Despite a number of tests carried out for the 2022 Population Census (Cognitive Tests, Pilot Tests and the 2019 Dress Rehearsal), whose inputs allowed to assess the planning and strategy of the census operation, some key aspects were not thoroughly validated. Bearing it in mind, an on-site Test of Homologation of Equipment and Systems was designed to go to the field in March 2020 in the municipality of Engenheiro Paulo de Frontin (RJ). Like the census, personnel would be hired and the coverage would be exhaustive. The test would also include some areas selected in Angra dos Reis (RJ) and Paraty (RJ) to test the data collection of Traditional Peoples and Communities (PCTs). At the time, the worldwide health crisis caused by the novel corona virus cancelled the test.

The Simplified Selection Processes (PSSs) to hire Municipal Census Agents (ACMs), Supervisor Census Agents (ACSs) and Enumerators for the municipality of Engenheiro Paulo de Frontin had already been done and the ACMs and ACSs hired. As it was impossible to field test it due to the pandemic, a Remote Test (Simulation Test and Test for Telephone Approach) was carried out between the months of November and December 2020, based on a sample of households belonging to IBGE records and external records accessed by the IBGE. This test assessed the data collection systems of the surroundings questionnaire, as well as of the household questionnaires and questionnaires of approaching Indigenous groups, allowing to pinpoint potential adjustments. For the first time ever, a new data collection strategy was tested to carry out the Population Census - the telephone interview. In addition, it was the first time that an off-site training was partially tested in a census operation.

After the remote test, the on-site Homologation Test was re-designed to be collected from March 2021 onwards. However, the deterioration of the pandemic situation in that period in the region selected to host the test caused it to be suspended once again. Nevertheless, the on-site training of the ACMs/ACSs and the previous data collection of the surroundings had already been completed at that time. With the interruption of the test in Paulo de Frontin, the IBGE decided to carry out a small-scale pre-test in favorable health conditions, to be conducted in September.

Therefore, this pre-test would be carried out in Paquetá Island, in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, between September and October 2021. That location was chosen due to the advanced level of vaccination of its population (nearly 85% of the adult population had already been fully vaccinated at the time). This test was very important as it allowed to approach the informant in a controlled environment once installed the corona virus pandemic. In addition, the mixed way to collect the data was tested for the first time, considering approaches face-to-face, through telephone and through the Internet.

In November 2021, the test in Engenheiro Paulo de Frontin was eventually carried out. In addition to that municipality, the IBGE extended the test for localities selected in each Federation Unit. Therefore, it was the first test operation for the 2022 Population Census hosted in the entire Brazilian territory.