ICWIM exam-day guide
ICWIM · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Booking confirmation and candidate number
Bring a printed or offline-accessible copy of your appointment confirmation and your candidate/reference number. Keep a screenshot on your phone for the journey, but the phone itself stays outside the test room. Format and required details vary by provider and delivery method, so verify exactly what you must present on the day - [needs_review] confirm with the provider.
Valid photo ID matching your registration name
A current passport or national photo ID is the usual requirement; the name must match your registration exactly, including middle names. If your name has changed or your ID is expiring, resolve it before test day. Accepted ID types differ by centre and country - [needs_review] confirm the accepted list with the provider.
Second form of identification (if required)
Some centres ask for a second document, such as a payment card or a letter confirming your address. Do not assume it is or is not needed - [needs_review] confirm with the provider whether a secondary ID is required at your specific centre.
Confirmed test-centre details and arrival time
Write down the full address, the entrance to use, and the nearest transport or parking. Plan to arrive with a buffer well ahead of your slot; many centres ask candidates to check in 20–30 minutes early, but the exact window is set by the venue - [needs_review] confirm your check-in time and late-arrival policy with the provider.
Remote-proctoring setup (if sitting online)
If your exam is remotely invigilated, run the system compatibility check days in advance and again the day before. You will typically need a working webcam, microphone, stable broadband, a charged device and mains power, and a quiet, private room with a clear desk. Requirements are platform-specific - [needs_review] confirm the technical checklist and room rules with the provider.
Permitted calculator and stationery
Many computer-based versions supply an on-screen calculator and provide rough paper or an erasable board at the centre; personal calculators and pens may or may not be allowed. Do not buy or bring equipment assuming it is permitted - [needs_review] confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Know the paper's structure before you sit down
Be clear in advance on the number of questions, the time allowed, whether questions are multiple choice, and the pass mark, so you can pace yourself from question one. These details are set by the awarding body and can be revised - [needs_review] confirm the current structure and pass standard from the official syllabus or the provider.
Leave notes and devices behind
Notes, textbooks, smart watches, phones and earbuds are normally prohibited in the test room, and centres often provide a locker for bags. Assume nothing is allowed at your desk unless the invigilator has confirmed it.
Light, practical preparation the day before
Pack your ID, confirmation and travel essentials the night before. Do not start new topics in the final 24 hours; review a one-page summary of key definitions, formulas and ratios you have already learned.
A plan for problems on the day
Save the centre's or provider's contact number and know what to do if you are delayed, your ID is questioned, or the test system fails. At a centre, speak to the invigilator immediately; remotely, use the proctor chat or support line rather than troubleshooting alone. What is and is not permitted (rebooking, time adjustments) is set by the provider - [needs_review] confirm the procedure in advance.
Plan the day
Re-read your booking confirmation and check that your ID is valid and the name matches. Confirm the venue, travel plan and start time, or re-run the remote-proctoring system check. Sit one timed practice paper under exam conditions to calibrate your pace, then spend the remaining time on your two or three weakest syllabus areas only. Stop learning brand-new material.
Do a final light review of a single summary sheet - key definitions, ratios and formula conventions - and nothing else. Pack ID, confirmation and travel essentials. Check the weather and travel disruptions. Avoid alcohol and late-night cramming; a full night's sleep is worth more than an extra hour of revision.
Eat something you would normally eat and avoid a heavy or unfamiliar meal. Leave earlier than you think you need to. Do not attempt to learn new material on the way in; if you want a warm-up, do five or ten easy questions you have already seen. Arrive at the centre calm, with ID in hand.
Read each question stem carefully, especially for words like 'except', 'least likely' and 'most appropriate'. Supply an answer to every question even if you are unsure - there is normally no penalty for wrong answers, but confirm this with the provider. Flag anything you cannot resolve in a reasonable time and come back to it once the easier marks are banked. Watch the clock and divide the remaining time by the remaining questions so you know your per-question budget. In the last few minutes, review flagged items and check that no question has been left blank.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID that matches your registered name exactly. Candidates without acceptable ID are normally refused entry, and no replacement sitting may be available - confirm the ID list and the no-ID policy with the provider before test day.
Do not bring notes, textbooks, smart watches, phones or any other unauthorised material into the test room. Follow the invigilator's instructions about lockers and bags; if you are unsure whether an item is permitted, ask before you sit down.
Confirm the break policy with the provider. In computer-based professional exams the clock often keeps running during any unscheduled pause, so treat every absence from your desk as time lost unless you have been told otherwise.
Attempt every question. Multiple-choice professional exams commonly apply no negative marking, so an educated guess is better than a blank - but confirm the scoring convention for your paper with the provider rather than assuming it.
If equipment fails, the screen freezes, or you believe you have lost time, stop and notify the invigilator or proctor immediately. Do not attempt fixes yourself. Whether time is added back or the sitting is rescheduled is a matter for the provider - confirm the incident procedure in advance.
Treat the exam content as confidential. Do not copy, photograph, record or later share questions or answers, and comply with any confidentiality undertaking you signed at registration.
Confirm in advance how and when results are issued and what the pass standard is, since these are set by the awarding body and can be updated. Do not rely on second-hand accounts of the pass mark.