ICAEW ACA Sustainability and Ethics exam-day guide
ICAEW ACA Sustainability and Ethics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm exam format, duration and permitted materials with the provider
ICAEW sets the rules for each ACA module, and arrangements can differ between exam sittings and between test centres and remote sittings. Before you plan any revision or packing, check the current instructions for your specific Sustainability and Ethics sitting on the ICAEW website and in your exam confirmation. Do not rely on what a colleague sat last year. If anything in the instructions is ambiguous, ask ICAEW or your tuition provider directly. Mark this as needs_review until you have the written confirmation in hand.
Photo ID that matches your exam booking
Bring the original form of identification specified in your admission details, usually a current passport or photo driving licence. The name must match your booking exactly. Check expiry dates now, because an expired document will usually be refused. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted for your sitting and whether a second form is required.
Your exam admission or confirmation details
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, sitting time, venue or remote-proctoring link, and any candidate instructions. For a test centre, know the arrival time and the address including the entrance. For a remote sitting, test the link and your equipment in advance. Confirm with the provider whether printed confirmation is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Approved calculator, if permitted
Check the current ICAEW rules on calculators before the exam. If a calculator is allowed, use a model that meets the stated specification and make sure the batteries are fresh. Confirm with the provider whether the exam platform includes an on-screen calculator and whether a physical one is still permitted. Do not assume either way.
Stationery permitted by the provider
Pen, pencil, eraser and any paper allowed for rough work may or may not be provided or permitted, depending on whether the sitting is at a centre or remote and whether it is computer-based. Check the current instructions rather than packing by habit. Confirm with the provider what is supplied and what you must bring.
Plan and rehearse your route or your remote set-up
For a centre, know the travel time, allow a buffer for delays, and identify where you will wait. For a remote sitting, confirm your room, desk, lighting, camera and internet connection, and remove prohibited items from the desk. Do a full dry run at the same time of day as the real exam so that any problem surfaces early. Confirm with the provider the check-in window and the rules for your surroundings.
Review the current examinable standards and syllabus weighting
The Sustainability and Ethics exam tests specified codes, frameworks and professional standards. Check the current syllabus and technical knowledge grids on the ICAEW website, because standards and examinable documents are updated between sittings. Revise only the documents listed as examinable for your sitting. Mark this as needs_review until you have confirmed the current list.
Practise full-length questions under timed conditions
Use the specimen materials and past-paper style questions available through ICAEW or your tuition provider. Practise allocating time by marks, writing structured answers, and applying ethical frameworks to scenarios rather than reciting definitions. Review your answers against the marking guidance so that you learn how marks are earned, not just whether you were right.
Prepare your wellbeing basics for the day
Plan food, water, medication and sleep so that these do not become last-minute problems. Check the provider's rules on bringing water or snacks into the exam room, because these vary. If you have a disability, health condition or other access requirement, confirm the approved adjustments well before the exam rather than on the day.
Know what to do if something goes wrong
Save the provider's contact details for exam-day problems, such as a technical failure, illness or travel disruption. Know whether and how to report an issue and what evidence may be required. Do not simply leave; follow the provider's incident process. Confirm the exact procedure with the provider in advance.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Re-read your summary notes on the key ethical frameworks, codes and sustainability reporting requirements that are examinable for this sitting. Do at least one full timed practice paper and mark it honestly, then spend the remaining time on your weakest two or three areas. Confirm your exam logistics one more time: time, venue or remote link, ID, permitted materials and arrival or check-in requirements. Stop revising late in the evening; protect your sleep in these three nights.
Do a light review only, such as a one-page sheet of frameworks and common answer structures. Pack your ID, confirmation and permitted items in one place. Rehearse the route or the remote set-up, check your equipment and internet, and charge devices. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and avoid intensive cramming that leaves you tired. If you feel unwell, check the provider's policy on illness and deferral now rather than on the morning.
Eat properly and arrive or log in with a buffer. Re-read only your summary sheet, not whole chapters. At a centre, follow staff instructions and keep prohibited items out of the exam room. For a remote sitting, complete check-in early, close other applications and keep your phone out of reach as instructed. If a technical problem occurs, stay calm and follow the provider's incident process rather than improvising.
Read the whole paper or the question requirements before writing, and allocate time by marks. For scenario questions, identify the ethical issue, the relevant principle or standard, the affected parties and a reasoned course of action. Use the facts given rather than generic theory, and apply professional scepticism. Watch the clock at planned checkpoints, leave time to finish each answer, and if a question stalls you, move on and return. Before the end, check that every required question has been attempted and that your answers are saved or submitted as the platform requires.
Rules to check
Follow the current exam regulations published by ICAEW and the instructions given by invigilators or proctors. Where this guide and the provider's instructions differ, the provider's instructions prevail. Confirm anything unclear with the provider before exam day.
Bring only the identification and permitted materials specified for your sitting. Phones, smart watches, notes and other unauthorised items must be stored as instructed and must not be accessible during the exam. Confirm the provider's list of prohibited and permitted items, because it can change.
Arrive or check in by the stated time. Late arrival may mean you are refused entry or given less time, and the exact cut-off is set by the provider. Confirm the arrival and check-in windows for your sitting rather than assuming a grace period.
Breaks are usually not permitted during the exam unless the provider's rules or an approved access arrangement say otherwise. If you need to leave the room, follow staff instructions exactly. Confirm the break policy with the provider in advance.
Do not communicate with anyone other than invigilators or proctors about the exam content during the sitting, and do not share, record or reproduce exam questions afterwards. Treat all exam material as confidential under the provider's rules.
If you believe there is a technical failure, disturbance or other problem, report it immediately through the provider's stated process and follow their instructions. Do not attempt to fix platform issues yourself in ways that could breach the rules.
Scoring and pass marks are set by ICAEW, and results are released through its official channels. Do not rely on unofficial mark schemes or claimed pass marks. Confirm how and when results will be published with the provider.
If illness or another serious event affects your performance or attendance, check the provider's policy on mitigating circumstances, deferrals and evidence deadlines as soon as possible, since deadlines are usually strict.