ICDL Image Editing (ICDL) exam-day guide
ICDL Image Editing · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID used at registration, and make sure the name matches your booking. needs_review: confirm accepted ID types and whether a digital copy is allowed with your test provider.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Save a screenshot or print the booking confirmation showing the test center address, start time, and registration or candidate number. needs_review: confirm whether the center requires a printed copy.
Test center route and contact number
Plan door-to-door travel, identify the correct entrance, and save the center phone number. Aim to arrive before the stated reporting time. needs_review: confirm the exact arrival window with the provider.
Know the test format and pass rule
Confirm the duration, number of practical tasks, software version, and pass mark before exam day. needs_review: these policies can vary by provider and country.
Accommodation request
If you need extra time, a separate room, or assistive equipment, confirm that your request has been approved before the deadline. needs_review: deadlines and evidence requirements vary by provider.
Practise the task types, not just theory
Rehearse opening and saving files, cropping, resizing, selections, layers, color and tone adjustments, retouching, text, and exporting in the required formats.
Know the file-management routine
Practise saving to the specified folder, using the required file name and format, and reopening the saved file to check it is correct.
Leave unauthorized materials out of the test room
Phones, smart watches, notes, and personal USB drives are normally not allowed in the test room. Confirm storage arrangements with the center.
Rest and travel buffer
Protect your sleep in the last two nights and build in extra travel time for delays. Avoid scheduling a tight connection before the test.
Read the candidate handbook
Check the center rules on ID, lateness, conduct, breaks, and results. needs_review: confirm the current local rules with your provider.
Plan the day
Confirm your booking, ID, test center address, start time, software version, and any accommodation approval. Do one timed practice run and identify two weak skills to review. Stop heavy cramming the night before.
Pack your ID and confirmation, check transport and weather, charge your phone but plan to store it, set two alarms, and review a short editing checklist rather than new material. Get a normal night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, arrive with a travel buffer, keep your phone off and away, present your ID and confirmation at check-in, and listen carefully to login and storage instructions.
Read the on-screen instructions, confirm the software and file locations, and note the time limit and number of tasks. Ask the invigilator only for technical or procedural help.
Read each task fully before clicking, save after major steps, use undo rather than restarting, and check the file name, format, and destination before moving on. Leave time to review.
Reopen saved files to verify they exist, check required formats and names, submit as instructed, and confirm with the invigilator that your test has ended properly.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID; the name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider before exam day.
Arrive by the reporting time. Late admission is not guaranteed; confirm the provider's lateness rule in advance.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, notes, or unauthorized storage devices into the test room. Use the storage arrangements the center provides.
Breaks are usually not scheduled during a short practical test; confirm the provider's policy if you have a medical or access need.
Scoring is based on completed practical tasks. Ask the provider for the pass mark, result timeline, and retake policy; do not rely on unofficial figures.
Ask the invigilator for technical problems, not for help interpreting the task content. Follow all instructions about saving and submitting.
Do not share, record, or reproduce exam tasks; this is standard test-security conduct.
If you need accommodation, request it before the provider's deadline and bring any required approval.