ICDL Databases exam-day guide
ICDL Databases · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirmation of booking and appointment details
Bring the confirmation email or reference number the test centre sent you. Confirm the exact address, arrival time, and which ID document they require. If you are unsure what your confirmation contains, confirm with the provider.
Valid photo identification
Bring the original ID specified in your booking confirmation (commonly a passport or national photo ID card). Check the accepted ID types and whether the name must match your booking exactly. If in doubt, confirm with the provider.
Knowledge of the test format and duration
The ICDL Databases module is a practical, performance-based test taken at a computer; you perform database tasks rather than answer multiple-choice questions. Confirm the current duration, number of tasks, and pass mark with your provider, as these can vary by version and centre.
The software version you will be tested on
Practise on the same database application and version the centre uses (for example a specific version of Microsoft Access or another database package). Ask the centre which application and version apply to your sitting.
Practice files and sample tasks
Work through practice exercises that mirror the syllabus: creating tables, setting field data types and keys, building queries, forms, and reports. Bring nothing into the test room except what the centre permits.
A clear plan for saving and naming files
Know how to save your database to the location the test specifies and how to name files exactly as instructed. Practise this so it becomes automatic.
Time-management habit
Plan to read each task fully, do the easy tasks first, and return to harder ones. Practise completing full sets of tasks within the time limit.
Arrival buffer
Arrive with time to spare before your appointment so you can complete any check-in and ID verification without rushing. Confirm the centre's late-arrival policy with the provider.
Awareness of what is not allowed in the test room
Leave phones, smart watches, notes, and study materials outside the room unless the centre says otherwise. Confirm the centre's rules on personal items with the provider.
Rest and readiness
Get a normal night's sleep and eat beforehand. A practical test rewards steady concentration more than last-minute cramming.
Plan the day
Re-read the syllabus and list the skills you are least confident about. Spend your remaining study time on those, not on what you already do well.
Do at least one full timed practice run under exam-like conditions: same software version, no notes, strict time limit. Note where you lost time or made errors.
Confirm your appointment details, the centre address, travel plan, and required ID. If anything is unclear, contact the provider now rather than the day before.
Do a light review only: field data types, primary keys, query criteria syntax, form and report basics. Stop studying early enough to rest.
Lay out your ID and confirmation, check travel times, and set an alarm. Avoid learning brand-new topics at this stage.
Eat, arrive early, and bring your ID and confirmation. Keep calm and avoid cramming in the waiting area.
Read each task completely before acting, note exactly what file name and save location are required, and save as you go. Do the straightforward tasks first, flag anything uncertain, and return to it. Watch the clock and leave time to check your work.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID specified in your booking; a copy or expired document may not be accepted. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider.
Arrive at the time stated in your confirmation. Late arrival may mean you cannot sit the test; confirm the centre's policy with the provider.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and the on-screen test instructions. Do not communicate with other candidates during the test.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, notes, or other materials into the test room unless the centre explicitly permits them.
If you need to leave the room (for example for a break or illness), raise your hand and follow the invigilator's instructions; confirm the centre's break policy with the provider.
The test is scored on the tasks you complete correctly. Confirm the current pass mark and whether partial credit applies with your provider, as these can change between versions.
If equipment or software fails, stop and notify the invigilator immediately rather than trying to fix it yourself.
If you believe your result is wrong, ask the centre about the appeal or review process; confirm the specific procedure and deadlines with the provider.