CIMA F1 exam-day guide
CIMA F1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration name
Bring the same identity document you used when booking. The name must match your CIMA registration exactly. If you have recently changed your name or the ID details differ, contact CIMA or your test provider before exam day to correct the record; do not assume a second document will be accepted.
Exam appointment confirmation and candidate number
Have your appointment confirmation (printed or on your phone) and your CIMA candidate/contact ID available. You may be asked for the appointment number at check-in. Confirm the exact venue address, arrival time and any access requirements with the provider in advance.
Know your test delivery mode and its rules
F1 may be sat at a test centre or remotely, depending on the option you booked. The equipment, room and ID-check rules differ between the two. Confirm with the provider which mode applies to your booking and read the corresponding candidate guidance, including what is allowed on your desk.
Approved calculator
Bring a calculator that meets the provider's permitted specification (typically a non-programmable, non-graphing model with no communication capability). Confirm the current permitted list with the provider, and check whether an on-screen calculator is also available in your delivery mode.
Stationery according to provider rules
Some centres supply a pen and/or rough-paper booklet and prohibit bringing your own; remote sittings usually ban loose paper. Confirm with the provider what is supplied and what is prohibited, and do not bring notes, textbooks or formula sheets into the test room.
Personal items plan
Assume phones, smart watches, bags and notes must be stored away or left outside the testing room. Plan where these will go, especially for remote sittings where the room must be clear. Confirm the provider's rules on storage and on items permitted at your desk.
Confirm permitted break and leave arrangements
Rules on unscheduled breaks, leaving the room and whether the clock stops vary by venue and delivery mode. Ask the provider in advance so you know what happens if you need to leave mid-exam and how it affects your time.
Check the syllabus and exam format
F1 is a computer-based objective test. Confirm the current number of questions, time allowance and pass mark from the official CIMA qualification and exam guidance, as these can change. Do not rely on second-hand summaries.
Prepare your exam-day logistics
Plan your route and arrival time with a buffer, or test your remote setup (device, camera, microphone, internet, power) in advance. For remote sittings, complete any required system check before exam day.
Rest, food and hydration plan
Objective tests are time-pressured. Plan sleep, a light meal and water before the sitting, and know the location of facilities at the venue or the break rules for a remote test.
Backup plan for problems
Know the provider's contact route if you cannot attend, arrive late, or have a technical failure. Keep the relevant phone number or support link handy. Confirm with the provider how incidents are reported and what evidence is required.
Plan the day
Switch from learning to consolidating. Review your weakest syllabus areas using short, targeted practice, and rehearse the exam format and timing. Confirm your appointment details, venue or remote-setup requirements, ID and permitted calculator with the provider. Stop introducing new material.
Do one timed practice set under exam-like conditions to check your pacing and question technique. Review errors and note the recurring themes rather than re-reading everything. Check travel or remote-setup logistics and any equipment you need.
Do a light review of key definitions, formulas and decision rules only. Pack your ID, confirmation and approved calculator, or check your device, camera and internet for a remote sitting. Confirm the start time and arrival or login time. Avoid heavy cramming and get a full night's sleep.
Eat and hydrate, then do a brief, calm review of a one-page summary. Arrive or log in early as instructed, with ID and confirmation ready. For a test centre, follow check-in instructions; for a remote sitting, clear your desk and complete the identity and room checks. Keep phones and smart devices stored as required.
Read the on-screen instructions and check the time allowance and question count shown. Note how to flag questions, move between questions and use any on-screen calculator or scratch facility. Settle your breathing before question one.
Work at a steady pace and keep an eye on the remaining time. Answer every question: objective tests are usually marked on correct answers with no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a blank. Flag long or uncertain questions, make a best estimate and return if time allows. Read each requirement carefully, watch for words such as 'most likely' or 'not', and eliminate clearly wrong options first.
Check that every question has an answer and that flagged items have your best attempt. If time is short, prioritise completing unanswered questions over reworking answered ones. Submit according to the on-screen instructions and confirm the submission screen.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID in the name used for your CIMA registration. If your ID name or document type does not match, resolve it with CIMA or the test provider before exam day; do not assume an alternative document will be accepted.
Follow the provider's rules on what may be taken into the test room or kept at your desk. Phones, smart watches, notes, textbooks and unauthorised calculators are normally prohibited. Confirm the current list with the provider.
Do not communicate with anyone during the exam, and do not copy, record or share exam content. Remote sittings may be monitored, and misconduct can lead to invalidation of your result and further action under CIMA's rules.
Confirm break and leave arrangements with the provider before the exam. If you leave the room, the clock may keep running and re-entry may be subject to security checks; know the rules in advance.
Check the current exam format, time allowance and pass mark in the official CIMA guidance, as these can change. Your result is based on the number of correct answers; confirm the current scoring and result-release process with CIMA.
If you arrive late, fall ill or have a technical failure, follow the provider's incident procedure immediately and keep any evidence. Do not assume a special-consideration outcome; confirm the process with CIMA or the provider.
Read the candidate instructions for your delivery mode in full before exam day, including check-in times, permitted items and conduct rules, and ask the provider about anything unclear rather than guessing.