a very secure but relaxed environment, and no one was hovering or making me feel nervous. I preferred this arrangement to the CTP exam location.
Starting the PL-300 Exam
The exam began with a short tutorial screen that showed how to navigate the questions, how to move forward and backward, how to flag questions to review later, and so on.
You can take your time with this part, as it doesn’t count against your exam time. I went through it carefully to make sure I knew how everything worked.
Then the exam started.
My version of the exam had 52 questions in total, and there was a large timer visible on the top right of the screen the whole time, so you could track how much time you had left.
What Happened During the Exam
Once I started, the time went by quickly.
The case study questions came first in the exam, and they definitely took the most time. You need to read through each scenario carefully and answer several questions about it, so I had to watch my timing and not get stuck too long. Also, once you are done with the case study part, you cannot go back and review the questions for it. The section gets locked. The rest of the questions you can go back and review, though.
The nice thing is that you can move forward and backward through the questions, and you can flag any questions you want to come back to later.
There was a countdown timer on the screen the whole time, which helped me pace myself. As mentioned before, you can take a break if you need to, but your timer will keep running. So try not to unless you really have to.
In the end, I finished the exam in about 90 minutes. I used the remaining time (which wasn't much) at the end to go back and review the questions I had flagged. Remember from my previous post, you can look at Microsoft Learn during the exam, using the link they provide on the left side of the exam. But only if you have time.
Submitting the PL-300 Exam and Getting My Results
Once I was done reviewing, I clicked submit, and then it was the longest 10 seconds of my life! The screen took a little bit of time to process the exam before showing the result.
Then it popped up: PASS!
On the results screen, you also get a rough score breakdown by section so you can see how you did in each of the main skill areas.
Once I was done with the exam, I had to wave to the proctor through the video camera and wait for her to let me out of the room. Once I left, she gave me my locker key and also a printed copy of my results.
Later that day, I received an email with my official score report, which showed the same breakdown in more detail. I also got an email that I could access my Microsoft certification badge on my Microsoft Learn profile. You can download and share the badge or certificate however you choose.
What Surprised Me on Exam Day
A few things stood out to me that I wasn’t expecting:
The time goes by a lot faster than you think once you’re in the exam.
The case studies can really slow you down if you’re not careful, which is why I recommend practicing the exam questions on MeasureUp or another practice site.
You get to see your PASS/FAIL result right away, which was a huge relief.
The in-person experience felt much less stressful than I imagine it would have been at home with tech checks and webcam monitoring.
Tips for Your Pearson VUE Exam Day for PL-300
If you’re getting ready for your first PL-300 attempt, here are a few things that helped me:
If you can, book the exam in person; it takes away a lot of the stress around tech setup and proctoring.
Don't forget your photo ID! And the name must match exactly as when you registered.
Get to the test center a bit early, as it helps you settle in and relax. And they usually let you start early as well (you still get the same time allotment, though).
Don’t waste time getting stuck on one question. Flag it and move on, then come back later if you have time. It's better to guess and come back to it later, because if you run out of time, at least you have an answer with a chance of getting it right.
Wear a sweater. The exam room might be cold or warm, and you won’t be able to leave once you start. You can roll your sleeves up or down as needed, which is something I needed to do more than once.
And most of all, trust your prep! If you’ve been practicing a lot, you’ll be more than ready.
I hope this post helped you feel a little bit less stressed about what exam day at Pearson VUE might look like!
If you haven't read the PL-300 post that inspired this one, check it out here:
Good luck on your exam!
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