IIQE Paper 2 exam-day guide
IIQE Paper 2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your test format and venue
IIQE papers are delivered through the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) in a computer-based or paper format depending on the session. Confirm with the provider (HKEAA / Insurance Authority) which format your booking uses, the exact venue, and the reporting time printed on your admission form, because arrangements can change between sessions.
Bring your original HKID card or valid passport
Photo identification is required for admission. Bring the original document, not a photocopy, and make sure the name matches your registration. If you hold a non-Hong Kong passport, confirm with the provider whether any additional document is needed.
Bring your admission form / confirmation notice
Print or save the confirmation showing your candidate number, paper, date, time, and venue. Some centres ask to see it at the door. If you have not received it, contact the provider well before the test day rather than on the morning itself.
Check the permitted calculator policy
Some IIQE papers involve numerical questions. Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is permitted and, if so, which models are allowed, and whether it must be a non-programmable type. Do not assume a phone calculator will be accepted; phones are typically prohibited.
Know what is banned from the test room
Expect mobile phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices to be prohibited or required to be switched off and stored. Confirm the provider's list of prohibited items and whether storage is available at the venue.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
Work out the journey to the venue in advance and aim to arrive with a comfortable margin before the reporting time. Late arrivals may be refused admission, so treat the reporting time as a hard deadline, not a suggestion.
Sleep and eat normally
A full night's sleep and a normal meal before the test support concentration better than last-minute cramming. Avoid trying to learn new material in the final hours.
Review the paper's syllabus and weighting
Check the official syllabus for your specific IIQE paper on the Insurance Authority / HKEAA website and confirm the number of questions, time allowed, and pass mark, since these details are set by the provider and can be revised.
Prepare for the on-screen or paper mechanics
If your session is computer-based, confirm with the provider how answers are entered and whether there is a practice tutorial. If paper-based, confirm whether answers go on a separate answer sheet and bring the pens or pencils the provider specifies.
Leave valuables at home
Minimise what you carry. Fewer items means less to store and fewer chances of a conduct issue over an unauthorised device.
Check for any special arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, or another accommodation, confirm with the provider that it has been approved and recorded for your booking. Requests are usually handled before the test day, not on arrival.
Re-read the candidate instructions
The provider issues candidate instructions covering conduct, timing, and what to do if you have a problem during the test. Read them the day before so nothing at the venue is a surprise.
Plan the day
Confirm the logistics: venue, reporting time, format, and the ID you will bring. Re-check the official syllabus for your paper and make a short list of the topics where you are weakest. Spend the remaining study time on those topics and on practice questions under timed conditions, rather than re-reading everything.
If anything is unclear, such as calculator rules, permitted items, or special arrangements, contact the provider now. Questions asked 72 hours out can still be answered; questions asked at the door usually cannot.
Do a light review only: key definitions, regulatory principles, and any formulas or thresholds you keep forgetting. Stop studying early enough to sleep well. Lay out your ID, admission form, and any permitted items by the door so the morning is frictionless.
Check the weather and transport situation for the route to the venue and set two alarms. Confirm the reporting time once more so you are not relying on memory.
Eat a normal meal, arrive at the venue with a buffer before the reporting time, and follow staff instructions for registration and seating. Keep your phone off and stored as instructed. Once seated, read the instructions on the paper or screen before you start answering.
Answer the questions you are confident about first and flag the rest for a second pass. Watch the clock and allocate roughly equal time per question, leaving a few minutes to check that every question has an answer. If a question seems ambiguous, choose the best answer available and move on rather than losing time.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for staff. Confirm the provider's rules on breaks and on returning to the room before you rely on being able to step out.
Note down any topics that felt difficult while they are fresh, so your next study cycle or a resit is targeted. Confirm with the provider how and when results are released.
Rules to check
Bring original photo identification matching your registration; without acceptable ID you may be refused admission, and the provider's decision on acceptable documents is final.
Arrive by the reporting time. Late candidates may not be admitted and may forfeit the fee, so confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance.
Electronic devices, including phones and smart watches, must be switched off and stored as instructed. Using an unauthorised device during the test is a conduct issue.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and do not communicate with other candidates during the test. Any form of cheating or attempting to obtain unfair advantage can lead to disqualification.
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are permitted, whether you may leave and re-enter the room, and what happens to your time if you do.
Scoring is set by the provider: confirm the number of questions, time allowed, and pass mark for your specific paper on the official website rather than relying on second-hand information.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a problem with your test conditions, raise it with the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's procedure for reporting it afterwards.
Keep your admission form and any result correspondence. If you need to query your result or book a resit, the provider will usually ask for your candidate number.