ICGB exam-day guide
ICGB · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID whose name matches your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which specific documents it accepts and whether a secondary ID is required; policies vary by test center and delivery mode.
Appointment confirmation and test-center address
Save your confirmation email or booking reference offline on your phone and as a printout. Re-check the exact room or building entrance, since large centers often host several exams at once. Confirm arrival time and reporting window with the provider.
Login and system check for remote proctoring
If you are testing online, confirm the platform, browser, and any required secure-browsing software in advance, and run the provider's system test on the same machine and network you will use. Verify with the provider whether a webcam, microphone, and room scan are required.
Allowable reference materials
Most professional exams restrict or forbid notes, books, and formula sheets. Check the provider's candidate handbook for the exact permitted-items list; if any reference is allowed, confirm whether it must be printed rather than digital.
Permitted calculator or none
If your exam permits a calculator, confirm the approved model or on-screen tool and whether a physical device is allowed at all. Do not assume; ask the provider and plan to use the on-screen calculator if that is the only option.
Personal items plan
Expect lockers or a designated area for bags, phones, and watches, and assume phones must be off and stored. Confirm with the provider what is allowed at your seat, since rules differ between in-person and remote delivery.
Break and timing expectations
Ask the provider in advance whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or unavailable, and whether the clock stops during a break. Plan hydration and medication around the answer rather than guessing on the day.
Scratch paper and writing tools
Many providers supply an erasable booklet or laminated sheet and prohibit bringing your own. Confirm the provider's rule; if you are permitted to bring pencils, bring several.
Travel and backup plan
Confirm transit time, parking, and a backup route, and aim to arrive before the reporting time. For remote exams, have a backup network such as a phone hotspot and confirm with the provider whether switching connections mid-exam is allowed.
Rest, food, and medication routine
Protect sleep in the final nights and eat a normal meal before the test. Bring only permitted medication and confirm with the provider in advance how to declare it.
Score-report and results knowledge
Know how and when results are released and what your registration includes. Confirm the provider's policy on preliminary versus official scores, since some exams show a provisional result on screen.
Retake and reschedule policy awareness
Read the provider's rules on rescheduling deadlines, fees, and retake waiting periods before test day so an unexpected issue does not cost you the attempt. Mark this needs_review and verify the current terms directly.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Review your own error log and the highest-weight domains, then take at most one timed practice set and spend more time reviewing wrong answers than answering new questions. Re-read the provider's candidate handbook for permitted items, ID rules, and arrival time, and confirm any uncertain policy with the provider now rather than on test day.
Print or save the appointment confirmation, map the route to the center or set up the remote-testing workspace, and test your equipment if testing online. Charge devices, prepare your ID, and set two alarms.
Do a light review of summaries and key definitions only, then stop. Prepare clothes, ID, confirmation, and any permitted items in one place. Avoid heavy meals and caffeine late in the day, keep the evening calm, and go to bed at a normal hour. Do not start a new practice exam the night before.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid excess caffeine, and leave earlier than you think necessary. Re-check that your ID and confirmation are with you, arrive within the provider's reporting window, and for remote exams start the check-in early so technical issues do not eat into your time.
Follow staff or proctor instructions exactly, present your ID, store prohibited items, and ask about scratch paper and break rules if unclear. If a technical or scheduling problem occurs, ask the provider's staff to document it before you begin or after you finish.
Read the instructions and note the number of questions and time available. Work steadily, answer questions you know first, and flag long or uncertain items for a second pass rather than stalling. Watch a clock or on-screen timer at fixed checkpoints to keep pace.
Return to flagged questions, eliminate clearly wrong options, and commit to the best-supported answer. Change an answer only when you can point to a specific reason; second-guessing without evidence tends to hurt. Ensure no question is left blank if the exam penalizes unanswered items.
Use breaks only if permitted and if the clock is paused or you can afford the time. In the last minutes, confirm every question has an answer and submit deliberately, then note your provisional result if one is shown and keep your confirmation for follow-up.
Rules to check
Present valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID matching your registration name. Confirm with the provider the exact accepted documents and any secondary ID requirement before test day.
Arrive or check in within the provider's stated reporting window. Late arrival may mean forfeiture of the attempt and fees, so confirm the provider's specific late-arrival policy rather than assuming grace time.
Do not bring unauthorized materials, phones, smart watches, or notes into the testing area. Confirm with the provider what is permitted at your seat and what must be stored.
Follow all proctor and staff instructions, including room scans and identity verification for remote exams. Refusal or suspected misconduct can lead to score cancellation, so confirm the provider's conduct and integrity policy in advance.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam and do not attempt to record, photograph, or share exam content. Content confidentiality and non-disclosure terms are standard; confirm the exact wording with the provider.
Ask the provider in advance whether breaks are available, whether the clock pauses, and what access you have to water, restrooms, or medication. Do not rely on assumptions made on the day.
Understand the scoring model before you sit: confirm whether the exam is scored on a scaled or pass/fail basis, whether unanswered questions count against you, and when official results are released.
If you need to reschedule or cancel, follow the provider's deadlines and fees exactly, and confirm the current retake waiting period directly with the provider.