IAI CB3 exam-day guide
IAI CB3 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID matching your registration name
Use the exact name you registered with; if your ID shows a different spelling or a maiden/married name mismatch, contact the provider before test day to confirm what additional documentation they accept.
Your appointment confirmation and candidate number
Save a screenshot or printout of the confirmation email so you can quote the appointment reference if there is a check-in problem. Confirm with the provider whether a printed confirmation is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Remote-proctoring setup confirmed (if sitting online)
Run the provider's system and equipment check on the same machine and network you will use on test day, and confirm the current browser and webcam/microphone requirements with the provider. Requirements change, so verify rather than assume.
Test-centre location, travel route and arrival time
Rehearse the journey at the same time of day. Confirm with the provider how early you should arrive; many centres ask for arrival well before the start, but the exact window is provider-specific.
Permitted calculator and/or formula reference confirmed
CB3-style business-finance content involves arithmetic, so clarify in advance which calculator model, if any, is allowed and whether a formula sheet is provided on screen. Do not assume your usual calculator is permitted.
Allowed items only: no notes, textbooks or smart devices
Store revision notes, phone and smartwatch away before entering the test area or before the remote check-in scan. Confirm with the provider what personal items can be kept at your desk.
Settled understanding of the exam format and timing
Know the number of questions, overall duration and whether questions are multiple choice, short answer or a mix. Confirm the current structure with the provider, as syllabi and formats are updated periodically.
Logistics for breaks, food, water and medication
If you need medication, access arrangements or extra time, confirm approval with the provider well ahead; these are rarely granted on the day. Ask whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are available.
Backup plan for technical failure
For remote sittings, note the provider's support number and their stated procedure if the connection drops. Confirm the exact incident-reporting process with the provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Rest and a realistic final revision plan
Plan light review only in the last 24 hours: key formulas, definitions and question-command words. Sleep is worth more than one more past paper.
Watch or clock awareness strategy
Practise pacing so you know roughly how long to spend per question. If you rely on an on-screen timer, rehearse with it; if a physical watch is allowed, confirm with the provider that it is not a smartwatch.
Arrangements for results and next steps
Confirm with the provider how and when results are released and what the pass mark or grade boundaries are, so you are not guessing afterwards.
Plan the day
Move from learning to consolidating. Re-read your own summary sheets of the CB3 syllabus areas (business environment, financial and management accounting fundamentals, data and decision-making, and the regulatory/ethical context) and redo a small number of questions you previously got wrong, focusing on why the correct answer is correct. Confirm all logistics: ID, appointment time, travel or room setup, permitted calculator. Stop introducing new material; it raises anxiety without raising marks.
Do one short, timed mixed set to rehearse pacing, then stop. Prepare your bag or desk: ID, confirmation, calculator, pens if permitted, water. Check the provider's website for any last-minute instructions or venue changes. Set two alarms, eat properly, avoid late-night cramming, and read the exam regulations once so nothing on the day is a surprise.
Eat a normal meal and arrive or log in early per the provider's instructions. Do a final five-minute skim of formula and definition sheets only. At a centre, follow staff instructions for storing belongings; remotely, complete the ID and room scan calmly and close other applications. Take a few slow breaths and remind yourself of your pacing plan.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions and time allowed. Note the finish time. If the platform allows flagging, flag any question you cannot answer quickly and move on; do not let one calculation consume the paper.
Work in passes: answer confident questions first, then return to flagged ones. For numerical items, write down the formula and given figures before calculating, and sanity-check the magnitude of your answer. For discursive items, answer the command word (state, explain, evaluate) and use short structured paragraphs. Watch the clock at the halfway point and adjust pace.
Stop starting new long questions. Ensure every question has an answer, since there is normally no penalty for a reasonable attempt; check that flagged items are resolved or guessed, and verify you have submitted or saved as the platform requires.
Note anything that surprised you while it is fresh, and confirm with the provider the results date and process. Do not dissect every question with peers immediately; it adds stress without changing the outcome.
Rules to check
Bring ID that exactly matches your registered name and be ready to show it at check-in; if there is any discrepancy, confirm the accepted alternatives with the provider before test day.
Follow all instructions from invigilators or the remote proctor. Failure to comply with identity checks, room scans or seating instructions can lead to your attempt being voided, so confirm the specific rules with the provider in advance.
Do not bring or use unauthorised materials or devices: notes, textbooks, phones, smartwatches and unauthorised calculators. Confirm with the provider which calculator and reference materials, if any, are permitted.
Attempt every question unless the provider states otherwise. Do not leave blanks where a guess is possible, and confirm whether any negative marking applies.
Breaks are governed by provider policy. Ask in advance whether breaks are scheduled or permitted, and what happens to the clock during a break; do not assume you can leave and return freely.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider and can change. Confirm the current pass mark, grade boundaries and any component weighting with the provider rather than relying on forum reports.
If a technical failure occurs during a remote sitting, follow the provider's incident procedure immediately and keep any reference or screenshots they request; do not attempt to restart or reconfigure the session unilaterally.
Academic integrity applies throughout: no communication with others about live question content during or immediately after the test, and no sharing of exam material. Confirm the exact confidentiality terms with the provider.