CISI IISI exam-day guide
CISI IISI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired photo ID in the name used for your booking (typically a passport or driving licence). The exact accepted ID types and whether a secondary signature-bearing ID is required vary by test centre and delivery method, so confirm with the provider before travelling.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Have your booking reference, candidate number and the test centre address or remote-proctoring link saved offline (screenshot or printout). Do not rely on email access at the venue or on a single device.
Know your exam window and arrival time
Note the scheduled start, the check-in cut-off and the total seat time. Arrival and admission cut-offs differ between centres and remote proctoring, so confirm the required arrival margin with the provider rather than assuming a standard.
Confirm the syllabus edition and any formula or tax tables
Check which edition of the CISI syllabus and which workbook your exam is based on. If the exam permits a supplied formula sheet, tax table or calculator, confirm what is provided on screen and what, if anything, you may bring.
Calculator policy
Many CISI computer-based exams provide an on-screen calculator. Whether a physical calculator is allowed, and which models, is a provider and centre policy - confirm before the day and do not assume a personal calculator will be admitted.
Practice the question interface and navigation
Use official specimen or sample questions to rehearse flagging, moving between questions, reviewing flagged items and submitting. Knowing where the clock and the review screen sit removes avoidable hesitation on the day.
Plan the journey and a time buffer
Reconnoitre the route, parking or public transport and building entry. Aim to arrive with a comfortable buffer; late arrival can mean refused admission under centre rules. For remote exams, test your link, camera and microphone the day before.
Personal admin for remote or centre exams
For remote proctoring, clear the desk, close other applications and check room and lighting rules. For centre exams, know the locker or bag policy. Exact permitted items (water, tissues, medication) vary - confirm with the provider.
Rest, food and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the final nights and eat a normal meal before the exam. Avoid new caffeine levels or unfamiliar energy drinks on the day; steady routine beats last-minute stimulants.
A one-page personal formula and concept sheet
Condense the ratios, definitions and regulatory thresholds you keep forgetting onto a single sheet for the final 24 hours. This is a study aid only - do not attempt to bring it into the exam room.
Confirm the results and resit process
Know how and when results are released and what a resit would involve. Exact timing and any waiting period are set by the provider - confirm rather than relying on rumour.
Backup plan for technology failure
For remote exams, know the provider's escalation contact and what to do if the connection drops. For centre exams, note that technical issues are handled by invigilators; do not attempt fixes yourself. needs_review - confirm the specific escalation route with your provider.
Plan the day
Stop adding new material. Work through the syllabus unit list and mark each topic red, amber or green from memory. Spend the time only on red and amber topics, using short active recall (write the definition, then check) rather than re-reading. Do two timed mixed sets of questions under exam conditions and review every wrong answer for the underlying concept, not just the correct option. Rehearse the on-screen calculator and the exam navigation once more. Confirm your booking, ID and venue or remote-proctoring requirements, and check the syllabus edition against your materials.
Do a light pass over your one-page formula and concept sheet and the highest-yield definitions: key ratios, risk and return relationships, regulatory structure and client-suitability concepts. Do one short set of questions to stay sharp, then stop. Prepare the bag or desk: ID, confirmation, directions, and any permitted items you have confirmed with the provider. Set two alarms, check travel times, and go to bed at a normal hour. No all-night cramming - fatigue costs more marks than one extra topic gains.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate moderately. Read your one-page sheet once, calmly, and then put it away. Arrive at the centre or log in early per the provider's instructions, allowing for ID checks and security. Keep conversation with other candidates light; last-minute panic comparisons tend to raise anxiety without adding knowledge. Once seated, take the first minute to breathe, read the on-screen instructions and note the clock position.
First pass: answer the questions you know, flag anything needing calculation or a second read, and move on - do not let one item consume the clock. Second pass: return to flagged items, eliminate clearly wrong options, and use the calculator for any ratio or percentage question rather than estimating. Watch the time at the halfway and three-quarter marks. Answer every question unless the exam penalises wrong answers - confirm the scoring rule with the provider. Use the review screen before submitting, and only submit when you have consciously checked that no question is left blank.
Rules to check
Bring the original, valid photo ID in the name on your booking. Expired or photocopied ID is normally refused, and the accepted document types differ between centres and remote proctoring - confirm the exact list with the provider.
Arrive or log in by the stated check-in time. Late arrival can result in refused admission or a shortened exam, and the cut-off varies by centre and delivery method - confirm the required arrival margin with the provider.
Follow all invigilator and proctor instructions. Do not communicate with other candidates, do not bring unauthorised materials into the room, and do not attempt to remove or copy exam content. Suspected misconduct is handled under the provider's disciplinary process.
Breaks are not normally permitted during the timed exam, and leaving the room may end your session. Any provision for comfort breaks, medical needs or extra time is an access arrangement that must be agreed in advance - confirm with the provider.
The scoring rule matters: find out in advance whether unanswered questions are marked wrong or simply left unscored, and whether there is negative marking. If there is no penalty, answer every question; if there is, answer only where you can eliminate options. Confirm the rule with the provider rather than assuming.
If technology fails during a remote exam, stop and contact the provider's stated support route immediately; do not restart the session or troubleshoot alone. For centre exams, raise your hand and let the invigilator manage the issue.
Results, pass marks and any resit waiting period are set by the provider and may change. Confirm the current pass standard and release process through official channels rather than relying on forums or past candidates.