ICAS Mathematics exam-day guide
ICAS Mathematics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Entry/confirmation details
Know your session date, start time, venue room (or online login details) and your ICAS paper level (Paper A–H matches your school year). If any of this is unclear, confirm with your school's ICAS coordinator before the day.
Photo ID or student card
School-based sittings often do not require photo ID, but some venues and online proctored sittings do. Confirm with your provider/coordinator what identification, if any, you must present.
Two pencils (HB or 2B) plus a spare
Bring at least two sharpened pencils so one break or blunt point does not cost you working time.
Eraser and pencil sharpener
Neat, erasable working matters if answers are marked on a paper answer sheet or scanned card.
Ruler
Useful for geometry and diagram questions. Confirm with your supervisor whether any specific ruler type is allowed for your paper.
Calculator - only if permitted
Do not assume a calculator is allowed for ICAS Mathematics. Check the official instructions for your paper level and confirm with your provider; if it is not listed as permitted, leave it at home or in your bag.
Plain watch (non-smart)
A simple watch helps you pace yourself if there is no visible clock. Smart watches and phones are normally not permitted at the desk.
Clear water bottle
A small, label-free water bottle is usually acceptable; confirm your venue's rules on drinks and snacks.
Scratch paper and a spare pen
Rough working reduces careless errors on multi-step questions. Confirm with your supervisor whether rough paper is provided or whether you must bring your own.
Device check (online sittings only)
If you are sitting the test online, test your device, browser, camera and internet connection the day before, and know the backup plan your school has arranged. Confirm all technical requirements with your provider.
A settled routine the night before
Pack your bag the evening before, get a full night's sleep, and eat a normal breakfast. Cramming new topics in the last hour rarely helps and often raises anxiety.
Plan the day
Skim your topic list and note the two or three areas you are least confident in; do short, focused practice on those rather than redoing everything. Practise a few questions under time pressure so the pacing feels familiar. Check your session details (time, room, device/login) and resolve any uncertainty with your coordinator now, not on the day.
Do light revision only: review worked examples, formula reminders and common traps (units, reading the question fully, checking answer options). Prepare and pack stationery, ruler, watch and any permitted aids. Confirm travel arrangements or your online login. Avoid a late night and avoid learning brand-new content.
Eat breakfast, arrive early (or log in early with time to spare), and leave your phone and smart devices stowed as instructed. Do a quick mental warm-up with two or three easy problems to get your thinking moving. Stay calm: this is a single assessment, not a verdict on your ability.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions and the time limit for your paper. Note the finish time on your watch or the clock, and plan a rough pace: roughly the time available divided by the number of questions, plus a few minutes at the end to check.
Work in passes: answer the questions you can do quickly first, mark anything time-consuming or uncertain and return to it. Show brief rough working for multi-step problems, watch units and rounding, and read every answer option before choosing. If an answer is not immediately clear, eliminate options and estimate. Keep an eye on the clock so you are never rushed at the end.
Make sure every question has an answer - there is normally no advantage to leaving blanks. Check that your answers are recorded in the correct place (and saved/submitted if online), then re-check flagged questions and any arithmetic you did in a hurry.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from your supervisor or invigilator. If a rule is unclear, ask before the test starts rather than guessing once it is underway.
Phones, smart watches, earbuds and other connected devices must be switched off and stored away unless the official instructions explicitly permit them. Confirm the exact device policy with your provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test in any form - talking, passing notes, gesturing or sharing materials. Doing so can lead to your results being cancelled.
Confirm with your provider what identification you must bring and display; rules vary between school-based and online/proctored sittings.
Confirm with your provider whether any breaks are scheduled and what you may take into the room (calculator, ruler, rough paper, water). Do not assume standardised rules apply to every paper or venue.
Confirm the scoring and results policy with your provider. As a general principle, attempt every question - there is typically no advantage in leaving an answer blank - but check the official instructions for your paper.
If you are unwell, or something goes wrong during the test (device failure, missing paper, distraction), tell your supervisor immediately and ask them to record it. Do not try to sort it out after the session.