IMC exam-day guide
IMC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your test appointment, format, and delivery method
The IMC (Investment Management Certificate) is delivered through CFA UK's appointed test provider. Log in to your candidate account to verify the exact date, start time, time zone, and whether you are sitting at a test centre or online with remote proctoring. Confirm the provider's name and contact details now so you are not searching for them on exam day.
Read the current candidate/candidate agreement and exam regulations
Rules on permitted materials, calculator use, ID requirements, and misconduct are set by the awarding body and can change. Download the latest version from your candidate account rather than relying on a course provider's summary. If anything is ambiguous, confirm with the provider in writing before test day.
Valid, unexpired photo ID matching your registered name
Acceptable ID types and the exact name-match rule vary by provider and location. Check the provider's ID policy and confirm which documents are accepted for your test centre or remote session. If your ID name differs from your registration, ask the provider how to resolve it before the exam.
Approved calculator (or confirm the on-screen calculator)
Many finance exams restrict which calculators are permitted and some deliver an on-screen calculator only. Check the current exam regulations for the permitted model list and whether you may bring your own. Practise with exactly the device or interface you will use on the day.
Printed or saved appointment confirmation and provider contact details
Have your confirmation number, test centre address or remote-session link, and the provider's support phone number accessible. For a test centre, plan the route and arrive with buffer time; for remote delivery, note the check-in window.
Remote-proctoring setup check (if sitting online)
If your exam is remotely proctored, run the provider's system test in advance: webcam, microphone, browser, and internet stability. Clear your desk and room of prohibited items per the provider's rules. Confirm with the provider which software and room conditions are required.
Know what is and is not allowed at your seat
Typically no notes, phones, smart watches, or unauthorised materials at the desk, but the exact list is provider-specific. Check the regulations and confirm with the provider if you need to bring medication, water, or other essentials. Plan where you will store personal items.
Confirm break policy and timing rules in advance
Scheduled and unscheduled break rules, and whether the clock stops during breaks, differ by exam and provider. Check your exam's current regulations and confirm with the provider if the information is unclear. Decide your break strategy before the day.
Prepare a one-page formula and concept sheet for the final review
Condense the syllabus into the formulas, definitions, and distinctions you most often get wrong. Use it only for study in the last 72 hours and do not attempt to bring it into the exam. This is your personal revision aid, not an official document.
Plan logistics: sleep, travel, food, and a quiet arrival buffer
Aim for a normal night's sleep, a light meal, and arrival well before your start time. For a test centre, check transport disruptions and parking. For remote delivery, tell household members you need an uninterrupted block and silence devices.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating. Rework your weakest two or three syllabus areas using your error log, and do one or two timed mixed-topic sets under exam conditions. Review the current exam regulations once more, especially ID, calculator, and permitted-materials rules, and confirm with the provider if anything is unclear. Prepare your ID, confirmation details, and calculator, and finalise travel or remote-setup plans. Protect sleep: do not trade it for extra cramming, because recall and pacing suffer more than the extra hours help.
Do a light review only: your formula and concept sheet, plus a short set of questions you have previously got wrong. Stop heavy study by early evening. Re-run any remote-proctoring system check if applicable, and confirm the start time and time zone in writing. Lay out ID, confirmation, calculator, and any permitted items. Check the test centre route or your quiet room setup, set alarms, and aim for a full night's sleep. Avoid last-minute attempts to learn entirely new topics.
Eat a normal meal and limit caffeine to your usual amount. Re-read only your one-page sheet for 15 to 20 minutes, then stop. Arrive at the test centre early or, for remote delivery, complete check-in and room clearance ahead of the start. Keep the pre-exam period calm and avoid discussing difficult topics with other candidates, which can unsettle your pacing.
Read the instructions and note the total time and question count so you can set a per-question pace. Answer in passes: take the straightforward questions first, flag long or calculation-heavy items, and return to them. Watch the clock at the halfway point and adjust. If a question stalls you, make a reasoned guess, flag it, and move on; never leave blanks if there is no penalty for guessing, but confirm the scoring rule with the provider first. Use scheduled breaks as permitted, and keep any permitted calculator or on-screen tool work tidy so you can check it.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID that matches your registered name. The accepted document types and name-match rule are set by the provider; check the current policy and confirm with the provider if your documents differ from your registration.
Follow the permitted-materials list exactly. Notes, phones, smart watches, and unauthorised calculators are normally prohibited at the desk, but the definitive list is in the current exam regulations. Confirm with the provider before bringing anything not explicitly allowed.
Only use a calculator if the exam regulations permit it, and only an approved model if a list applies. If the exam provides an on-screen calculator, do not bring your own unless the rules allow it. Confirm with the provider if unsure.
Breaks are governed by the exam's rules, which vary by format and provider. Check whether breaks are scheduled or unscheduled, whether the clock stops, and what you may access during a break. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the awarding body and can change between exam versions. Check the current syllabus and results information for the scoring method and any penalty for incorrect answers. Confirm with the provider if the published information is unclear.
Maintain academic integrity. Do not communicate with others, share or receive question content, or use unauthorised aids during the exam. Misconduct rules and their consequences are defined in the candidate agreement; read it and confirm any ambiguity with the provider.
Report technical problems, illness, or disruption to the invigilator or proctor immediately and follow the provider's incident process. Do not attempt to fix remote-session issues by yourself beyond the provider's documented steps.
Keep to the provider's arrival and check-in requirements. Late arrival, room conditions for remote delivery, and re-admission rules are provider-specific, so check them in advance and confirm with the provider where the regulations are silent.