Certified Cicerone exam-day guide
Certified Cicerone · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID (driver's license or passport) you registered with; the name must match your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID forms and name variations (e.g., maiden/married names) are accepted before test day.
Exam confirmation / registration record
Have your registration confirmation, candidate number (if issued), and the venue address and check-in time saved offline on your phone as well as on paper. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Writing implements permitted by the provider
Confirm with the provider whether you must bring your own pens/pencils for the written (theory) section or whether materials are supplied. Bring two of whatever is allowed.
Exam content outline and format notes
Print or save the official syllabus and section-by-section weighting from the Cicerone program so you can do a final 10-minute scan of the structure rather than cramming new facts.
Neutral clothing and no fragrance
Avoid cologne, perfume, scented lotion, or heavily scented deodorant. Your tasting evaluations and those of candidates near you depend on an odor-neutral environment.
Sensory preparation (24-48h)
Avoid smoking, smoky venues, very spicy or heavily garlic/onion-laden meals, and strong coffee immediately before the tasting portion. These blunt and distort your perception.
Water and a plain palate cleanser
Confirm with the provider whether water, crackers, or plain bread are provided or permitted in the exam room; if permitted and not supplied, bring your own unflavored water.
Light, familiar breakfast
Eat something plain and familiar so you are neither hungry nor overly full. Do not use the exam day to try new foods or high-caffeine energy drinks.
Travel and venue plan
Know the exact room, building entrance, parking or transit route, and check-in time. Plan to arrive with buffer time; confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance.
Logistics questions answered in advance
Confirm with the provider: arrival/check-in time, whether breaks are scheduled, whether food and drink are allowed at your seat, and the order in which the exam sections are administered.
Rest plan
Protect 7-8 hours of sleep for the two nights before. Fatigue degrades both timed essay recall and sensory discrimination more than an extra hour of review helps.
Plan the day
Confirm all logistics in writing: venue, check-in time, ID requirements, permitted materials, section order, break policy, and scoring/retake rules. Confirm anything unclear directly with the provider rather than relying on forum posts.
Do one timed practice written response (short-answer plus one essay) under exam conditions, then review only your weakest topics. Do not start learning brand-new material.
Run one structured practice tasting: evaluate 3-4 beers on appearance, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall impression, and write down descriptors and any suspected faults. Practice writing concise, specific notes rather than long prose.
Stop drinking alcohol 72 hours out except for the practice tasting itself; keep your palate rested and avoid smoky or strongly scented environments.
Light review only: beer styles and their key parameters, classic off-flavors and their causes, draught system and serving fundamentals, and beer-and-food pairing logic. Close the books by early evening.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, permitted writing implements, water, directions, and a plain snack for afterward. Lay out fragrance-free clothing.
Confirm your route and set two alarms. Eat a normal, mild dinner, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a plain breakfast; skip strong coffee, garlic, onion, and anything heavily spiced. No cologne, perfume, or scented products.
Leave early enough to arrive ahead of check-in. Re-read your confirmation email on arrival and have your ID out before you reach the desk.
Do not cram in the waiting area. A brief skim of your own summary sheet is fine; new material at this point only increases anxiety.
Read the entire written section instructions first, then budget your minutes per question and leave time to return to anything you skipped. Answer every question, even briefly.
In written answers, name the specific style, defect, or process and give the concrete reason. Vague answers rarely earn full credit; specific, correct terminology does.
In the tasting section, work in the same fixed order for every sample: appearance, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, overall impression, then any suspected fault and its likely cause. Write the notes before you discuss or second-guess yourself.
Use water and plain crackers between samples, and take a short pause to reset your palate if you notice fatigue. If a demonstration or practical portion is included, state each step out loud as you perform it, in order.
If you finish early, use the remaining time to check that you answered each sub-part of multi-part questions and that your handwriting is legible.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID with a name matching your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and what to do if your registered name differs from your ID.
Follow all proctor and invigilator instructions. Phones, smart watches, notes, and study materials must be stowed unless the provider explicitly permits them; confirm the device policy in advance.
Treat exam content as confidential: do not photograph, copy, record, or discuss specific questions with other candidates or online. Confirm the provider's exact confidentiality and misconduct policy.
Maintain sensory neutrality: no smoking, vaping, strong fragrance, or strongly flavored food or drink before or during the tasting portion.
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, whether you may leave the room mid-section, and whether food or drink is allowed at your seat. Do not assume.
Respect the time limits of each section; unanswered questions still count against you, so leave nothing blank.
Confirm passing criteria and retake policy with the provider before test day: which sections must be passed, whether scores are carried forward between attempts, and any waiting period between retakes.
If you believe there is an error in testing conditions or scoring, raise it with the proctor at the time and follow the provider's formal appeal process rather than debating it afterward.