ANAC ICAR Theoretical Exam (AVSEC Cargo Instructor) exam-day guide
ANAC ICAR Theoretical Exam (AVSEC Cargo Instructor) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo identification
Bring the same government-issued photo ID whose details you used at registration; staff will check the name against the candidate list. Confirm with the provider which ID types they accept and whether a second form is required.
Admission or confirmation document
Print or download the exam confirmation (date, time, venue, candidate number). Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy is accepted.
Approved reference materials
Ask the provider in advance whether any ICAO Annex, national AVSEC regulation, or course notes may be brought in. Assume nothing is allowed unless written confirmation says otherwise, and check whether annotations or tabs are permitted.
Writing materials
Bring pens or pencils and an eraser in case the paper version requires handwritten answers or a separate answer sheet. Confirm whether the provider supplies them.
Permitted calculator or none
Some cargo-security questions involve weights, thresholds, or time calculations. Confirm with the provider whether a basic non-programmable calculator is allowed and whether phones may serve as calculators (usually not).
Watch or timekeeping device
A simple analogue watch helps you pace yourself if the room clock is not visible. Smartwatches and phones are typically prohibited at the desk; confirm the provider's rule.
Venue route and arrival buffer
Reconfirm the address, building entrance, and security screening at the venue, and plan to arrive well before the start time. Allow extra time for access control at an aviation-security facility.
Personal needs and medication
Bring water and any necessary medication, and tell the invigilator in advance if you may need to leave the room. Confirm the provider's policy on items at the desk and on access during the exam.
Language and accessibility arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, or a translated paper, confirm the approved arrangement with the provider in writing before exam day. Do not assume it will be granted on the day.
Leave confirmation for the exam window
Ensure your duty or roster obligations are covered so you are not called away mid-exam. Confirm with your employer and the provider how an interruption would be handled.
Review plan for weak topics
Bring a one-page summary of your weakest syllabus areas (for example cargo screening, known consignor, or instructor competencies) for a final read before entry. Confirm the syllabus version with the provider so you revise the correct content.
Contact details for the provider
Save the provider's phone number and email so you can report a delay, illness, or venue problem immediately. Confirm the correct contact point for exam-day issues.
Plan the day
Re-read the official syllabus and the provider's candidate instructions, and list any point that is unclear. Send one consolidated email to the provider covering permitted materials, ID requirements, timing, and any approved accommodation, and keep the written reply.
Switch from reading to active recall: work through practice scenarios on cargo security (consignment acceptance, screening methods, chain of custody, known consignor and regulated agent concepts) and on instructing adults (briefing structure, questioning, assessment of competence). Note gaps rather than re-reading entire texts.
Confirm travel and venue logistics, including access procedures at a secure facility, and check that your ID name matches your registration exactly. Resolve any mismatch with the provider now, not on the day.
Do one timed mock under exam conditions, then mark it strictly against the official criteria. Spend the remaining time only on the topics you got wrong; avoid starting new material.
Pack the bag: ID, confirmation document, permitted materials, pens, water, and any approved aids. Lay out clothing and check transport times, including any early-morning or weekend service reductions.
Do a light review of your one-page summary only, then stop studying in the evening. Protect sleep; fatigue harms performance on scenario and calculation questions more than one extra hour of reading helps.
Eat normally, avoid heavy alcohol, and set two alarms. If you fall ill, contact the provider immediately to ask about deferral rules rather than deciding on your own.
Eat a proper meal, arrive at the venue with a generous buffer, and complete any security or registration formalities. Keep your phone off and stored as instructed before entering the exam room.
Read your one-page summary once, then put it away. Do not discuss content with other candidates in the waiting area, since speculation raises anxiety and may breach confidentiality rules.
Listen to the invigilator's instructions, check that your name and candidate number are correct, count the pages, and note the start and finish times and the rules on leaving the room.
Answer the questions you know first and flag the rest. For scenario questions, identify the role, the risk, and the applicable rule before choosing an answer, and watch for words such as 'first', 'best', or 'not'.
Return to flagged questions, eliminate clearly wrong options, and check that multi-part or calculation answers are internally consistent. Change an answer only when you can state a reason.
Check that every question has an answer and that no answer is misaligned with its number on a separate answer sheet. Submit or hand in as instructed, and do not continue writing after the stop signal.
Note which topics felt uncertain while memory is fresh, and ask the provider about the result timeline and any appeal or re-sit process. Do not attempt to record or remove exam materials.
Rules to check
Bring only the identification and materials the provider has confirmed in writing; place phones, smartwatches, and bags where instructed, and keep them off for the whole session.
Follow every instruction from the invigilator. If an instruction seems inconsistent with what you were told, raise it politely before the exam starts rather than during it.
Keep your work your own: no talking, signalling, or sharing of answers, and no copying of questions. Suspected misconduct is handled under the provider's rules; confirm the exact procedure with the provider.
Raise your hand and wait for the invigilator if you need to leave the room; note that toilet breaks may be escorted and may not extend your time. Confirm the provider's break policy in advance.
Time is managed by the invigilator; do not rely solely on a personal watch. Stop writing immediately at the signal, since continuing after time is commonly treated as a breach.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by the provider and the civil aviation authority. Ask the provider in advance about the pass mark, the weighting of sections, and whether negative marking applies.
If you believe a question is defective, ambiguous, or misprinted, note the question number and report it to the invigilator after the exam rather than guessing aloud; confirm the provider's challenge procedure.
Results, re-sit eligibility, and appeal windows are governed by the provider's regulations. Confirm the timelines in writing and keep your confirmation documents until the result is issued.