Can you give me a step-by-step breakup of the smog test

There are four parts to the smog test.
1) Vehicle Identification
The smog test technician will enter your VIN number, Odometer reading and license plate into the system to look up your vehicles information in the Vehicle Information Database.

2) Emission Measurement Test The technician will then put a sensor into the tail pipe of your car and perform one of two tests.
(a) The Accelerated Simulated Mode (ASM) Emission Test. The ASM test is performed by rolling your car onto what will seem like a treadmill for the car - also known as the dynamometer. While on the dynamometer, the car is taken through two test conditions viz. The 50/15 test in which the automobile is subjected to 50% of maximum engine load conditions, encountered at the Federal Test Procedure, at 15 mph. Next the 25/25 test is executed where, as you might have guessed, the vehicle is run at 25 mph at 25% load conditions. During these tests the sensor in the tail pipe logs the amount of emitted pollutants. If a vehicle can’t be run on a dynamometer on account of possible damage to the drive train, an alternative
(b) Two Speed Idle test is executed. In this test the emissions from the vehicle are measured while running the vehicle at 2500 r.p.m known as the 2500 test and at idle between 400 and 1250 r.p.m. known as the TSI Idle test.

The following ASM table shows the different car categories and results of the ASM test that would categorize a vehicle as Passed, failed or a gross polluter.
Table

In the tables note that Hydrocarbons and NOx are in parts-per-million (ppm) and Carbon Monoxide is in percentage. The measurements of your vehicle are then compared against A+(B/VTW) from the table. VTW is the test weight of your vehicle. If your vehicles numbers are less than A+(B/VTW) from the PASS/FAIL emission standards you pass, if they are however greater you fail. Now if you are unfortunate enough to have numbers higher than Gross Polluter Standards the first time you get tested (before any repairs) your car will be classified as a Gross Polluter and will be given a lot of special (maybe unwanted) attention.

3) Visual Inspection In this part of the test the technician will inspect several exhaust systems. The technician will also look for any non-approved after market parts installed by looking for etchings and labels on the parts. The systems that will be inspected are:
Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) - Check the system that allows ventilation of combustion by products from a from the four-stroke engine.
Thermostatic Air Cleaner (TAC/ACL) - Inspection of this emission (mostly CO) reduction system is performed.
Fuel Evaporative System (EVAP) - Without disassembling and with no special tools other than a flashlight and mirror the technician inspects the fuel evaporative system.
Catalytic Converter - These should be in their initial configuration, unless authorized by ARB.
Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)
Ignition Spark Controls (SPK) - These are devices that control the ignition timing.
Fuel Metering System - Carburetion and Fuel inspections systems are inspected. Air-flow meters, injectors, throttle bodies, throttle positioners, early fuel evaporation, choke controls, deceleration controls, deceleration controls and dashpots.
Air Injection System (AIR) and computers, sensors and switches are inspected.
Liquid fuel leak inspection is then performed by looking for fluid leaks at any of the following:
Gas tanks, Carburetors, Fuel injectors, Gas fill pipes, Gas caps, Fuel pressure regulators, external fuel pumps, valves and hoses to fuel filtration and delivery systems.
Visible Smoke Test - While the vehicle is still running in idle the tail pipe exhaust and crankcase is examined for atleast 10 seconds for any smoke.

4) Functional Test Application In this test some of the functional and dynamic aspects of automobiles combustion and exhaust process are examined.
a)Ignition timing test. During this test the technician will examine the engines base ignition timing based on manufacturer specific procedure. The tolerance of the test is for ignition timing to be between plus/minus 3 degrees of manufacturer specifications.
b)EGR system functional test is performed on vehicles that undergo the two-speed idle (TSI) test.
c)OBD II (On Board Diagnostics) is evaluated for reports, status and system faults. A "engine service required" light turned on will probably be considered a failure.
d)Fuel cap test - A visual and function test for the integrity of fuel cap is performed.
e)Low pressure Fuel Evaporative Test (LPFET)

At the end of the above procedures, if you pass, you will receive a certificate of compliance. If you fail the test and have not exceeded the gross polluter levels, you can get your automobile reinspected or fixed by any test and repair stations. Most stations will allow you to perform a free reinspection if you fail the first time. Be sure to ask this before you get your inspection done.
However, if for some reason your vehicle has been classified as a Gross polluter, after repairs you will have to get reinspected by a Test only or Gold Shield station.

All repairs related to smog test will need to be performed by a BAR certified smog repair station.