IAI CP2 exam-day guide
IAI CP2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID document in the name you registered with. If your registration name differs slightly from your ID, contact the provider before exam day to confirm whether it is accepted; do not assume a correction can be made at check-in.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have your booking confirmation (email or printed) with the appointment time, test centre address or online proctoring link, and your candidate number if one was issued. Confirm the exact start time and any required arrival lead time with the provider.
Second form of identification if required
Some providers require a secondary ID or a signature-bearing document. Check your admission ticket or candidate handbook for the requirement applicable to your test centre or proctoring vendor; treat this as needs_review until confirmed with the provider.
Permitted reference materials
IAI CP2-style exams may restrict or permit specific documents or calculators. Verify the current permitted-items list with the provider. Do not bring annotated notes, tabbed pages, or loose sheets unless explicitly allowed.
Calculator (if permitted)
Confirm the allowed calculator model and whether it must be non-programmable. Bring a model you have used in practice, with working batteries, or the approved on-screen calculator will be provided. Check this with the provider.
Confirmation of remote-proctoring system requirements
If sitting online, test your camera, microphone, browser, and internet connection on the same machine at least 24 hours ahead. Confirm the vendor's supported browser and any required software download with the provider.
Quiet, cleared workspace for online delivery
For remote exams, clear your desk of papers, phones, and wearables, and confirm the room scan procedure with the provider. For test-centre exams, note that personal items are typically stored outside the room.
Travel and arrival plan
Plan to arrive with buffer time before the stated check-in deadline. Locate the test centre entrance in advance and allow for security screening and ID verification. Confirm the late-arrival policy with the provider.
Logistics for breaks and refreshment
Check whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether food, drink, or medication can be accessed during them. Confirm any medical-accommodation arrangements with the provider well before exam day.
Review of exam structure and instructions
Re-read the current syllabus, exam format, and any published instructions on question types and time allocation. Confirm the number of questions and total time with the provider rather than relying on older material.
A practised timing strategy
Decide in advance how you will allocate time across questions and how you will flag and return to difficult items. Rehearse this on a full-length timed practice under exam-like conditions.
Backup plan for disruption
Know the provider's contact route for technical failure, illness, or travel disruption, and note what evidence they require. Confirm the rescheduling and special-consideration policy with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Consolidate using your own summary sheets and error log, focusing on the topics you have repeatedly missed. Run one full-length timed practice at the same time of day as your real appointment, then review it thoroughly rather than doing further untimed reading.
Confirm logistics: appointment time, location or proctoring link, ID requirements, permitted items, and any accommodation arrangements. Resolve any discrepancy in your registered name now, not on exam day.
Protect sleep. Shift your waking time toward the exam start so your concentration peaks during the test window. Avoid late-night cramming, which trades away the working memory you need on the day.
Do a light review only: key formulas, definitions, and the structure of your planned answers. Prepare your bag or desk setup, charge devices, and test the remote-proctoring environment if applicable.
Lay out ID, confirmation, permitted materials, calculator, and travel details. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at your usual time; do not attempt a final full mock this late.
Eat a proper meal and arrive or log in early with buffer time. Avoid last-minute discussion of content with other candidates, which tends to raise anxiety and disrupt your own approach.
Complete check-in, ID verification, and any room scan calmly. Read the on-screen or invigilator instructions fully before the clock starts, and note how to flag questions and access the timer.
Do a first pass answering what you know confidently, flagging anything that needs more thought. Watch the clock against your planned allocation and avoid sinking excessive time into a single question.
For calculation or application questions, write down the given data and the quantity required before computing, and sanity-check units and magnitudes. For discursive answers, state your point first, then support it with specific reasoning.
Use any break to stand, hydrate, and reset rather than to review content. On return, re-orient with the timer and your flagged list before resuming.
Reserve the final minutes to ensure every question has an answer if there is no penalty for guessing, and to check that flagged items were revisited. Confirm submission and keep any confirmation receipt.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in your registered name. If the name or document type is uncertain, confirm with the provider before exam day; do not rely on a digital copy unless explicitly permitted.
Bring only permitted items into the exam room or camera view. Phones, smart watches, notes, and unauthorised materials must be stored as directed. Confirm the exact permitted-items list with the provider.
Follow all invigilator and proctor instructions, including room scans, desk clearance, and identity checks. If an instruction is ambiguous, ask before acting rather than assuming.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not share, record, or reproduce exam content afterwards. Confidentiality obligations typically survive the exam; confirm the exact wording in your candidate agreement.
Confirm the break policy with the provider: whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops, and what you may access. Leaving the room or camera view without authorisation may be treated as misconduct.
Confirm how the exam is scored, including whether there is a penalty for incorrect answers and what the pass standard is. Do not assume negative marking either way; check the current candidate handbook.
If a technical failure, illness, or other disruption occurs, follow the provider's stated notification procedure immediately and document what happened. Confirm the special-consideration and rescheduling rules with the provider.
Report any irregularity or suspected security breach to the invigilator or proctor at the time. Raising it later may be harder to resolve; confirm the appeals route with the provider.