ICYB exam-day guide
ICYB · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the exact name you used to register. Confirm with the provider which ID types it accepts and whether a secondary ID is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy is accepted.
Appointment confirmation and candidate/registration number
Save the confirmation email or letter offline (screenshot or PDF) so you can access it without internet. It typically carries your candidate ID and appointment details; confirm with the provider what identification number the proctor will ask for.
Know your test delivery format and platform
Confirm whether you sit the exam at a test centre or by remote proctoring, and which browser or app is required. Run any system or equipment check the provider offers as early as possible, ideally before the final 72 hours.
Review the current exam blueprint and scoring weights
Use the official syllabus or content outline to prioritise high-weight domains in your last days. Do not rely on third-party summaries for domain weightings; check the provider's published outline.
Confirm prohibited and permitted items
Ask the provider or check the candidate handbook for whether notes, calculators, phones, smart watches, or water are allowed in the testing room. Policies differ between centres and remote delivery, so treat this as needs_review until confirmed.
Plan travel and arrival time
For a test centre, confirm the required arrival time (often earlier than the appointment for check-in) and plan to arrive with buffer for transport delays. For remote delivery, secure a quiet room and reliable power and internet.
Prepare your testing environment (remote delivery)
Clear your desk, close other applications, and check camera, microphone, and lighting. Confirm with the provider whether a room scan is required and what identification the proctor will inspect.
Know the break and timing rules
Confirm whether scheduled breaks exist, whether the clock stops during breaks, and whether you may leave the room. Treat break policy as needs_review until you have read the provider's rules.
Understand the scoring and result timeline
Check the passing score or standard, whether results are scaled, and when and how results are released. Confirm with the provider rather than relying on forum reports.
Prepare for question formats and navigation
Review whether the exam uses single-best-answer, multiple-response, or scenario-based items, and whether you can flag and revisit questions. Practise with the provider's sample items or tutorial if available.
Sleep, food, and medication plan
Protect sleep in the final 48 hours, eat a normal meal before the test, and bring any necessary medication in line with provider rules. Avoid last-minute cramming that displaces sleep.
Backup plan for connectivity or travel failure
Save the provider's contact number and know its policy on technical failures, rescheduling, and late arrival. Confirm with the provider how to report a problem on the day; treat specifics as needs_review.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Re-read the official blueprint and rework your weakest high-weight domains using your own notes and practice errors. Take at most one timed practice set to rehearse pacing, then review it thoroughly. Confirm appointment time, location or remote setup, ID requirements, and prohibited items with the provider. Prepare clothes and travel plan, and protect sleep.
Do a light review of summaries and formulas or frameworks only. Run the system or equipment check again for remote delivery and charge devices. Pack your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items in one place. Confirm travel times and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at your usual time rather than cramming.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate moderately. Recheck your bag: ID, confirmation, and permitted items only. Leave earlier than the map suggests for a test centre, or set up your quiet room and test your connection early for remote delivery. Avoid discussing exam content with others, and do not attempt last-minute deep study that can raise anxiety.
Follow proctor instructions, present your ID, and store prohibited items as directed. Read the on-screen instructions and tutorial carefully, note how to flag and revisit questions, and confirm the time remaining. If a rule or interface element is unclear, ask the proctor before the clock starts.
Work in passes: answer confident questions first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Read each stem for the actual task and watch for absolutes and negatives. Use the review screen to check for unanswered items before submitting. Manage the clock so you reserve time for flagged questions, and take breaks only as the rules allow.
Note any provisional result the provider displays, then confirm how and when official results are released. If you experienced a technical failure or rule ambiguity, record the details and contact the provider promptly according to its published process.
Rules to check
Bring the original, unexpired photo ID in your registered name; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a secondary ID is needed.
Arrive or check in by the time the provider specifies; late arrival may forfeit your appointment or fee, so confirm the exact policy with the provider.
Do not bring prohibited items such as phones, smart watches, or notes into the testing area unless the provider explicitly permits them; confirm the list before the day.
Follow all proctor instructions and do not communicate with others about exam content during or after the test; confirm the provider's confidentiality and misconduct rules in its candidate handbook.
Take breaks only when and how the rules allow; confirm whether the clock runs during breaks and whether you may leave the room.
Understand the scoring standard and result timeline from the provider; do not assume a displayed provisional result is final.
If a technical failure or rule ambiguity occurs, stop and notify the proctor or provider immediately and follow its published reporting process; confirm the specifics with the provider.