ICC FCS exam-day guide
ICC FCS · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID with a signature and photo, with the name matching your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID forms it accepts and whether a secondary ID is required; do not rely on a photocopy or a digital image on your phone.
Exam appointment confirmation and login credentials
Have your confirmation email, candidate/registration number, and any portal username and password accessible. If the test is online-proctored, verify your login works before test day and know the password-recovery route. Confirm with the provider how credentials are issued.
Approved calculator
Check the provider's calculator policy in advance: some exams permit only an on-screen calculator, some allow a specific hand-held model, and some prohibit all calculators. Do not assume; confirm the exact rule and, if a physical calculator is allowed, bring a model that matches the permitted list.
Acceptable writing materials
Many test centres supply scratch paper and a pen or pencil and prohibit bringing your own. Confirm the provider's rule on scratch paper, erasable boards, and whether notes must be handed in or destroyed after the test.
Personal items plan
Expect a secure-storage or locker rule for phones, smart watches, bags, and notes. Plan to leave valuables at home or in your car, and know that phones are usually switched off and stored, not kept at your desk. Confirm the provider's storage arrangements.
Test-centre route and arrival buffer
For an in-person exam, confirm the exact address and building entrance, plan the route, and arrive with a buffer well beyond the check-in time. Parking, security screening, and building access can add delay. Confirm the provider's recommended arrival time.
Online-proctoring environment check
If testing remotely, confirm the required browser, webcam, microphone, and internet speed, run the system check in advance, and prepare a quiet, private room with a clear desk and a door you can close. Know the provider's rules on room scans and permitted items on the desk.
Rest, hydration, and food plan
Protect sleep in the days before the exam, eat a normal meal beforehand, and bring water only if the provider permits it at the desk. Avoid heavy caffeine on the day if you are not used to it.
Time-management plan
Know the number of questions and total time, then set a rough pace per question and a checkpoint for when to move on. Plan to flag and return to difficult items rather than stalling. Confirm the exact format and timing with the provider, as these can change.
Scoring and result-release awareness
Know in advance whether the exam is pass/fail or scaled, whether results are immediate or delayed, and how a retake works. Confirm these details with the provider rather than relying on forum reports.
Review of logistics emails
Re-read the provider's confirmation and any policy updates in the final week; test centres and proctoring vendors occasionally change rules, times, or locations. Treat the provider's written instructions as authoritative.
Backup plan
For remote testing, have a phone hotspot or alternate connection and the provider's support number ready in case of technical failure. For in-person testing, know what to do if you are delayed or ill, and confirm the provider's policy on rescheduling.
Plan the day
Stop adding new material. Spend the time on a short, high-yield review of your own summary notes, formulas, and definitions, and re-read the provider's exam-day instructions. Confirm your appointment time, location or remote-testing setup, and ID requirements. Do a final system check if testing online, including webcam, microphone, and browser. Prepare clothes and items the night before so the morning is calm. Protect sleep over last-minute cramming.
Do a light review only, focusing on areas you have repeatedly missed, then stop early. Pack your ID, confirmation details, approved calculator, and any permitted materials in one place. Check travel time and transport for an in-person exam, or tidy and test your room and equipment for a remote exam. Set two alarms. Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol, and aim for a full night's sleep. Do not start a new topic or attempt a full mock exam this late.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and avoid unfamiliar supplements or excessive caffeine. Re-check your ID and confirmation, and leave earlier than you think necessary for an in-person test. For a remote test, log in early, close unnecessary applications, silence notifications, and complete any room scan as instructed. Keep calm if check-in is slow; it is normal. Do not cram in the final minutes before check-in.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'not', 'best', and 'most likely'. Answer easier questions first at a steady pace, flag uncertain items, and return to them if time allows. For calculation questions, check units and whether the answer is plausible. If a question is taking too long, mark your best answer and move on. Use breaks only as the provider allows, and note the time when you leave and return. Leave a few minutes at the end to confirm no questions are unanswered and to review flagged items.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration; a mismatch or expired document can bar entry, so confirm the accepted ID forms with the provider before test day.
Follow the provider's rules on what may be at your desk. Phones, smart watches, notes, and unauthorised devices are typically stored away and switched off; unauthorised materials can lead to dismissal or score cancellation.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not copy, photograph, or share exam content. Exam materials are confidential, and misconduct can void your result.
Use scheduled breaks only as the provider permits. Know in advance whether the clock stops during breaks, whether you must sign out and back in, and what you may access; confirm these details with the provider.
For remotely proctored exams, keep your face and workspace visible, follow proctor instructions, and avoid leaving the camera view except during permitted breaks; unexplained absences may be flagged.
Understand the scoring model before you sit: whether the result is pass/fail or scaled, when it is released, and what the retake policy is. Confirm all of this with the provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
If a technical failure or emergency occurs, stop and contact the proctor or provider support immediately and follow their instructions; do not attempt to fix serious issues silently, as this may affect your result.
Arrive or log in by the provider's stated check-in time. Late arrival may mean forfeiture of your appointment or a shortened test, so confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance.