IAI CS1 exam-day guide
IAI CS1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your exam booking. If your booking name differs, contact the provider before test day; confirm the exact ID policy (e.g., whether a passport or driving licence is accepted) with the provider.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have your booking reference, test centre address, and start time accessible on paper or offline on your phone. Confirm the reporting time with the provider - it may be earlier than the scheduled start.
Approved calculator
Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted for CS1 and whether the test centre supplies one or you must bring your own. Do not assume your usual model is allowed.
Permitted writing materials
Check whether the provider supplies pens/pencils and rough paper or whether you must bring them. Bring only items explicitly listed as allowed; confirm the list with the provider.
Formula and tables reference
CS1 questions may require statistical tables or a formula sheet. Confirm with the provider whether these are provided on screen, in a printed booklet, or must be requested, and practise using that exact format.
Offline study summary
Prepare a one-page summary of key distributions, notation, and common traps (e.g., parameterisation of the exponential, continuity corrections). Use it for the final review only; it cannot be taken into the exam.
Travel and timing plan
Plan to arrive with buffer time. Check local transport and parking in advance. For remote-proctored sittings, confirm the platform, system check, and room requirements with the provider.
Personal items plan
Know where you will store bags, phones, and watches. Most providers require phones to be switched off and stored away; confirm the specific rules with the provider. If you need medication, water, or adjustments, confirm approval in advance.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, prepare clothes and ID the night before, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Sleep is more valuable than one more past paper.
Mock timing rehearsal
In the final days, complete at least one full paper under timed conditions using only permitted materials, so you know your pace per question and when to move on.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidation. Re-read your formula and notation summary, redo errors from past papers, and complete one full timed mock. List the two or three question types that cost you the most marks and drill them. Confirm your appointment time, centre or remote-proctoring details, ID requirements, and permitted calculator with the provider.
Do a light review only: key distributions, moment-generating function facts, transformations, and common exam traps. Prepare ID, confirmation, calculator, and any permitted materials in one place. Check travel or system requirements. Stop studying early enough to sleep at your normal time; avoid new topics and avoid comparing preparation with others.
Eat normally, arrive early, and do a short 10–15 minute warm-up on familiar material only. At the centre, follow staff instructions, store devices as directed, and verify your workstation or paper booklet before the clock starts. If something is wrong (missing tables, calculator issue), raise it immediately with the invigilator.
Read the whole paper or section structure first if permitted. Do a first pass answering questions you can complete confidently, then return to harder ones. Show working where marks are available for method, keep notation clear, and watch the clock - allocate time per mark and leave a final check for arithmetic, units, and whether you answered the question asked. If time is short, write down the method and key steps for remaining questions rather than leaving them blank.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID required and ensure the name matches your booking. If you are unsure what counts as acceptable ID, confirm with the provider before test day; you may be refused entry if it does not comply.
Follow all invigilator instructions. Do not start writing or using the calculator before you are told, and stop immediately when instructed at the end.
Electronic devices, notes, and unauthorised materials must be stored away and switched off as directed. Confirm the provider's policy on phones, smart watches, and bags.
Breaks are usually limited and supervised; confirm the provider's policy on leaving the room, water, and medication. Do not assume you can leave and return freely.
Scoring is based on the marks available for each question; show working where method marks are possible. Do not rely on a single final answer if the question asks for intermediate steps.
If you believe there is a problem with the paper, equipment, or conditions, report it to the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's post-exam procedure; do not attempt to resolve it yourself.
Do not discuss or share exam content with others after the sitting in any way that breaches the provider's confidentiality rules; confirm the specific policy with the provider.