IAI CP1 exam-day guide
IAI CP1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact original ID document named in your admission confirmation. A photocopy or a digital image is normally not accepted. Confirm with the provider which ID types they accept and whether the name must match your registration exactly.
Appointment or admission confirmation
Print or save the confirmation email showing your test date, time, and location or remote-proctoring link. If your provider requires a printed copy, confirm that with the provider in advance.
Know your test format and delivery mode
Establish whether you sit the exam at a test centre or proctored online, and whether it is computer-based or paper-based. The logistics differ substantially, so confirm the format with the provider rather than assuming.
Permitted calculator and stationery
Check the provider's rules on calculators (type, memory, whether a specific model is required or banned), pens/pencils, and rough paper. Do not assume a policy; confirm with the provider and, if in doubt, bring the simplest compliant option.
Remote-testing environment check (if applicable)
If testing online, run the provider's system and equipment check on the same machine and network you will use on the day, and confirm the room and desk requirements with the provider. Have a backup internet option such as a phone hotspot ready.
Formula sheet or permitted reference material
Confirm whether any formula sheet or tables are supplied on screen/in the paper or must be memorised. Do not bring unauthorised reference material; treat any uncertainty as a question for the provider.
Travel and arrival plan
Plan to arrive at the centre with a comfortable margin before your reporting time, accounting for security checks and registration. Confirm the reporting time and late-arrival policy with the provider.
Personal items plan
Expect that bags, phones, and watches may need to be stored away from the desk. Confirm what is allowed at your seat with the provider, and plan to leave valuables at home.
Rest, food, and hydration
Protect sleep in the final nights, eat a normal breakfast or meal before the test, and bring water only if the provider permits it at the desk. Avoid trying new caffeine levels on exam day.
A calm pre-test routine
Prepare a short routine you can run in the minutes before starting: read the instructions carefully, note the time allocation, and take a few slow breaths. This reduces avoidable errors in the first questions.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read your own summary notes and error log, and redo a small set of questions you previously got wrong. Confirm all logistics: ID, confirmation, travel route, calculator rules, and remote-testing requirements with the provider. Shift your sleep schedule toward the exam start time if the test is early.
Do a light review only, focusing on formula recall, definitions, and the structure of the exam. Pack your ID, confirmation, calculator, and permitted stationery in one place. Check the provider's website or email for any last-minute change to time or venue. Avoid heavy practice tests that could dent confidence, and go to bed at a normal hour.
Eat a proper meal, re-check your packed items against the checklist, and leave with a generous buffer. Arrive at the reporting time rather than the exam start time. Keep conversation with other candidates light and avoid last-minute cramming of unfamiliar topics.
Read the instructions and note the total time and any scheduled breaks. Work through the paper at a steady pace, flagging questions that need a second pass rather than stalling on them. Watch the clock at checkpoints (for example, a quarter and half of the time) and reserve time to transfer or review answers. If a break is offered, use it to stand, drink water, and reset.
Note which topics felt weak while the memory is fresh, and check the provider's stated results timeline and any appeal or remarking process. Do not attempt to reconstruct or share specific questions with others, as this may breach the exam's confidentiality rules.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID specified in your admission confirmation and present it on request. If your ID has changed since registration, contact the provider before the test rather than on the day.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and proctors, including desk clearance, phone storage, and any room-entry or identity-verification steps. If a rule is unclear, ask before the test starts.
Do not bring or use unauthorised materials, devices, or notes. The exact list of permitted items, including calculator type, varies by provider and session, so confirm it with the provider in advance.
Breaks are usually governed by provider policy and may be limited or unavailable in some formats. Confirm the break rules and whether leaving the room is permitted before you begin.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the awarding body and may be adjusted between sessions. Do not rely on a fixed pass mark quoted by other candidates; check the current published criteria with the provider.
If you experience a technical failure, illness, or other disruption, notify the invigilator or proctor immediately and follow the provider's incident procedure so that it is recorded.
Keep the content of the exam confidential. Do not reproduce, discuss, or distribute specific questions after the test, in line with the provider's candidate agreement.