IAI SP8 exam-day guide
IAI SP8 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID name and document type your registration uses. If you have changed your name or your ID is expired, confirm with the provider before test day what documentation is accepted.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have the confirmation email or booking reference accessible (printed or on your phone) so you can verify date, time, time zone, and delivery method. Confirm with the provider whether printing is required.
Know your delivery format and platform
IAI SP8 is delivered through the awarding body's assessment arrangements. Confirm with the provider or your approved training provider whether you sit it at a test centre, via remote proctoring, or through your course provider, and which browser or software is needed.
System and equipment check (remote sittings only)
If sitting remotely, run any required system or identity check in advance, test your webcam, microphone, and internet stability, and close background applications. Confirm the platform's minimum requirements with the provider.
Approved reference materials
SP8 is an applied, syllabus-based paper. Check with the provider or your training provider whether any standards, notes, or reference lists are permitted. If the exam is closed-book, do not bring notes into the room.
Permitted calculator or tools
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator or other aids are allowed and what type. Do not assume a policy from another IAI exam.
Quiet, well-lit room and clear desk (remote sittings)
Remove notes, phones, and clutter from the camera view. Proctoring rules on what may be on the desk vary; confirm with the provider.
Water and any permitted comfort items
Check the provider's rules on drinks, snacks, and medication before the exam. If you need an access arrangement or extra time, confirm it has been approved in advance.
Know the scoring and pass mark
Confirm with the provider the current pass mark, question format, and whether negative marking applies. Do not rely on second-hand figures.
Plan your route or login time
Aim to arrive or log in with time to spare before the scheduled start. Confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled.
Rest and logistics the day before
Protect sleep, confirm your start time in your own time zone, and avoid last-minute cramming of new topics. Review only summary notes and the syllabus structure.
Plan the day
Re-read the SP8 syllabus and confirm which areas carry the most marks. Do targeted practice on weak topics rather than re-reading everything. Check your appointment details, ID, and delivery format, and resolve any open questions with the provider.
Do one timed practice paper or a set of applied questions under exam conditions. Review the mark scheme or model answers and note recurring errors. Stop introducing major new material after this point.
Light review of summary sheets, formulas, and key definitions only. Prepare ID, confirmation, and any permitted materials. Confirm the room, equipment, or travel plan. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat, hydrate, and avoid cramming new content. Log in or arrive early, complete identity checks, and settle your environment. Do a short, calm review of structure and command words, not new facts.
Read the instructions and mark allocation first. Answer the questions you know, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock and leave time to review. For applied questions, link your answer to the scenario and the relevant standard or principle.
Check that every question has an answer, review flagged items, and confirm you have submitted correctly. Note any submission confirmation.
Rules to check
Bring the ID that matches your registration exactly. If your ID is expired or your name differs, confirm with the provider before test day what is accepted.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted materials, calculators, phones, and notes. If you are unsure, treat the exam as closed-book and confirm with the provider.
Remote sittings are usually proctored. Keep your face and workspace visible, do not leave the camera view without permission, and follow the proctor's instructions.
Confirm with the provider how breaks are handled and whether leaving the room is permitted during the exam.
Do not communicate with others or use unauthorized aids during the exam; misconduct can lead to invalidation of your result.
Check the provider's policy on late arrival, technical failure, and rescheduling before test day so you know what to do if something goes wrong.
Scoring, pass marks, and result timelines are set by the awarding body. Confirm current details with the provider rather than relying on forum posts.
If you need access arrangements or extra time, confirm approval with the provider well before the exam.