ICAEW MI exam-day guide
ICAEW MI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID document in the name used for your booking. Remote-proctored and test-centre sittings both require identity verification, and a mismatch between booking name and ID is a common cause of refused entry. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary document is needed.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Have your booking confirmation, candidate/student number, and the test-centre address or remote-session link to hand. Save a screenshot or print a copy in case email access fails on the day.
Confirm the sitting format and permitted materials
ICAEW MI is a computer-based exam delivered at test centres or by remote proctoring depending on region. Check your confirmation for which applies to you, and confirm with the provider whether any printed materials, formula sheets, or a calculator are permitted rather than assuming.
Approved calculator
Bring a calculator only if your booking confirmation states one is allowed and specifies the permitted type. Confirm with the provider the exact model rules; non-approved models may be removed or cause a conduct issue.
Remote-sitting equipment check
For remote sittings: test your camera, microphone, browser, and internet connection in advance using the provider's system test. Have a charger and a backup connection (mobile hotspot) ready. Confirm with the provider the room, desk, and ID-showing requirements before the day.
Arrive or log in early
Plan to reach the test centre or open the remote session well before your start time to absorb ID checks and security screening. Confirm with the provider the recommended arrival window and late-arrival cut-off, as these vary.
Know the section structure and time allocation
Re-read the syllabus and specimen materials so you know how many sections there are, whether all questions are compulsory, and how marks map to time. Decide in advance your per-question time budget and your policy for flagging and returning to hard items.
Practise the on-screen tools
Use the provider's specimen or demo interface so the flagging, navigation, on-screen calculator, and scratchpad feel familiar. Interface familiarity saves minutes that matter in a time-pressured objective-test format.
Sleep, food, and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the final 48 hours and plan a light meal before the sitting. Avoid trying to learn new topics on the morning of the exam; consolidate instead.
Transport and backup plan
Check your route and journey time, and identify a backup option. For remote sittings, tell household members your exam window and remove distractions from the room.
Confirm break and leaving rules
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are permitted, whether you may leave the room, and what happens if you do. Rules differ between test-centre and remote sittings and are strictly enforced.
Confirm results and resit policy
Check when and how results are released and what the resit windows are. Confirm with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information, as timing varies by sitting and region.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidation. Re-read your own summary notes and error log, and work through the provider's specimen or sample questions under timed conditions. Identify the two or three topic areas where you lose the most marks and do targeted revision on those only. Confirm your appointment details, ID requirements, and sitting format with the provider, and complete any remote system test now rather than later.
Do one full timed practice run at the same time of day as your real sitting, using the same equipment or calculator you will use. Review your timing: note how long each section took and whether you ran out of time. Adjust your per-question budget accordingly. Stop heavy new study in the evening and protect sleep.
Light review only: key definitions, formulas, and the structure of the main calculations. Pack your ID, confirmation, calculator (if permitted), and any allowed materials. For remote sittings, charge devices, clear your desk, and check the connection. Confirm your travel route or session link. Set two alarms and go to bed at a normal time; cramming overnight costs more marks than it gains.
Eat a proper meal and drink water. Skim your one-page summary of key points; do not start new topics. Arrive or log in with the buffer you planned, carrying your ID and confirmation. Do the ID check calmly and read any on-screen instructions fully before starting the clock.
Read the instructions and note the total time and number of questions. Write down your time budget per question on the scratchpad. Start with questions you can answer confidently to bank marks and settle nerves, flagging anything that needs a second pass.
Work to your time budget and move on when a question overruns; flag it and return later. Read each objective-test question fully, watching for words like 'not', 'most likely', and 'except'. Show your workings on the scratchpad for calculation questions so you can check them quickly. Keep an eye on the clock and reserve the last few minutes to check that no question is left unanswered.
Submit deliberately rather than in a rush. Confirm the submission screen and note any confirmation reference. For remote sittings, follow the provider's sign-out and room-check procedure before closing the session.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name used for your booking. Entry can be refused if the name does not match; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a second form is required.
Follow all instructions from invigilators or proctors immediately. For remote sittings this includes showing your ID and workspace on camera, staying in frame, and not leaving the desk without permission; confirm with the provider the exact room and behaviour rules before the day.
Do not bring unauthorised materials into the test centre or onto your desk. Phones, notes, smart watches, and any unapproved calculator should be stored as directed; check with the provider what counts as permitted equipment for your sitting.
Breaks are governed by the provider's rules and may not be available during a timed objective test. Confirm with the provider in advance whether any break is permitted, whether the clock stops, and what happens if you leave the room.
All work must be your own. Do not communicate with anyone other than the invigilator or proctor during the sitting, and do not attempt to capture, share, or reproduce exam content afterwards; this is treated as misconduct.
Scoring follows the provider's published marking scheme, and objective-test questions are typically marked right or wrong with no partial credit unless stated otherwise. Confirm with the provider whether negative marking or partial credit applies to your sitting.
If something goes wrong (technical failure, illness, or a disruption), raise it with the invigilator or proctor immediately and follow their instructions. Ask the provider afterwards about special consideration or a resit; do not assume the outcome.
Check the provider's rules on permitted items and late arrival before the day. Arriving after the cut-off may mean refused entry and a lost fee, so confirm the exact policy with the provider rather than relying on general guidance.