IAI SP2 exam-day guide
IAI SP2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm exam format and delivery mode with your training provider
IAI SP2 (Specialist in Performance Psychology, Level 2) is delivered through an IAI-recognised training provider. Before exam day, confirm directly with that provider whether your assessment is written, oral, or a portfolio/casework submission, its duration, and whether it is held in person or online. Do not rely on second-hand descriptions from forums; policies can differ between providers and cohorts.
Valid photo identification
Bring the ID document specified in your provider's candidate instructions (commonly a passport or national identity card). Check in advance that it is unexpired and that the name matches your registration exactly. If your ID is in a different script or name format from your registration, ask the provider beforehand what alternative evidence they accept.
Admission confirmation and candidate number
Have your booking confirmation, candidate number, and any access instructions (venue address, online platform link, password) saved offline as well as in your inbox, in case of connectivity or reception problems on the day.
Approved reference materials, if any
Ask the provider whether the assessment is open-book and, if so, which materials are permitted. If closed-book, leave notes and textbooks at home or in your bag as instructed. Assuming open-book when the assessment is closed-book is a common and avoidable source of misconduct findings.
Consolidated one-page summary of core frameworks
Prepare a single page covering the models you are most likely to be examined on: performance-psychology assessment and profiling, intervention planning and periodisation, ethical and professional boundaries, and reflective practice. For a closed-book exam, use it only for revision in the final days, not in the room.
Two or three worked case examples from your own practice
Prepare concise accounts of cases you have worked with (anonymised), each covering presenting issue, assessment, intervention chosen and rationale, outcome, and what you would do differently. These are useful for case-based or oral questions and help you answer with specifics rather than generalities.
Plan for breaks, food, and medication
Check the provider's rules on breaks and what is allowed at your desk. If you have a medical or access need (extra time, rest breaks, a separate room), confirm that an approved adjustment is in place well before the day rather than raising it on arrival.
Test your equipment if the exam is online
For remote delivery, test camera, microphone, browser, and connection at least 24 hours ahead, and again on the morning. Have a phone with data as a backup and know the provider's technical-support contact. Close other applications and disable notifications before the session starts.
Travel and timing plan
For an in-person exam, plan to arrive with margin for transport delays and know the registration desk location. For an online exam, be logged in and ready before the stated start time, as late entry may not be permitted.
Sleep, hydration, and a realistic final-evening plan
Protect sleep in the last two nights. Cramming new material the night before rarely helps and often displaces the consolidation that actually supports recall. Stop active study at a set time and prepare your bag or desk instead.
Plan the day
Finish active revision and switch to consolidation. Re-read your one-page summary and your case examples, and self-test on the areas you are weakest in rather than re-reading what you already know. Confirm all logistics: venue or platform, start time, ID requirements, permitted materials, and any approved adjustments. If anything is unclear, contact the provider now, not on the day.
Do one timed practice run under exam conditions if the format allows it, for example answering case-based questions within the time limit. Review the marking criteria or learning outcomes published by your provider so you know what a strong answer looks like: usually accurate application of models to a specific case, justified choices, and awareness of ethical limits, not just recall of definitions.
Light review only: your summary page and a handful of key frameworks. Prepare and lay out ID, confirmation, and any permitted materials. Check travel or test your equipment. Eat properly and go to bed at a normal time. Avoid last-minute immersion in unfamiliar material, which tends to increase anxiety without improving performance.
Eat something, arrive or log in early, and do a short settling routine (a few minutes of slow breathing or a brief walk). Re-read your summary page once, then put it away. Remind yourself of the answer structure you will use for case questions: identify the issue, apply the relevant framework, justify the intervention, note ethical and contextual considerations, and state how you would evaluate the outcome.
Read the whole paper or all questions first if permitted, then allocate time per question and keep to it. Answer the questions you are strongest on first if the format allows. For each case question, make your reasoning explicit, because markers reward justified application over bare conclusions. If a question is unclear, answer the most reasonable interpretation and say what you assumed. Leave time at the end to check that every question has been attempted and that your name or candidate number is correct.
Note down the topics that came up and any questions you found difficult while they are fresh; this is valuable for continuing professional development and for any future assessment. Then stop reviewing your answers against others, and wait for the provider's stated results timeline.
Rules to check
Bring and present the ID specified by your provider, and make sure the name matches your registration. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted materials, notes, and devices exactly. If the assessment is closed-book, keep phones, smart watches, and notes stored as instructed; unauthorised materials can lead to invalidation of your result.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the assessment, and do not share, record, or reproduce exam content afterwards. Confidentiality obligations typically continue after the exam.
Ask the invigilator or technical support for clarification on procedural matters (timing, format, equipment) if needed, but do not expect or request help with the content of a question.
If you need to leave the room or take a break, follow the provider's procedure (for example, signing out and being accompanied). Unapproved breaks during a timed assessment may not be permitted, so confirm the policy in advance.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by the awarding body and delivered through your provider. Ask the provider directly for the marking scheme, pass mark, and resit policy rather than assuming a percentage or format.
If something goes wrong on the day (illness, equipment failure, a disruption at the venue), report it immediately to the invigilator or provider and ask what evidence they require; most providers have a special-consideration process with strict deadlines.
Declare any conflict of interest or prior access to exam material to the provider before sitting. Maintaining professional and ethical conduct is itself part of what a performance-psychology qualification assesses.