IAI SP6 exam-day guide
IAI SP6 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm the exam format and delivery mode
Check your booking confirmation for whether SP6 is delivered at a test centre, via live remote proctoring, or another format, and note the exact start time and time zone. If anything is ambiguous, confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Valid photo ID matching your registration name
Bring the original, unexpired identity document accepted by the provider (typically a passport or national ID card). The name must match your registration exactly. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider in advance.
Know your candidate/registration number
Have your booking reference or candidate number available in case the invigilator or proctor asks for it at check-in.
Review the permitted-materials policy
SP6 is an analysis-heavy paper; check whether any reference material, formula sheet, or standard is supplied on screen or in hard copy, and whether personal notes are prohibited. Do not bring unauthorised material into the test room.
Practise with the sample questions and syllabus weighting
Work through the provider's sample questions under timed conditions and map each syllabus area to its approximate weighting so you can allocate reading and writing time during the paper.
Prepare a scenario-analysis approach
Rehearse a repeatable structure for case-based questions: identify the issue, state the applicable principle or standard, apply it to the facts, and give a reasoned conclusion. Practise writing it concisely.
Plan your timing per question
Calculate minutes available divided by number of questions and mark that budget on your rough paper. Decide in advance how long to spend before moving on, and how much time to reserve for review.
Test your equipment if remote
If sitting remotely, run the provider's system check on the same computer, camera, microphone, and network you will use on the day, and confirm the room and desk requirements. needs_review: remote-proctoring requirements vary, so confirm with the provider.
Arrange your workspace and environment
Clear your desk of notes, phones, and smart devices; check lighting and background; and confirm whether food, drink, or a clear bottle is permitted. needs_review: confirm permitted items with the provider.
Plan travel and arrival buffer
For a test centre, plan to arrive well before the start time to allow for ID checks and security, and confirm the centre's arrival cut-off. For remote delivery, log in early to complete the identity and room check.
Prepare for breaks and timing rules
Check whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are allowed, whether the clock stops, and what leaving the room means for your session. needs_review: confirm the break policy with the provider.
Know the scoring and pass-mark basis
Understand how the paper is marked, whether all questions carry equal marks, and whether there is negative marking, so you can decide when to attempt or skip. needs_review: confirm the pass mark and marking scheme with the provider.
Plan the day
Switch from learning to retrieval practice: re-read your own summaries, redo sample questions under time, and review the syllabus areas you score weakest on. Draft and memorise your answer structure for scenario questions so you can apply it without hesitation. Confirm logistics: booking details, ID, travel or system check, and permitted materials. Protect sleep; do not start new topics.
Do a light review of key principles, definitions, and any standards you must cite accurately, then stop. Prepare your ID, booking confirmation, and any permitted items in one place. If remote, re-run the system check and clear the test room. Confirm the start time in your local time zone. Eat normally and go to bed early; cramming new material at this stage costs more in fatigue than it gains.
Eat a proper meal, arrive or log in early, and avoid last-minute discussion of topics with other candidates if it unsettles you. At check-in, follow ID and room-scan instructions exactly. Set up rough paper and a timing plan before the clock starts, and take a few slow breaths to settle.
Read the question stem and the required task before the scenario detail, then note the key facts. Answer in the requested format and length, applying principles to the specific facts rather than reciting theory. Keep to your per-question time budget, flag anything you cannot finish, and move on. Use remaining time to return to flagged questions and check that every question has an answer, that you addressed the actual question asked, and that your conclusions are stated explicitly.
Rules to check
Bring only the identification and permitted items specified in your booking confirmation; leave phones, smart watches, notes, and unauthorised reference material outside the test room or in the designated storage. Confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Your registration name must match your photo ID exactly. If your ID name differs from your registration, resolve this with the provider before test day; you may be refused entry otherwise.
Follow all instructions from the invigilator or proctor, including room scans, desk checks, and any request to show rough paper. Do not communicate with anyone other than the invigilator or proctor during the session.
Do not attempt to capture, copy, or share exam content. Reproducing questions or answers, by any means, is misconduct and can lead to invalidation of your result.
If you need to leave your seat, raise your hand and wait for permission. Check in advance whether the clock continues to run during breaks and whether re-entry is allowed; confirm the break policy with the provider.
Answer in the language and format the paper specifies, keep to any stated word or space limits, and make sure your final answer is clearly identifiable if you use rough notes or planning.
If a technical problem occurs during a remotely proctored session, stop and contact the proctor or provider's support line immediately rather than troubleshooting alone, and note the time and nature of the issue.
Understand how the paper is scored before you sit it, including whether questions carry equal marks and whether there is negative marking. Confirm the marking scheme and pass mark with the provider rather than relying on second-hand reports.