ICC Commercial B2 exam-day guide
ICC Commercial B2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID document named on your registration. Name spelling and photo must match. If you registered with a passport, bring that passport, not a different ID. If your ID changed since registration, contact the provider before test day; confirm accepted ID types with the provider, since remote-proctored and test-centre rules can differ.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Have your booking confirmation, candidate/registration number, and the test centre address or remote-session link saved offline (screenshot or printout). Do not rely on email access inside the test centre or during a proctored session.
Know your exact start time and arrival buffer
Note the reporting time, not just the exam start time. Arrive with a margin set by the provider; confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled, as many centres refuse entry after a cut-off.
Confirm test format and section order
Check whether your sitting is paper-based or computer-based and the order and timing of sections. Confirm with the provider whether sections are separately timed and whether you can move back and forth between them.
Permitted calculator and stationery
Bring only the calculator model and stationery the provider permits. Confirm with the provider whether a basic calculator is allowed, whether scratch paper is provided or must be requested, and what is prohibited. Do not assume a programmable calculator is accepted.
Review the published exam regulations
Read the current candidate regulations on the provider's site shortly before the exam, since rules on phones, watches, bags, and personal items can change. Confirm with the provider what must be left outside the testing room.
Plan travel and a backup route
Check the route, transport disruptions, parking, and building entry/security screening. For a test centre, know which entrance and floor; for remote proctoring, test your link, camera, microphone, and browser check in advance.
Sleep, food, and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the final nights and plan a normal meal before the session. Avoid trying new caffeine levels or heavy meals on exam morning; steady energy matters more than last-minute cramming.
Confirm break and facilities policy
Ask the provider in advance whether unscheduled breaks are allowed, whether the clock stops, and how to request a break. Rules differ between test-centre and remote sittings, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Know the scoring and results timeline
Confirm the pass mark or scoring scale, whether wrong answers are penalised, and when and how results are released. Confirm with the provider if your registration does not state the current pass standard.
Watch and personal items
Leave smartwatches, fitness trackers, and phones outside the testing room or in the designated storage. Confirm with the provider whether an analogue watch is permitted at all.
Special arrangements confirmation
If you requested extra time, a separate room, or other access arrangements, bring written confirmation and arrive early. Confirm the arrangement with the provider at least several days before the exam so any error can be fixed.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Re-read your own summary sheets, formula list, and error log. Do one timed section or a short mixed set to check pacing, then review only the mistakes. Reconfirm the appointment time, venue or remote link, ID document, and permitted calculator. Read the current exam regulations once. Keep the final 48 hours lighter than the preceding weeks.
Do a light review of high-frequency material and your personal weak spots, then stop. Prepare the bag or desk: ID, confirmation, permitted calculator and stationery, water if allowed, and transport details. Charge devices and test the remote-proctoring setup if applicable. Eat normally, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not attempt a full mock exam the day before.
Eat a normal meal and arrive at the reporting time with a buffer. Leave phones and smart devices as instructed. Do a five-minute calm review of structure and formulas only, not new content. At the centre, follow sign-in and ID checks; for remote sittings, complete the identity and room check early. Use the washroom before the session starts if breaks are restricted.
Read the instructions and note the section timing and any flag/review function. Do a quick scan of the paper or section to gauge difficulty. Write down any key formulas or memory aids only if the provider permits scratch paper, and only during the time allowed.
Work in passes: answer confident questions first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Track time against the number of questions remaining rather than watching the clock constantly. For calculation items, estimate the answer before computing and check units and signs. If a question stalls you, mark it and move on; do not let one item consume the section. Leave a short buffer at the end to transfer or verify answers if the format requires it.
Check that every question has an answer if there is no penalty for guessing, confirm flagged items, and verify that answers are recorded in the required format. Submit deliberately and confirm the submission screen. Note what the provider says about when results will be available.
Rules to check
Bring the ID document named on your registration and present it when asked. If the name or document does not match, entry may be refused; confirm accepted ID with the provider before test day.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and proctors immediately. Unclear situations, such as a technical fault or a needed break, should be raised with them at once rather than resolved alone.
Do not bring unauthorised materials into the testing room. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and unauthorised calculators must be stored as directed; possession during the test can lead to invalidation. Confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not attempt to copy, photograph, record, or share exam content. Content is confidential, and misconduct can void your result.
Ask before taking any break. Whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether the clock stops varies; confirm the break policy with the provider in advance and follow proctor instructions on the day.
Understand how your paper is scored: check the pass standard, whether incorrect answers are penalised, and whether sections are weighted. If your registration does not state this, confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
If equipment fails or you believe conditions affected your performance, notify the invigilator or proctor immediately and note the time. Ask the provider what post-test reporting route applies; do not wait until after leaving.
Keep the confirmation and result correspondence. If you need to reschedule, or want to query a result, follow the provider's published deadlines, which you should confirm with the provider before the exam.