AAT ITBK exam-day guide
AAT ITBK · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring the original photographic ID your provider requires (commonly a passport or photocard driving licence). Check in advance which forms of ID are accepted and whether a signature is needed - confirm with your provider.
Assessment booking confirmation
Bring the confirmation email or letter showing your candidate number, unit code (ITBK), date, start time, and either the test centre address or the remote-invigilation link and instructions.
Platform log-in details
If you are sitting remotely, have your assessment platform username and password to hand and tested before the day. Never share these with anyone.
Confirmed venue or remote set-up
For a centre: know the room, arrival entrance and parking/transport. For remote: have a quiet, well-lit room, a charged device, a working webcam and microphone, and a stable internet connection as specified by your provider.
Approved calculator
A basic non-programmable, non-scientific calculator is normally acceptable; check the permitted-device list, since some centres supply one or restrict certain models. Confirm with your provider.
Rough paper and pen/pencil
You will want space for double-entry workings and petty cash/control account calculations. Many centres provide or permit blank paper, but the rule differs between centre and remote sittings - confirm what is allowed before the day.
Knowledge of the assessment format
Know how long you have, how many tasks there are, how marks are split and the pass mark for ITBK before you sit. Confirm the exact figures with your provider rather than relying on hearsay.
Practice on the official sample/on-screen platform
Do at least one full practice assessment in the same delivery format so the on-screen calculator, task navigation, flagging and answer-entry boxes feel familiar.
A one-page revision sheet
Cover the high-frequency areas: double-entry rules for the main ledgers, books of prime entry and their sources, VAT output/input treatment, trade and settlement discounts, returns, banking and cash-book procedures, and trial balance checks. Use it for the final review only, not in the exam room.
A timing plan
Decide in advance roughly how many minutes per task you will allow, plus a buffer for review, so a single long task cannot absorb the whole sitting.
Travel and timing plan
Plan to arrive with time to spare before the scheduled start (your provider will state the required arrival time) and check travel disruptions the night before.
Water, snack and rest
Stay hydrated and eat something light beforehand; a time-limited on-screen assessment is easier to focus on when you are not hungry or dehydrated.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Work through one or two full practice assessments under timed conditions, mark them honestly, and list every topic where you lost marks. Re-read only those areas. Confirm your booking details, ID, venue/remote instructions and permitted materials with your provider now, so any query can be resolved with time to spare.
Do a short active-recall session on the core mechanics: debits and credits for each class of account, which book of prime entry a transaction enters first, how VAT is treated on sales and purchases, and how discounts and returns are recorded. Write the rules out from memory rather than re-reading notes.
Stop heavy revision. Do a light review of your one-page summary and the mistakes from your last practice attempt. Pack your ID, confirmation, calculator and pen. Check the venue journey or, for a remote sitting, test your equipment and internet, and confirm the check-in time. Set an alarm and get a full night's sleep - sleep is worth more than a late-night cram.
Eat properly, arrive early or log in ahead of the stated time, and avoid last-minute discussion of answers with other candidates. Read the candidate instructions on screen in full before starting, and note the timer and any flagging feature.
Skim the whole assessment to see task order and weight, then start with a task you can do confidently to build momentum. Keep workings on your permitted paper so you can check figures without redoing them.
Answer every task - an unanswered part scores nothing. If a task stalls you, flag it and move on, then return. Watch the clock at each quarter point and adjust pace. Check that debits and credits balance, that VAT has gone to the right side, and that totals you carry forward actually add up before submitting.
Return to flagged tasks, check you have filled every answer box, and confirm your submission or sign-out procedure as instructed by the invigilator or platform.
Rules to check
Bring and present the ID required by your provider; without acceptable ID you may be refused entry and any fee may not be refunded. Confirm the accepted ID list with your provider in advance.
Only permitted materials may be at your desk: normally your ID, confirmation, an approved calculator and permitted rough paper. Notes, phones, smart watches and other devices must be switched off and stored as the invigilator directs.
The assessment is individually timed from when it starts; if you leave the room or take an unscheduled break, the clock generally keeps running and you will not usually get extra time. Ask your provider what break arrangements apply at your venue before the day.
Treat technical problems as a process, not a panic: stop and notify the invigilator or remote proctor immediately, note the time, and follow their instructions. Do not attempt to restart or repair a system yourself unless told to.
All work must be your own. Communicating with others about content during the assessment, using unauthorised materials, or attempting to capture or share questions is misconduct and can void your result.
Scoring is based on the marks available in each task, and every part you answer can earn credit; there is no benefit to leaving a box blank. Confirm the pass mark and mark allocation for ITBK with your provider.
Follow the invigilator's or proctor's instructions at all times, including on room conduct, identification checks and the end-of-test sign-out. If you believe something went wrong, ask for it to be recorded at the time - raising it later is much harder.
Results and any resit arrangements are notified through your provider or AAT account; ask your provider how and when results are released for your sitting rather than expecting them on the day.