ACI Diploma exam-day guide
ACI Diploma · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID document named in your admission confirmation, with signature and photo, unexpired. The name must match your registration. If your ID uses a different script or name order than your booking, confirm with the provider in advance whether supporting documents are needed.
Admission confirmation / appointment details
Have the confirmation email or letter available, printed or on your phone, showing your candidate number, test centre address or online proctoring link, and start time. For remote sittings, install and test the required browser or secure exam software beforehand.
Approved calculator
The ACI Diploma involves quantitative content, so check the provider's current calculator policy before the exam. If a calculator is permitted, bring a model on the approved list with fresh batteries or a spare. If the policy is unclear, confirm with the provider and do not assume a programmable or graphing model is allowed.
Writing materials per policy
Bring pens and pencils only if the provider allows them; many test centres supply paper or a laminated booklet and pen and prohibit bringing your own. Confirm with the provider what is provided versus what you must bring.
Clear water bottle and small snack for before the test
Hydration and a light snack before the sitting help concentration. Food and drink are usually not allowed at the desk during the test; confirm with the provider where you can eat and drink.
Travel plan with buffer time
Plan to arrive well before the start time; late arrival can mean refused entry or reduced time. Check local transport disruptions the day before and identify a backup route. The exact arrival cut-off should be confirmed with the provider.
Quiet, cleared workspace for remote sittings
If testing online, use a private room with a closed door, a clear desk, reliable internet, a working webcam and microphone, and a power supply. Remove notes, phones, smart watches and secondary screens. Room-scan and ID-check procedures vary, so confirm with the provider.
Watch set to silent or left at home
Many providers prohibit watches, including smart watches, at the desk. If you need to track time, rely on the on-screen clock. Confirm with the provider whether a simple analogue watch is permitted.
Review of the syllabus and formula or concept sheet
In the final days, revisit your own one-page summary of key formulas, conventions and definitions rather than attempting new material. Focus on weak areas identified in practice tests.
Practice under timed conditions
Complete at least one full-length timed practice set in the week before the exam to rehearse pacing and question triage. Note which sections consume the most time and plan how to allocate minutes.
Sleep and logistics check the night before
Confirm your alarm, route, ID location and, for remote sittings, your equipment. Aim for a normal night's sleep rather than last-minute cramming.
Knowledge of the provider's exam-day rules
Read the current candidate handbook or regulations for conduct, permitted items, breaks and scoring. Details change, so confirm with the provider rather than relying on second-hand accounts.
Plan the day
Finish your final content review using your own summary sheet. Do not start new topics. Re-read the syllabus to confirm every learning objective has been covered at least once, and list any remaining gaps to address in short focused sessions.
Take one full timed practice paper in exam conditions, including the same start time of day as your real sitting. Review every wrong answer and every uncertain correct answer, and write the underlying rule or formula next to each mistake.
Re-read the provider's candidate regulations on permitted items, ID, conduct, breaks and scoring. Confirm with the provider any point that is unclear, such as calculator model, watch policy or whether formula sheets are supplied.
Do targeted revision of your two or three weakest areas, using short question sets rather than long reading. Keep sessions to around 45 to 60 minutes with breaks.
Check your travel or remote-setup logistics: route, journey time, parking or transport tickets, and for online sittings your equipment, internet stability and room choice. Resolve any equipment problems now, not on the day.
Light review only: skim your summary sheet, key formulas and definitions. Stop studying in the early evening. Prepare your ID, confirmation, approved calculator and any permitted items in one place ready to go.
Confirm the start time and location or link one final time. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy alcohol and aim for a full night's sleep; sleep is more valuable than extra cramming at this stage.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid excessive caffeine if you are sensitive to it, and leave with generous buffer time. Do a brief five to ten minute skim of your summary sheet only; do not attempt new questions.
For remote sittings, start the check-in process early, close other applications, connect the power supply and keep your ID and workspace ready for inspection. For test-centre sittings, follow staff instructions on lockers and permitted items.
Read the instructions and note the total time and number of questions, then set a rough per-question pace. Answer easier questions first and flag difficult ones to return to, so you never run out of time with easy marks unclaimed.
For calculation questions, write the formula first, check units and signs, and sanity-check the magnitude of your answer. For qualitative questions, eliminate clearly wrong options before choosing.
If a question stalls you, mark it and move on; return once the rest of the paper is complete. Leave a few minutes at the end to check that no question is unanswered and that flagged items have been revisited.
Note any topics that felt weak while they are fresh, in case you need to resit. Follow the provider's stated process and timing for results; do not rely on unofficial result channels.
Rules to check
Bring the ID document specified by the provider, unexpired and matching your registered name. If you arrive without acceptable ID you may be refused entry and lose your fee, so confirm with the provider what counts as acceptable identification, including any rules for name changes or non-Latin scripts.
Follow all instructions from invigilators or proctors. Do not communicate with other candidates, do not attempt to view others' screens or papers, and do not use unauthorised materials. Suspected misconduct can lead to invalidation of your result and further sanctions under the provider's regulations.
Use only permitted items at the desk. Phones, smart watches, notes and unauthorised electronic devices should be switched off and stored as directed. If you are unsure whether an item such as a particular calculator or watch is allowed, confirm with the provider before the exam rather than risking a breach.
Breaks during the test are usually limited or not permitted, and leaving the room may be recorded or supervised. Check the provider's rules on comfort breaks and on what happens to your clock if you leave; do not assume extra time is granted.
Scoring is based on your performance on the paper as set by the provider, and the pass mark and any section weighting are set by the provider. Do not assume that partial credit is given for calculations or that unanswered questions are penalised differently from wrong answers; confirm the scoring rules with the provider.
Results and any grade boundaries are issued through the provider's official channels. Do not share or discuss exam content with others afterwards, as confidentiality rules commonly apply to question content.
If you are unwell or have a technical failure during a remote sitting, stop and contact the provider's support line immediately and follow their instructions; do not attempt to continue through a serious disruption without reporting it, as later appeals may depend on timely notification.