ICC C5 exam-day guide
ICC C5 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Appointment confirmation and test-centre address
Save a screenshot and write the address down; test centres can be inside office buildings with limited signage. Confirm arrival time and reporting window with the provider.
Login credentials for the testing platform
For remote proctoring, verify your username and password the day before and keep them where you can reach them without leaving the camera view. Confirm the exact platform and browser requirements with the provider.
System and equipment check completed
If testing remotely, run the provider's system test on the same computer, camera, microphone and network you will use on exam day. Confirm minimum bandwidth and whether a wired connection is recommended.
Approved calculator or on-screen calculator familiarity
Confirm with the provider whether a physical calculator is permitted, which models are allowed, and whether an on-screen calculator is built into the exam. Practise with whichever applies.
Permitted reference material status confirmed
Ask the provider in advance whether any standards, formula sheets or notes are allowed and in what format. Do not assume; treat the exam as closed-book unless told otherwise.
Scratch paper and writing instrument policy confirmed
Many providers supply laminated sheets and markers or prohibit personal paper. Confirm the rule with the provider and plan your rough-work habits accordingly.
Personal items plan
Know where your phone, watch, wallet and bag must go. Most providers require phones to be off and stored away; confirm locker availability at the centre.
Break and facilities policy reviewed
Confirm whether breaks are scheduled, whether unscheduled breaks are allowed, and whether the clock stops. Plan hydration and meals around the answer you receive.
Logistics confirmed: travel, parking, backup route
Arrive with buffer time. Check transport disruptions and parking options the day before, and identify a backup route in case of delays.
Rest and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the final week and eat a normal meal before the exam. Avoid new caffeine levels or unfamiliar energy drinks on exam day.
Emergency contact and provider support number saved
Save the provider's candidate services number so you can report a technical failure or late arrival immediately. Confirm the correct number with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summary sheets, formula lists and error log. Do one timed mixed-topic set under exam conditions, then review every wrong answer and write the cause (knowledge gap, misread, calculation slip, time pressure). Confirm appointment time, address or remote session link, ID requirements, permitted items and calculator policy with the provider. Check that your ID name matches the registration exactly; request a correction now if it does not.
Do a light second pass over the highest-yield areas and any topic you have repeatedly missed. Rehearse the exam interface if a demo is available: navigation, flagging, review screen and calculator. Decide your section time budget and your rule for when to guess and move on. Prepare clothing layers and confirm the centre's temperature policy if testing in person.
Run the final logistics check: route, travel time, parking, backup plan, remote system test and charger. Pack ID, confirmation and any permitted items in one place. Do a short review of summary sheets only, no new problems. Set two alarms. Aim for a normal night's sleep; do not study late.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate moderately. Leave earlier than the map suggests. Arrive within the provider's reporting window; if you are delayed, call candidate services immediately. At the centre, follow check-in instructions, store personal items, and use the restroom before the clock starts. For remote testing, close all other applications, silence devices and complete the room scan as instructed.
Read the instructions and note the number of questions and time limit. Do a first pass answering what you know and flagging uncertain items; do not let one hard question consume several minutes. Watch a checkpoint: roughly one-third of the time for the first third of questions, and adjust. Use scratch paper for structured working. Before submitting, use the review screen to revisit flagged items and confirm no question is left blank unless the exam penalises wrong answers (confirm scoring rules with the provider).
Note any topics that felt weak while memory is fresh, in case you need a retake. Confirm with the provider how and when results are released and what the retake policy is. Keep your ID and confirmation until results arrive.
Rules to check
Bring the original, valid, government-issued photo ID in the exact name on your registration. Copies, expired documents and digital IDs are commonly refused; confirm accepted forms with the provider before exam day.
Arrive within the provider's reporting window. Candidates who arrive late may be refused entry or have time deducted; confirm the late-arrival rule with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.
Electronic devices, smart watches and personal notes must be switched off and stored as instructed. Unauthorised materials at the workstation can lead to invalidation; confirm exactly what may be on your desk with the provider.
No communication with other candidates during the exam. For remote testing, stay in camera view, keep the room clear of other people, and follow proctor instructions; unexplained absences from view may be treated as a violation.
Breaks: follow the provider's break policy. If unscheduled breaks are allowed, the clock usually keeps running, so plan them; confirm whether scheduled breaks stop the clock.
Scoring: confirm with the provider whether wrong answers are penalised and what the pass mark is. Unless you are told otherwise, answer every question; an unanswered question cannot earn credit.
If a technical failure occurs, stop and notify the proctor or candidate services immediately and note the time. Do not attempt to fix platform problems alone; the provider decides whether time is restored or the attempt is rescheduled.
Results and conduct: do not share, reproduce or discuss specific exam content afterwards. Confirm the provider's confidentiality terms and retake policy in advance.