A system and method utilizing test notifications. An application is able to construct a test notification that is sent to a user context system and which receives back an indication whether the notification would draw or not draw on the screen at the present time, in accordance with the user's current context. In another embodiment, the calling application receives back richer indications, such as details as to whether the notification would have been deferred or routed, the sound level at which it would have played, etc. In a polling implementation, an application may periodically re-send test notifications to re-poll the system to determine if changes have occurred. In a subscription implementation, an application may subscribe to the system to receive updates that are provided when there are changes.