RICS Ethics Test exam-day guide
RICS Ethics Test · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm the test format and delivery method with your provider
RICS ethics testing arrangements can differ by route and region, so verify before you plan. Check whether your assessment is delivered at a test centre, via remote proctoring, or as part of a wider assessment. Confirm the exact duration, number of questions, and whether it is multiple choice, scenario-based, or a written response. Confirm with the provider rather than relying on second-hand accounts.
Valid photo identification matching your registration name
Bring the original ID document your provider specifies (commonly a passport or photocard driving licence). The name and spelling must match your booking exactly; a mismatch can prevent you from sitting. Confirm the accepted ID types and whether a second form of ID is required with the provider. Do not bring a photocopy or an expired document.
Your booking confirmation and candidate number
Keep a printed or offline copy of your confirmation, including appointment time, address or access link, and candidate or registration number. Remote candidates should have the link and any session code saved locally in case email access fails. Confirm with the provider what reference you will be asked for at check-in.
Check the test centre location, travel, and arrival time
For a physical centre, do a route check in advance, note parking or public transport options, and plan to arrive with buffer time. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider, as it is often earlier than the start time for identity checks. For remote delivery, treat the same time as a hard deadline and clear your workspace.
Test your equipment and connection if sitting remotely
Run the provider's system or equipment check in advance if one is offered. Confirm your camera, microphone, browser version, and internet stability meet requirements. Have a backup plan such as a phone hotspot or an alternative room. Confirm with the provider what happens if a technical failure occurs mid-test.
Know which reference materials, if any, are permitted
Most ethics assessments are closed-book, but confirm this with the provider. If any materials are allowed, confirm the exact format (printed only, specific standards, no annotation). Do not assume that because the assessment is about professional standards, the standards document is permitted in the room.
Revise the ethical decision-making framework, not just definitions
Be ready to apply principles to scenarios: identifying conflicts of interest, confidentiality limits, competence boundaries, gifts and hospitality, and reporting concerns. Practise short scenario questions where you must choose the most appropriate first action. Focus on reasoning about duties to clients, the public, and the profession rather than memorising slogans.
Plan for breaks, food, and medication
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are permitted, whether the clock stops, and whether you may leave the room. If you take medication or have an access requirement, confirm approved adjustments well before test day. Do not assume you can step out for water or the toilet during a timed section.
Prepare your remote workspace if applicable
Clear the desk of notes, phones, and smart devices unless the provider permits them. Confirm the room scan and ID-check procedure with the provider. Tell household members not to enter the room, and silence notifications on any device allowed to remain.
Read the provider's candidate rules and misconduct policy
Understand what counts as malpractice, what is prohibited in the room, and the consequences of a breach. Confirm with the provider how suspected misconduct is handled and whether you have a right to respond. This matters more than most candidates expect for an ethics assessment.
Know the scoring and results process
Confirm the pass mark or standard applied, when results are issued, and how to appeal or request a review. Confirm with the provider whether feedback is provided and whether resit rules or waiting periods apply. Do not rely on forum estimates of the pass mark.
Plan your time allocation for the test itself
Find out the number of questions and total time, then set a rough per-question budget with time left for review. For scenario questions, read the stem fully before the options, as the 'best' answer often depends on one detail. Confirm the number of questions with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm every logistics detail: booking time, location or remote link, ID type, permitted materials, and any approved adjustments. Re-read the provider's candidate rules. Switch from broad reading to active practice: work through scenario questions on conflicts of interest, confidentiality, competence, and reporting, and write down the reasoning for each answer. Sleep properly rather than cramming new material. If anything about format or rules is unclear, contact the provider now, not on the day.
Do a final light review of the ethical decision-making framework and your own list of recurring mistakes. Prepare and lay out your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. For a centre test, confirm the journey and set two alarms. For remote delivery, run the equipment check again, charge devices, and clear the workspace. Check the provider's contact details for technical problems. Avoid intensive new study and get a full night's sleep.
Eat and hydrate normally. Re-check the start time and arrival or login time. For a centre, arrive with buffer and expect identity checks; for remote delivery, log in early and complete any room scan. Keep your phone off or stored as the provider requires. Do a short calm review of your framework only, not a panic re-read of everything.
Read the instructions and confirm the time limit before starting. Answer the questions you are sure of first if the platform allows navigation, and flag uncertain ones. For scenario questions, identify the duty in tension, the relevant facts, and the most appropriate first action. Watch for absolutes and for answers that are lawful but not ethical. Keep an eye on the clock and reserve time to check flagged questions. If a technical fault occurs, stop and follow the provider's stated procedure rather than improvising.
Note anything that felt unclear while it is fresh, in case you need to raise a query. Confirm with the provider when results are expected and how feedback or appeals work. Do not discuss specific question content in public forums, as this may breach the provider's confidentiality rules.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID document specified by your provider; your name must match your booking. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before test day.
Do not bring unauthorised materials into the test, including notes, smart watches, or phones, unless the provider explicitly permits them. For remote delivery, keep only approved items on the desk.
Follow all invigilator and proctor instructions, including room scans, ID checks, and any request to adjust your camera. Refusal may be treated as misconduct; confirm the procedure with the provider in advance.
Breaks are usually restricted during a timed assessment. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are allowed, whether the clock stops, and how to request one for medical or access needs.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider. Confirm the pass mark or standard, the results timeline, and any resit or appeal process with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
Do not communicate with anyone other than the invigilator or proctor during the test, and do not share or record question content afterwards. Treat the assessment as confidential.
If a technical failure or interruption occurs, follow the provider's stated procedure and record what happened. Confirm in advance how such incidents are handled and reported.
Answer according to professional standards and the public interest, not merely what is legally possible or commercially convenient. Where a scenario is ambiguous, choose the action that best manages the conflict and is transparent.