IAI Footwear exam-day guide
IAI Footwear · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which specific ID types are accepted and whether a second form is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy will be accepted.
Admission or confirmation document
Print or save the appointment confirmation, candidate number, and any admission letter the provider issues. Some centres require the printed copy, so confirm with the provider whether a digital version is acceptable.
Test-centre address, route, and arrival time
Reconfirm the venue and reporting time shortly before the exam, since rooms and entrances can change. Plan to arrive with buffer time for security checks and registration; confirm with the provider how early you should report and what happens if you are late.
Permitted footwear and clothing for practical assessment
Confirm with the provider which footwear, safety equipment, and clothing are required or supplied for the practical component. Do not bring tools or equipment unless the provider has explicitly listed them as permitted.
Approved calculator or reference materials
Check the current candidate handbook for the permitted calculator model and whether any reference tables, charts, or standards extracts are supplied or must be requested in advance. Confirm with the provider before bringing any printed material.
Personal medication, water, and a light snack
Bring only what you need for the scheduled duration and confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at your seat or only during breaks. Declare any medication or medical device that could be mistaken for prohibited material.
Break and timing plan
Confirm with the provider the number and length of breaks, whether the clock stops during breaks, and whether you may leave the room. Plan hydration and restroom visits around those official breaks rather than assuming you can leave at will.
Scoring and result-release details
Read the current handbook for how each component is weighted, the passing standard, and when results are released. Confirm with the provider whether results are provisional and what the appeal or re-mark window is.
Review of the current candidate handbook and syllabus
Use the version published for your exam sitting, because regulations, permitted materials, and assessment formats change. Note any section marked as new or revised and check it against your study notes.
Logistics for travel, accommodation, and dependants
Book refundable travel where possible and keep confirmation numbers accessible. Confirm with the provider whether the exam can be rescheduled and under what conditions, so you understand your options before committing to non-refundable costs.
Backup plan for disruption
Save the provider's contact details and note their procedure for illness, transport disruption, or centre closure. Confirm with the provider what evidence is required and what remedies exist; do not assume a missed sitting is automatically rescheduled.
Needs review: exact prohibited-items list
The specific list of banned items such as smart watches, phones, notes, and bags varies by centre and sitting. Confirm with the provider and leave questionable items at home rather than relying on storage facilities being available.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Review your summary notes on the highest-weight syllabus areas, re-read the current candidate handbook sections on format, permitted materials, and scoring, and confirm the venue, reporting time, and ID requirements with the provider. Prepare clothing and footwear for the practical component and check that everything on the permitted list is clean, complete, and fit for use.
Do one timed practice run under exam conditions, including the practical tasks if you have access to suitable facilities. Mark it honestly, identify the two or three error patterns that cost the most marks, and write a short correction note for each. Stop intensive practice after this point and protect your sleep schedule.
Pack your bag against the checklist: ID, confirmation document, permitted calculator, water, medication, and any provider-approved items. Lay out clothing and footwear. Reconfirm the route and transport times, check the weather and any planned engineering works, and set two alarms. Do a light review of your correction notes only, then stop studying early and eat and sleep normally.
Eat a normal meal, arrive at the centre with buffer time, and complete registration and security checks calmly. Use waiting time for a brief look at your correction notes, not for new material. Follow the invigilator's instructions exactly, check that your workstation and any supplied equipment are in order, and raise any problem before the clock starts.
Read the instructions and scoring rules for each section before starting. Allocate time per question or task based on marks, answer the straightforward items first, and flag anything uncertain to return to. For practical tasks, work methodically and state your reasoning where the format allows. Keep an eye on the clock, leave time to transfer or check answers, and use official breaks only. If equipment fails or a question seems ambiguous, attract the invigilator's attention immediately and ask for it to be recorded.
Note anything you found unclear while it is fresh, in case you need to raise it with the provider within their stated window. Confirm with the provider the result-release date and the procedure for appeals or re-marks, then rest before deciding whether a resit is needed.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name used on your registration and present it when asked. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and what to do if your name differs from your registration record, since centres cannot usually admit candidates without acceptable ID.
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, materials, and conduct. Do not start writing, handling equipment, or using any device before you are told to begin, and stop immediately when instructed; continuing after the stop instruction can lead to invalidation.
Keep only permitted items at your workstation. Phones, smart watches, notes, and bags must be stored as the centre directs or left outside; confirm with the provider the exact prohibited-items list and whether storage is available, and never assume you can keep a device on your person.
Declare any permitted aids, medication, or access arrangements in advance and carry only what has been approved. Confirm with the provider the deadline and evidence required for access arrangements, as these are usually arranged before the exam day rather than on the day.
Take breaks only as the provider allows, and expect to be supervised during them. Confirm with the provider whether the clock stops during breaks, whether you may leave the room, and what identification checks apply on re-entry; do not leave the centre without permission.
Do not communicate with other candidates about the content of the exam during the sitting or during unsupervised breaks. Sharing, photographing, or reproducing exam material afterwards may breach the provider's confidentiality rules; check the current handbook for what you may and may not disclose.
Understand how your result is determined before you sit. Confirm with the provider the weighting of each component, the passing standard, and whether results are provisional pending moderation; do not rely on unofficial pass marks circulated online.
If you are ill, disrupted in travel, or believe there was a problem with the conduct of the exam, notify the centre immediately and follow the provider's procedure in writing within their stated deadline. Confirm with the provider what evidence is required and what remedies are available, as outcomes are not automatic.