IAI CS2 exam-day guide
IAI CS2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration name
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name you registered with. If your registered name differs from your ID (middle names, transliterations, married name), contact the provider before test day to correct it or confirm what secondary evidence is accepted.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Keep the confirmation email or booking reference accessible on paper and on your phone. Remote-proctored and test-centre check-in processes differ; confirm with the provider which reference they ask for at check-in.
Know your test format and delivery mode
Confirm whether you sit the exam at a test centre or by remote proctoring, and what software or system check is required in advance. Run any required equipment or compatibility check at least 48 hours ahead so there is time to fix problems.
Permitted materials and calculator policy
Check the current candidate handbook for what is allowed into the exam room (calculator model, formula sheet, rough paper, pen). Do not assume a policy from a previous sitting; confirm with the provider and note that rules can change between sessions.
Timing, sections and question format
Write down the total exam time, the number of questions, whether sections are timed separately, and whether question types include multiple response, drag-and-drop, or scenario-based items. This shapes your pacing plan more than any single fact you memorise.
Scoring and pass standard
Confirm the current pass mark or scaled-score reporting and whether wrong answers are penalised. If the handbook does not state it clearly, ask the provider rather than relying on forum claims.
Review your own weak-topic list, not new material
In the last days, work from a short list of topics you have already got wrong twice. Re-reading a new chapter the night before adds anxiety without adding reliable recall.
Plan the journey or the room
For a test centre, check travel time, parking, and building entry, and aim to arrive with margin. For remote delivery, choose a quiet room with a stable connection, a door you can close, and no visible notes or screens.
Sleep and food plan
Protect a normal night's sleep in the final 48 hours and eat before the exam. Fatigue degrades careful reading of long scenario stems more than it degrades recall of facts.
Backup plan for technology failure
For remote exams, know the provider's support number and the procedure if the connection drops mid-exam. Have a phone available as a backup contact channel if the provider permits it; confirm this with the provider in advance.
Items to leave at home or outside the room
Phones, smart watches, notes, and study material are normally prohibited in the exam room. Confirm the exact list with the provider, including whether a phone must be switched off and stored rather than simply silenced.
A short pre-exam routine
Decide in advance what you will do in the ten minutes before starting: a breathing routine, a one-page summary of your own notes, or nothing at all. A fixed routine reduces the chance of panic-driven last-minute cramming.
Plan the day
Stop consuming new material. Rework your error log: for each topic you have missed repeatedly, write a two-line rule in your own words and one worked example. Confirm logistics: appointment time, location or remote-check requirements, ID name match, permitted materials, and the provider's support contact.
Do one timed practice set under exam conditions, then review only the questions you got wrong and why. Build a one-page 'pacing card' with the number of questions, total minutes, and your target checkpoint times (for example, where you should be at the halfway mark).
Light review only: your two-line rules and the pacing card. Prepare and lay out ID, confirmation, and permitted items. Check travel or test your room setup and connection. Set two alarms. Go to bed at a normal hour; do not trade sleep for one more chapter.
Eat a proper meal, avoid heavy caffeine if you are already anxious, and skim only your own summary sheet. Arrive at the centre early or log in early for remote delivery, allowing time for identity checks and system setup. Re-read the instructions on screen before starting, especially any section timing and navigation rules.
Do a quick orientation pass: note the total question count and time, and confirm how to flag and revisit questions. If the platform allows it, flag any question that needs long calculation and move on rather than sinking time early.
Work in passes. First pass: answer what you know confidently and flag the rest. Second pass: return to flagged items with the remaining time. Read scenario stems fully before the options, watch for absolutes such as 'always' and 'never', and answer every question unless the scoring rules say otherwise.
Check that no questions are unanswered, confirm flagged items are resolved, and only change an answer if you can point to a concrete reason. Then submit deliberately and confirm the submission screen before leaving or closing the session.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID in your registered name; a mismatch can prevent you from sitting the exam. Confirm the accepted ID types and the correction process with the provider before test day.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted materials exactly. If the handbook is ambiguous about a calculator, formula sheet, or rough paper, ask the provider in writing rather than assuming.
Electronic devices are normally not allowed in the exam room. Confirm with the provider whether a phone may be kept nearby for technical support during a remote sitting, and in what state.
Break policy varies by exam and delivery mode. Check in advance whether scheduled breaks exist, whether the clock stops, and whether you may leave the room; do not rely on a break appearing mid-exam.
Scoring rules, including the pass standard and any penalty for incorrect answers, are set by the provider and can change. Confirm the current standard from the official candidate handbook rather than from forums or older study guides.
Do not communicate with other candidates about live exam content, and do not share or reproduce questions afterwards. Treat the content as confidential per the provider's candidate agreement.
If a technical failure occurs during a remote exam, stop and follow the provider's documented incident procedure rather than improvising. Note the time and what happened, and contact support as instructed.
If you are unwell or cannot attend, contact the provider as early as possible about rescheduling or withdrawal; the applicable deadlines and fees are provider policy and should be confirmed directly.