CCL guides

NAATI CCL test day checklist: what to have ready

Updated 7 September 2026 · facts checked against NAATI and Home Affairs pages on that date

The CCL test is delivered online, proctored, and recorded from the moment you start. Most of what goes wrong on the day is not language, it is setup. Work through the list below in the week before your test, then run one timed rehearsal on our free daily practice dialogue under the same conditions you will face.

Two weeks out: the admin that cannot wait

Confirm the basics while there is still time to change them. Bookings for CCL test sessions close one week prior to the test date, and rescheduling is only allowed up to 8 days before the test, so a late realisation that your laptop is a work machine is expensive. Rescheduling is free up to that cut-off and you do it yourself in myNAATI by rejecting your test session and selecting another date. If you cancel at least 1 hour before the scheduled start time you are eligible for a refund of 75% of your test fee, processed within 14 days in most cases. There is no refund for non-attendance.

Two things worth doing now: check that the computer you plan to use is your own personal device, and check that the internet connection you plan to use is not a library, university or workplace connection. Both are common causes of a cancelled test. If you use hearing aids, NAATI asks you to tell them at least one week before your test date and send pictures and the model number to onlinetesting@naati.com.au.

At least 48 hours out: the system check

One week before your test day, ProctorExam emails you instructions for setting up. You must complete a system check at least 48 hours before your test, and it must be done with the same setup you will use on the day: same computer, same phone, same location, same internet connection. A check done on your home laptop does not cover you if you sit the test at a friend's place.

If that ProctorExam email has not arrived one week before your test, check your spam and junk folders first, then email onlinetesting@naati.com.au as soon as possible. NAATI operates during business hours and it may take up to two business days to get a reply, which is exactly why you should not leave this to the last afternoon. You receive the link for the actual test from ProctorExam only once the system check is complete.

Equipment checklist

• Laptop or computer with a working camera, in-built microphone and speakers, plus a power cord or connector.
• The latest version of Google Chrome. There is no minimum operating system requirement as long as the latest Chrome can be installed and run.
• The ProctorExam Chrome extension, which you are prompted to install during the system check.
• Adblocker Chrome extensions disabled or removed for the duration of the test, as they can interfere with the test platform.
• A personal device. A work, university or library laptop often encounters issues that block access to the platform.
• A phone or tablet with a working camera as a second camera: Android 8+ and iOS 15.8+ smart devices. You install the ProctorExam app (34MB) during the system check.
• An internet connection with at least 10mbps download, 1.5mbps upload, latency of 25 milliseconds or less, and retransmission as low as possible.
• No public internet. A library, university or workplace connection can block access to the testing platform because of firewalls.
• No headsets, headphones or earphones of any kind.

It is your responsibility to make sure your equipment is suitable and will function for the entire test. Failure to do so may result in your test being invalidated or cancelled with no refund. NAATI also notes that small screens, such as laptop screens, may make it harder to see everything clearly, and recommends keeping your devices connected to a power source for the whole test.

Your room on the day

The test location is checked at the start of the test, so set the room up before you click anything.

• Choose a location free from distractions, background noise and other people. You must be in a location free of other people.
• Clear your desk. Only the devices and materials required for the test should be on it.
• Second screens or monitors and other electronic devices, including smart watches, must be switched off and placed in another room. Only one screen is allowed at any given time.
• Switch your mobile phone to silent if it is not being used as your second camera; any phone not in use for the test must be off and in another room.
• Have a glass of water, loose sheets of paper and a pen, and your identity document ready.
• Position the phone or tablet acting as your second camera beside you, so that NAATI can see you taking notes.
• No virtual backgrounds are permitted, and your face must be clearly visible at all times.

The test is audio and video recorded, and the recording begins immediately, capturing what happens before and after the test as well. NAATI retains the recording for three months after the marking of your test is completed.

ID and identity

NAATI only accepts current passports from any country, or Australian or New Zealand-issued ID documents such as driver's licences or a proof of age card. You also upload a scan of an identity document with your application, along with a photo of your face similar to a passport photo. NAATI rejects applications that do not include an ID scan.

On the day, ProctorExam runs the pre-test administration and setup, which includes checking your identity and your surroundings. If the identity of the person taking the test cannot be confirmed, results will not be issued.

Timing on the day

All NAATI test times are in Australian Eastern Time, Sydney and Canberra time. Your test confirmation email tells you what time you can access the test until. NAATI recommends accessing the test at the start of the test session, as the setup may take up to 15 minutes to complete. The pre-test setup with ProctorExam may take 10 to 15 minutes and does not eat into your test time.

If you miss your test date or time, you are not eligible for a refund or a reschedule. See test dates and booking for how sessions are scheduled.

Rules that catch people out mid-test

These are the ones candidates forget once the chime starts:

• Notes: pen and loose sheets of paper only. No typing of notes, and you cannot bring any existing notes.
• No electronic resources: no dictionaries, web browsing, live caption or transcription features.
• Repeats: press Finish attempt, then Start again, and the whole segment replays. You can only repeat one segment per dialogue without penalty; more than that and marks are deducted.
• Timing: your test performance must be less than 20 minutes. That covers the dialogue segment recordings and your performance, not the time you spend navigating between segments, reading instructions or uploading responses.
• Five seconds: you must begin interpreting within five seconds of the chime. Long pauses may cost marks, particularly if they push the recording past 20 minutes.
• Corrections: you can correct yourself, and NAATI suggests prefacing it with something like "Sorry, I'll just say that part again". Repeatedly correcting yourself costs marks.
• Speak in the first person. Indirect, third-person style is not acceptable in interpreting, and your test may be invalidated if you interpret the entire dialogues that way.

The full rule set is covered in repeats, notes and pauses.

After you click End Exam

Once your test is complete and all your responses have uploaded, click End Exam on the ProctorExam tab to stop the recording and end the session. NAATI staff then review the test for adherence to the rules and note any technical issues.

If anything went wrong, report it within 24 hours by email to onlinetesting@naati.com.au. Incidents reported after that time frame will not be taken into consideration. NAATI issues individual results as they are finalised, which means people who sat on the same day can receive results on different days. What the marks mean is explained in results and validity.

The short version to print

Personal laptop, charged and plugged in. Latest Chrome, ProctorExam extension, adblockers off. Phone or tablet as second camera, beside you, app installed. Private internet. One screen. No headphones. Everything else off, in another room. Desk clear except water, pen, loose paper and ID. Face visible, no virtual background. Log in at the start of the session.

Then the language part is the only thing left to think about. Build the terms you will need from the Australian terms glossary, check your language is covered on the languages page, and rehearse full dialogues under time on the free daily practice test. If you are still working out what to study, start with preparation and study plan.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need on my desk during the NAATI CCL test?

NAATI tells candidates to have a glass of water, loose sheets of paper and a pen, and their identity document ready. The desk should otherwise be clear of any unauthorised items. You may take notes with a pen and loose sheets of paper, but you cannot bring existing notes and you cannot type notes.

Can I wear headphones during the NAATI CCL test?

No. No headsets, headphones or earphones are allowed during the CCL test, and that includes wired, wireless and Bluetooth. You need a computer or laptop with working in-built or external speakers and a microphone instead.

What ID does NAATI accept for the CCL test?

NAATI only accepts current passports from any country, or Australian or New Zealand-issued ID documents such as driver's licences or a proof of age card. If the identity of the person taking the test cannot be confirmed, test results will not be issued.

How early should I log in on CCL test day?

NAATI recommends accessing the test at the start of the test session, because it may take up to 15 minutes to complete the test setup. Your test confirmation email tells you what time you can access the test until. If you miss your test date or time, you are not eligible for a refund or a reschedule.

Can I leave the room during the NAATI CCL test?

No. You are not able to pause the test, leave the room or disconnect your cameras until your test is complete, due to security requirements. Leaving the test environment during a test session is not allowed, and if you do so your test may be cancelled without a refund.

Do I have to do a system check before the CCL test?

Yes. One week before your test day you receive an email from ProctorExam with setup instructions, and you must complete the system check at least 48 hours before your test. Use the same computer, phone, location and internet connection you will use on the day. You only receive the link to your actual test once the system check is done.

What do I do if something goes wrong during the test?

On your test day you have access to live chat support from NAATI through the ProctorExam tab for technical issues. Any test issues should be reported within 24 hours by email to onlinetesting@naati.com.au. Incidents reported after that time frame will not be taken into consideration.

Sources

• https://www.naati.com.au/resources/candidate-instructions-ccl/
• https://www.naati.com.au/migration-assessments/ccl/
• https://www.naati.com.au/test-date/

Facts checked against NAATI and Home Affairs pages on 7 September 2026.

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