Advanced Cicerone exam-day guide
Advanced Cicerone · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID with a name matching your registration exactly. If your registration name differs (for example, a shortened first name or a maiden name), contact the provider before test day to correct it; do not assume a secondary document will be accepted. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted for your test format (in-person versus remote proctored).
Admission or confirmation details
Have your registration confirmation, candidate number, and any admission instructions saved offline (screenshot or printed) so you can access them without relying on venue Wi-Fi or mobile signal. Confirm with the provider whether a printed confirmation is required or whether digital is acceptable.
Know your test format and location logistics
Confirm in advance whether the exam is written, practical tasting, or a combination, and whether it is delivered in person or remotely proctored. For in-person sittings, confirm the venue address, arrival time, and recommended buffer for traffic or transit. For remote sittings, confirm the platform, system requirements, and any equipment check deadline with the provider.
Tasting equipment (if the exam includes a practical tasting element)
Confirm with the provider exactly what is supplied and what you must bring. Typical personal items include a tasting notebook or paper, pens, and a water bottle without labels. Do not assume glassware, spittoons, or wine are provided or permitted; verify. needs_review
Neutral, comfortable clothing and no strong fragrance
Dress in layers so you can adapt to room temperature. Avoid perfume, cologne, scented lotions, and strongly scented hair products, because they interfere with your own and others' sensory evaluation. Confirm with the provider whether any dress code applies.
Food and hydration plan
Eat a normal meal before the exam and bring water if permitted. Avoid heavy, very spicy, or strongly flavored food immediately beforehand, and avoid excessive caffeine. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the test room.
Permitted aids and prohibited items
Confirm with the provider the exact list of permitted reference materials, calculators, notes, phones, and smart watches. Assume phones and smart watches must be stored away unless the provider states otherwise. Do not bring study notes into the test room unless explicitly allowed.
Time-management plan
Before test day, decide roughly how many minutes to allocate per question or per tasting flight, and set a checkpoint (for example, where you should be at the halfway mark). Practice with a timer so the pacing feels familiar.
Rest and travel buffer
Protect sleep in the nights before the exam and build in extra travel time. Arriving rushed is one of the most common avoidable causes of poor performance, especially on sensory components where calm attention matters.
Medical and accessibility arrangements
If you need accommodations (extra time, breaks, medication access, seating), request them well before test day and confirm approval in writing. Confirm with the provider the deadline and process; do not assume accommodations can be arranged on the day.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating. Review your own summary notes on production methods, grape varieties, regions, and service standards, and rehearse the structured tasting approach you will use (for example, appearance, aroma, palate, quality, and aging potential). Do one timed practice set to calibrate pacing, then stop adding new topics. Confirm logistics: venue or remote-platform requirements, ID, permitted items, and travel plan. Confirm with the provider any last-minute instructions about arrival time or equipment checks.
Do a light review only, focusing on lists and frameworks rather than deep new study. Prepare and lay out everything on your checklist: ID, confirmation details, pens, permitted materials, clothing, and water. Reconfirm the start time and location or platform link. Eat familiar food, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at a normal hour. Do not attempt an all-night cram; fatigue hurts sensory accuracy and reasoning more than extra facts help.
Eat a normal breakfast and avoid strongly flavored or very spicy food and heavy caffeine. Avoid perfume, cologne, and scented products. Leave with a generous buffer. On arrival, follow staff instructions for check-in and item storage, use the restroom before the exam begins, and take a few minutes to settle your breathing and attention before starting.
Read each question fully and note what is actually being asked before answering. Answer the questions you know first and flag uncertain ones to return to, watching your checkpoint times. For tasting components, work systematically and write structured notes rather than impressions; if a sample seems faulty or ambiguous, note it and continue rather than stalling. For written answers, be specific and use correct technical terminology. If you finish early, use remaining time to check flagged items and confirm you have answered everything.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name. If you are unsure what ID is accepted for your format, confirm with the provider before test day.
Arrive at the time specified in your admission instructions; late arrival may result in being refused entry or losing time. Confirm with the provider the exact arrival and cutoff policy for your sitting.
Follow all proctor and staff instructions, including where to store phones, smart watches, bags, and notes. Do not use unauthorized devices or materials during the exam.
Only use reference materials, calculators, or tasting aids that the provider explicitly permits. If a permitted-items list is not stated in your instructions, confirm with the provider.
Break policy, including whether breaks are scheduled, timed, or permitted on request, varies by sitting. Confirm with the provider in advance and, if you need a break, ask the proctor rather than leaving the room unannounced.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by the provider and may weight written and practical components differently. Confirm with the provider how your exam is scored and what the passing standard is; do not rely on secondhand accounts.
If you believe there is a problem with your test environment, a faulty sample, or a technical failure, raise it with the proctor or provider immediately and ask how it will be documented, rather than waiting until afterward.
Do not discuss, photograph, or reproduce exam content. Treat all questions and tasting materials as confidential, and direct any post-exam questions about results or appeals to the provider's stated process.