IATA Foundation (Aggregate Prep) exam-day guide
IATA Foundation (Aggregate Prep) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document (a passport is the safest choice for an internationally recognised exam). The name on the ID must match the name on your exam registration exactly, including middle names. Confirm with your training provider or exam administrator which ID types they accept before exam day - a photocopy or a photo on your phone is almost never accepted.
Exam appointment / admission confirmation
Bring the confirmation email or letter showing your booking reference, exam session, date and venue (or online session link). Print a copy as well as keeping it on your phone. Confirm with your provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Your candidate or registration number
Write it down on paper as well as storing it on your phone. You may be asked to enter or quote it at check-in or on the exam login screen.
Second form of identification
Some centres ask for a second ID or a signature-bearing card. This varies by provider, so confirm the requirement with your training provider - do not assume one ID is enough.
Written confirmation of exam format and logistics
Before exam day, confirm in writing: paper-based or computer-based, total duration, number of questions, whether there are breaks, permitted materials, and the pass mark or grading scheme. IATA rules can differ between venues and delivery modes, so verify with your provider rather than relying on hearsay.
Clarification of permitted materials
Ask your provider explicitly whether any reference material, calculator, or note paper is allowed. Many IATA assessments are closed-book, but do not assume - confirm and comply with whatever answer you receive.
A realistic travel and arrival plan
Check the route, parking or public transport times, and building access in advance. Aim to arrive well before the published check-in time and confirm with your provider how early you should be there and what happens if you are late.
A watch or other time-check method (if permitted)
Some exam rooms have no visible clock and phones are not allowed at the desk. Confirm with your provider whether a plain wristwatch is acceptable in the exam room.
Water and a light snack for the break
Confirm with your provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk and whether you may access your bag during breaks. Keep it simple and quiet.
Completed technology check (online-proctored sittings only)
If your exam is remote, run the platform's system test in advance: webcam, microphone, browser version, bandwidth. Prepare a quiet, private room with a clear desk, a power supply, and a backup internet option. Confirm the exact platform requirements and room rules with your provider.
A calm, pre-planned review of your own weak topics
Bring a one-page summary of the topics you personally get wrong most often - not the whole syllabus. Review it before you travel, then put it away at the venue door.
A plan for personal items
Expect to leave bags, coats, phones and smart devices in a designated area or at home. Check with your provider what storage is available at the venue.
Plan the day
Re-read your provider's exam regulations and candidate handbook, and write down any question you still have (ID type, arrival time, permitted materials, break policy, results timeline). Send those questions to your provider now so you have time for an answer. Confirm your venue or session link and your travel plan. Stop starting new topics; switch to timed practice on full sections and review your error log.
Do one full timed practice set under realistic conditions - no phone, no notes, no pauses - to rehearse pacing. Note how many minutes per question you can afford, and decide your strategy for questions you cannot answer quickly (flag, move on, return).
Light review only: your one-page weak-topic summary and key definitions. Pack your ID, confirmation, candidate number and any permitted items in one bag. Charge devices if the sitting is online. Check the venue route and the weather or traffic outlook. Set two alarms. Get a normal night's sleep - an all-night cram session reliably costs more marks than it earns.
No new material after early evening. Eat properly, avoid excess caffeine, and stop studying at least a couple of hours before bed.
Eat a normal breakfast, leave earlier than you think you need to, and arrive at the published check-in time. Avoid last-minute discussion of answers with other candidates - it increases anxiety and rarely corrects anything. If online, be seated, logged in and ready ahead of the start time with your desk cleared.
Present your ID and confirmation, follow staff instructions, switch off and store your phone and any smart device, and confirm where the toilets and any break area are. Ask the invigilator any procedural question you have before the exam starts.
Read the instructions and check the total number of questions and the time remaining against the clock. Do a quick sanity check on the interface or answer sheet, then start. Write down your target time-per-question if scratch paper is permitted.
Work in passes: answer the questions you know, flag the rest, and return. Read each question stem fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'most likely', 'except' or 'first step'. Answer every question - there is normally no penalty for guessing, but confirm this with your provider. Cross out clearly wrong options first. If a question seems to need missing data, re-read the stem before assuming a typo.
Stop starting new questions. Make sure nothing is left blank, check that flagged answers are recorded as intended, and confirm your answers are submitted or your paper is completed with your candidate details filled in. Do not change answers on a hunch unless you have a concrete reason.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID named on your registration. If your name does not match, you can be refused entry and your fee is unlikely to be refunded - raise any discrepancy with your provider well before exam day.
Phones, smart watches, earbuds and other electronic devices must be switched off and stored as instructed for the whole session. Do not keep them on your person.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has begun, and do not attempt to access notes, materials or another person's work. Suspected misconduct is handled under the provider's disciplinary procedure and can void your result.
Only bring to your desk what the invigilator has explicitly permitted. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask before the exam starts rather than after.
Break rules differ between venues and delivery modes. Confirm with your provider in advance whether breaks are permitted, whether the clock stops, and whether you may leave the room - never assume.
Arrive at the published check-in time. Late arrival may result in reduced time or refused entry, depending on the provider's policy; confirm the exact cut-off with them.
The pass mark, grading structure and results release date are set by IATA and the delivery provider, not by your training course. Confirm the current pass standard and results timeline with your provider and do not rely on figures quoted by other candidates.
If a technical problem, disturbance or illness affects your sitting, notify the invigilator or proctor immediately and ask for it to be recorded - special consideration is usually much harder to obtain after you leave.