AIAF exam-day guide
AIAF · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Primary photo ID
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you registered with, and make sure the name matches your registration exactly, including middle names and order. Confirm with the provider which document types are accepted, since some venues reject expired or non-original documents.
Second form of ID
Some test centres ask for a second document or a copy as backup. This is not universal, so confirm with the provider whether a secondary ID is required, and if in doubt carry a second document in your bag rather than at the desk.
Appointment confirmation
Carry a printed copy of your confirmation or admission letter plus a screenshot on your phone, so you can still access it if the venue has no signal or you are asked to switch devices off at the door.
Approved calculator
Check the provider's permitted-calculator list before the exam and bring only an allowed model, with fresh or spare batteries. If you are unsure whether your model qualifies, confirm with the provider in advance rather than risk it being confiscated.
Simple analogue watch
A basic watch helps you pace sections when the room clock is hard to see. Smartwatches and fitness trackers are commonly banned, so plan to remove and store them; confirm the venue's specific device rules.
Nothing loose at the desk
Assume scratch paper, pens and any formula sheet are supplied and collected by the invigilator. Do not bring your own notes; if you want to know whether personal paper is allowed, confirm with the provider beforehand.
Water and a snack
Bring water in a clear container and a quiet snack for any scheduled break, and check whether bags are accessible during breaks or must stay in a locker. Confirm the venue's policy if you have medical or dietary needs that require access to items during the test.
Travel and arrival plan
Plan your route in advance and aim to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before your start time, with a backup transport option. Check the venue's building access and reception procedure the day before, since some sites require sign-in at a main desk.
Storage plan for phone and bag
Decide where your phone, wallet and bag will go. Most centres require phones to be switched off and stored away from the desk, so leave anything you do not need at home to shorten check-in.
Official handbook and provider contact
Save the provider's contact number and the relevant handbook section on your phone and on paper, so you can resolve a last-minute question about ID, timing or permitted items without guessing.
Rest plan for the night before
Protect sleep in the final two nights rather than trading it for extra review. Fatigue costs more marks on a long, applied exam than one more pass through notes is likely to gain.
Plan the day
Re-read the official candidate handbook and confirm the practical details: start time, venue, arrival window, permitted items, ID requirements, break policy and how results are reported. Write these facts down in one place so you are not relying on memory or rumour on the day.
Sit one full timed practice set under exam conditions, including the same calculator and the same break pattern you expect on the day. Review only what you got wrong; do not open new topics at this stage, because new material this late tends to displace well-drilled material.
Confirm your appointment in writing and check the venue's access details. Book transport or parking, and decide your arrival time with a buffer for delays. If anything in the handbook is ambiguous, contact the provider now rather than on the morning of the test.
Do a short, light review of your own summary sheet, formula list and recurring mistakes, capped at roughly one to two hours. Stop early enough to eat properly and go to bed at a normal time.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, approved calculator with spare batteries, simple watch, water, snack, and the provider's contact details. Lay it by the door. Charge your phone but plan to switch it off and store it at the venue.
Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy caffeine if you are not used to it, and leave with enough time to arrive 30 to 45 minutes early. Do not attempt a last-minute cram of new material; skim only your summary sheet.
Have your ID and confirmation ready before you reach the desk, switch off your phone, and follow the invigilator's instructions on storage and permitted items. Ask quietly if you are unsure where something should go, and resolve it before you sit down.
Read the instructions before the clock starts, note the number of questions and the time available, and set a rough pace per section. Answer the questions you can do quickly first, flag the rest, and return to them rather than letting one item consume several minutes.
Watch for questions with more than one plausible answer and re-read the qualifier words rather than the whole stem. If you are uncertain, eliminate what you can and commit to an answer; only leave a blank if you have confirmed that blanks are not penalised differently from wrong answers.
If the test has a scheduled break, use it to stand, drink water and reset rather than to review material. Turn your attention to the next section and put the previous one out of your mind; check whether the clock runs during breaks, as this differs between providers.
Note anything that surprised you, such as timing pressure, topic weighting or calculator issues, while it is fresh. This record is the most useful input for a retake decision or for your next exam, and it fades quickly.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID you registered with, with a name matching your registration exactly; copies, expired documents and mismatched names are commonly refused. Confirm with the provider which document types are accepted before test day.
Switch off and store all phones, smartwatches and other devices away from your desk for the whole test, including breaks in most centres. Confirm the venue's device and storage rules, since enforcement and storage arrangements vary.
Use only materials the provider supplies at the desk. If you need scratch paper or a formula sheet, ask the invigilator; do not assume personal paper, notes or a second calculator are permitted, and confirm the permitted-items list in advance.
Arrive within the provider's stated check-in window. Late arrival may mean refused entry or reduced time, and the exact cut-off is set by the provider, so confirm it rather than assuming a grace period.
Breaks are usually limited to scheduled intervals, and the clock may keep running during unscheduled absences. Confirm the break policy and whether the timer pauses, then plan water and restroom visits around it.
Read the scoring instructions carefully, particularly whether unanswered questions are penalised differently from incorrect ones. If there is no penalty for guessing, answer every question; if there is, confirm the rule before leaving blanks.
Any attempt to bring in unauthorised material, communicate with others or use a prohibited device can void your result and may affect future eligibility. If something goes wrong during the test, raise it with the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded.
Results timelines, score reporting and retake or appeal procedures are set by the provider and change over time. Confirm the current policy in the official handbook rather than relying on what other candidates report.
If you have a medical condition or need an accommodation such as extra time, a separate room or access to medication, arrange it with the provider well before the test. Accommodations are generally not granted on the day.