ICAB AL Case Study exam-day guide
ICAB AL Case Study · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the original, valid photo ID you used when registering (typically a passport or national ID card). Check the exact accepted forms and name-matching requirement with your exam provider or ICAB before the exam day; do not assume a photocopy or expired document is accepted.
Admission or confirmation document
Carry the admission ticket, confirmation email, or candidate number issued for your sitting. Confirm with the provider how the document is delivered and whether a printed copy is required.
Exam venue and timing confirmed
Re-check the venue address, entry point, and reporting time in the official joining instructions. If the venue or schedule is unclear, confirm with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
Permitted stationery
Pack only the pens, pencils, eraser, and ruler allowed by the provider. Confirm whether pencil is required for any answer sheet or whether ink is mandatory for the written case response.
Non-programmable calculator (if permitted)
Case studies often involve quantitative analysis. Confirm with the provider whether calculators are allowed, which models are acceptable, and whether cases or covers must be removed.
Clear pencil case or pouch
Many centres require stationery to be in a transparent container. Confirm the centre's rule with the provider; if unsure, bring a clear pouch and a small backup.
No prohibited items
Leave smart watches, phones, and notes outside the exam room or in the designated area as instructed. Confirm the provider's policy on phones and wearable devices, since rules vary by centre.
Water and a light snack for breaks
Bring water in a permitted container and a snack for before or after the sitting. Confirm whether drinks are allowed at the desk, as some centres restrict them.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace a long case. Confirm whether wristwatches are permitted; if not, rely on the clock provided in the room.
Practice case answers and notes
Bring your own summary notes and completed practice cases for the final review. These must be left outside the exam room; do not carry any written material to the desk.
Travel and backup plan
Plan the route, allow a buffer for delays, and identify a backup transport option. Confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Read the pre-exam instructions
Review the provider's candidate instructions on timing, answer format, and conduct at least a day before. If any instruction is ambiguous, confirm with the provider before the sitting.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to consolidation. Re-read your own one-page summaries of the syllabus areas most likely to be tested in a case, and redo one or two full practice cases under timed conditions. Mark weak areas and decide which two or three you will review in the last day. Confirm your venue, reporting time, and ID requirements with the provider if anything is unclear, and check travel arrangements.
Practice applying a structured approach to an unseen case: skim the requirements, read the scenario, identify the decision required, and allocate time across the tasks. Review the format and mark allocation so you know roughly how much to write per task. Stop introducing new material that you cannot consolidate.
Do a light review only: key frameworks, ratios or calculations you may need, and your checklist of common errors such as ignoring the requirement verb or failing to conclude. Prepare your bag with ID, admission document, stationery, and permitted calculator. Confirm the venue one last time, set two alarms, eat a normal meal, and aim for a full night's sleep rather than last-minute cramming.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive at the venue with a generous buffer, and use waiting time only for calm review of your summary sheet. Follow the centre's registration and seating instructions, place prohibited items where directed, and settle at your desk. If anything about your seat, materials, or timing seems wrong, raise it with an invigilator immediately.
Read the instructions and the case requirements before writing. Note the total time and divide it across the tasks, leaving time to check. Skim the whole case once to understand the context and the decision required, then start with the task you can answer most confidently.
Work to your time plan and keep answers focused on the requirement. Use headings, short paragraphs, and clear workings so the marker can follow your reasoning. For calculations, show method and state assumptions. If a task stalls you, leave space and move on; return later. Watch the clock at the halfway point and again with about fifteen minutes left.
Use the last minutes to check that every task has been attempted, that your conclusion or recommendation is explicit, and that figures and units are consistent. Make sure your candidate details are completed as instructed. Stop writing immediately when told.
Rules to check
Bring the original valid photo ID accepted by the provider and ensure the name matches your registration. Confirm accepted ID forms and the name-matching rule with the provider before the exam day.
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, materials, and conduct. Do not bring notes, phones, smart watches, or other unauthorised items into the exam room; place them where directed.
Confirm with the provider whether and when comfort breaks are allowed, whether you may leave the room, and whether any time is added. Do not assume a break is permitted during a timed sitting.
Calculators and other aids are permitted only if the provider allows them. Confirm the permitted types and any restrictions on cases or stored data before the exam.
Marks are awarded for answers that address the requirement, so read each task carefully and make your reasoning and conclusions explicit rather than writing everything you know about the topic.
Arrive by the reporting time stated in your joining instructions. Late-arrival and admission rules vary, so confirm the provider's policy in advance rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Any misconduct or attempted misconduct may lead to disciplinary action under the provider's rules. If you are unsure whether an action is permitted, ask an invigilator before doing it.
If you believe there is a problem with the paper, your materials, or the conduct of the sitting, raise it with an invigilator at the time and follow the provider's procedure for reporting it afterwards.