IIQE Paper 3 exam-day guide
IIQE Paper 3 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your exact test appointment details with the provider
Log in to the booking channel you used (the Insurance Authority's licensing examination arrangement or the appointed examination centre) and confirm the date, start time, venue or online platform, and reporting time. Do not rely on memory or a forwarded email. If anything looks wrong, contact the provider immediately rather than on exam day.
Bring the identity document named in your booking
The name on your ID must match the name on the registration. Bring the original physical document - typically the Hong Kong Identity Card or a valid passport for candidates without one. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether photocopies or digital IDs are refused.
Bring your admission or confirmation document if the provider requires it
Some centres ask for a printed or electronic confirmation of booking. Check your appointment instructions and print a copy if a hard copy is specified. If the instructions are unclear, confirm with the provider before the day.
Check the permitted calculator policy
IIQE papers are largely conceptual, but confirm with the provider whether a calculator is allowed for your paper and, if so, which models are permitted. Do not assume a programmable or graphing calculator is acceptable.
Know the paper format and time allowance
Confirm the number of questions and the time allowed for Paper 3 from the provider's current syllabus or candidate handbook, since formats are updated from time to time. Practise full papers under that exact time limit so your pacing is realistic.
Bring only permitted items into the test room
Leave bags, notes, smart watches, and phones outside the room or in the designated area, switched off. Confirm with the provider where personal belongings are stored and whether storage is available at your venue.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
Rehearse the journey to the venue at the same time of day. Aim to arrive with a comfortable margin before the reporting time so a transport delay does not cost you the attempt. For online proctoring, test your device, camera, microphone, and connection in advance.
Prepare for the language of the paper
IIQE papers are available in English and Chinese. Decide which version you will sit and practise in that language. Confirm with the provider how the language version is selected and whether it can be changed on the day.
Review the current syllabus for Paper 3
Download the current syllabus from the provider and check the topic weighting. Build your final revision around the heaviest-weighted topics rather than re-reading everything equally.
Confirm the pass mark and scoring rule with the provider
Pass standards and any negative-marking or penalty rules are set by the provider and can change. Do not rely on second-hand claims from forums; check the current candidate handbook or ask the provider directly.
Confirm the retake and results policy
Know when results are released, how they are delivered, and what the waiting period is before a retake. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming, so a poor result does not derail your licensing timeline.
Get a normal night's sleep and eat before the test
Cramming the final night rarely improves a conceptual paper and often costs accuracy. Protect your sleep in the last 48 hours and eat a proper meal before reporting time.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read your own summary sheets and the syllabus topic list, and mark any topic you still cannot explain in one sentence. Spend the remaining time only on those weak topics. Sit one full timed paper under exam conditions and mark it honestly, then review every wrong answer to identify whether the error was knowledge, misreading, or time pressure.
Do a second timed paper or a large set of mixed questions, focusing on the highest-weighted syllabus areas. Rehearse definitions and distinctions that examiners like to test - for example the difference between similar regulatory concepts - because Paper 3 rewards precise recall of rules and responsibilities rather than calculation. Write a one-page 'things I keep getting wrong' sheet.
Light review only: your one-page error sheet and the syllabus headings. Pack your ID document, confirmation document if required, and any permitted calculator. Confirm the venue, reporting time, and travel route, and check transport announcements. Set two alarms. Avoid heavy new content and avoid late-night question drilling.
Eat a proper meal and arrive at the venue early. Do not attempt to learn new material in the queue. Once seated, read the instructions on the paper and confirm the question count and time allowed before you start. Take a few slow breaths to settle before the first question.
Work through the paper at a steady pace, answering the questions you know immediately and flagging anything that needs thought. Do not let one long question consume a disproportionate share of the time. Keep an eye on the clock at natural checkpoints rather than every minute.
Return to the flagged questions and apply elimination: remove clearly wrong options first, then choose between the survivors using the precise wording of the question. Watch for absolute words such as 'always' and 'never', and for questions asking which statement is NOT correct. Answer every question unless the provider's rules penalise wrong answers - confirm that rule in advance.
Check that every question has an answer recorded and that your answers are marked in the required format. Confirm your name and candidate details are correct on the answer sheet or screen. Do not change answers on a whim in the last minute; only change when you can point to a specific reason.
Rules to check
Bring the original identity document specified in your booking. The name must match your registration. If your ID is lost, expired, or the name differs, contact the provider before the test date - do not turn up hoping to be admitted.
Arrive by the reporting time stated in your appointment. Late arrivals may be refused entry, and the decision rests with the examination centre. If you are delayed, contact the provider immediately rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Keep only permitted items at your desk. Phones must be switched off and stored as instructed; smart watches and notes are not allowed in the test room. Follow the invigilator's instructions on where belongings go.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not attempt to copy, photograph, or remove test material. Suspected misconduct is handled under the provider's examination regulations and can affect your result and your licensing application.
If you need to leave the room - for a break, illness, or another reason - raise your hand and follow the invigilator. Confirm with the provider in advance whether comfort breaks are permitted and whether the clock stops during them.
Scoring, the pass mark, and any penalty for wrong answers are set by the provider and are subject to change. Confirm the current rule in the candidate handbook before the test, and answer accordingly.
If you are unwell or cannot attend, contact the provider as early as possible to ask about rescheduling or special arrangements. Do not simply fail to appear, as no-show rules may forfeit your fee - confirm the policy with the provider.
Results and retake arrangements are governed by the provider's current policy. Confirm how and when results are released and the waiting period before a retake, and keep your confirmation documents until your result is confirmed.