Foundations of Directorship exam-day guide
Foundations of Directorship · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact original ID type and name spelling your registration requires. Check the provider's accepted-ID list in advance; photocopies and expired documents are commonly refused. Confirm with the provider which forms are accepted.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Keep a printed or offline copy of your booking confirmation, test-centre address, and start time. Do not rely on mobile signal at the venue.
Permitted calculator or none
Many governance exams are non-calculator; others allow only specified models. Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is permitted and which models qualify before assuming either way.
Remote-proctoring setup (if testing online)
Test your camera, microphone, browser, and internet connection at least a day ahead, and run the provider's system check. Confirm with the provider its platform requirements and room rules.
Quiet, clear workspace (remote sittings)
Remove notes, phones, and second screens from reach. Use a private room and tell household members not to enter during the session.
Review the exam format and syllabus weighting
Know the number of questions, time allowed, and how each syllabus area is weighted so you can pace yourself and decide where to spend remaining study time.
Plan the journey and arrival buffer
Rehearse the route, check transport disruptions, and aim to arrive with time to spare for security checks and sign-in.
Read the provider's candidate handbook
Check rules on personal items, breaks, calculators, and misconduct, plus the rescheduling and cancellation terms. Confirm with the provider any point that is unclear.
Prepare for the ID and security process
Expect a photo, signature, palm or fingerprint scan, or locker use for personal belongings. Keep pockets empty and metal items minimal to speed entry.
Sleep, food, and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the final nights, eat a normal meal beforehand, and limit caffeine to your usual amount so you are neither jittery nor crashing mid-test.
Confirm results and scoring method
Know whether results are immediate or delayed, what the pass mark is, and how and when you will receive your score. Confirm with the provider if this is not stated in your booking materials.
Backup contact details
Save the provider's candidate-services phone number and email in case of a late-running transport problem, illness, or technical failure on the day.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to consolidation. Rework your summary notes and any practice questions you got wrong, focusing on the syllabus areas with the heaviest weighting. Do one timed practice set under exam conditions to rehearse pacing, then stop adding new material. Confirm your appointment time, venue or online session details, and ID requirements, and resolve any open questions with the provider now rather than on the day.
Do a light review only: key frameworks, definitions, and the points you keep forgetting. Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, any permitted items, water, and a snack. Check the weather and transport plans. Set two alarms, avoid late-night cramming, and aim for a normal night's sleep. If you feel unwell, contact the provider immediately about its illness or rescheduling policy rather than simply not attending.
Eat a proper meal and limit caffeine to your normal intake. Leave earlier than you think you need to. Arrive at the venue or log in early as instructed, with your workspace already cleared for remote sittings. Skim only your one-page summary; do not start new topics or compare notes with other candidates, which can undermine confidence.
Read the instructions and note the time allowance. Work through easier questions first if the format allows navigation, flagging anything uncertain. Watch the clock and allocate roughly the time per question the format implies, leaving a few minutes to review flagged items and check that every question is answered. For scenario questions, identify the governing principle and the best course of action rather than the most familiar-sounding answer. If a technical problem occurs during a remote sitting, pause and contact the proctor or provider support immediately, following its stated procedure.
Rules to check
Bring only the identification and permitted items the provider specifies. Store phones, smart watches, notes, and bags in the locker or outside the testing room as directed; unauthorized materials can lead to invalidation.
Present valid, unexpired photo ID in the name used at registration. If your ID name does not match your booking, contact the provider before the exam date to correct it.
Follow all instructions from the invigilator or proctor. Do not communicate with other candidates, copy questions, or attempt to access external help; suspected misconduct is typically reported and investigated under the provider's policy.
Confirm with the provider in advance whether breaks are allowed, whether you may leave the room, and whether the clock stops during a break. Do not assume you can pause the test at will.
Understand the scoring and pass mark before you sit. Results may be scaled or criterion-referenced, and the provider's stated pass standard is the only reliable reference; do not rely on hearsay about thresholds.
If you need an accommodation, such as extra time or a separate room, request it well before the exam under the provider's accessibility process; arrangements are rarely available on the day.
Report any technical failure, interruption, or irregularity to the proctor or provider support immediately and note the time, so the provider can decide whether special consideration applies.
Know the provider's rescheduling, cancellation, and absence rules, including any fees or deadlines, and keep evidence of any illness or emergency if you need to apply for special consideration.