ICC F1 exam-day guide
ICC F1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring a current, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Make sure the name on the ID matches your registration exactly; if it does not, contact the provider before test day to correct it. Confirm with the provider which specific ID forms are accepted at your test site.
Appointment confirmation
Bring your appointment confirmation number, email, or printed notice. Confirm the exact test center address, arrival time, and reporting instructions with the provider, since these vary by location.
Permitted code books and references
If the exam is open-book, bring only the specific code editions and references listed in the current candidate handbook. Confirm with the provider whether the exam is open- or closed-book and which editions are allowed before you pack anything.
Compliant tabs, highlights and notes
Many programs restrict what annotations, tabs, or loose inserts are allowed in reference books. Confirm the annotation policy with the provider and strip out anything that is not permitted before you arrive.
Calculator status confirmed
Check whether a calculator is provided on screen, permitted as a personal item, or prohibited. Do not assume - confirm with the provider and, if a personal calculator is allowed, bring only an approved basic model.
Plan to arrive early
Build in buffer time for traffic, parking, and security/check-in processing. Arriving late can forfeit your seat and fee; confirm the provider's late-arrival cutoff.
Leave prohibited items at home or in the car
Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, earbuds, and study notes are typically not allowed in the testing room. Most centers provide a locker for personal belongings; confirm what storage is available.
Comfort and focus items
Bring layers (test rooms are often cold), any needed medication, and glasses if you wear them. Confirm with the provider whether water or snacks are allowed at your seat or only during scheduled breaks.
Break policy understood in advance
Know whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are offered and whether break time counts against your exam clock. Confirm the policy with the provider before test day so you can plan hydration and pacing.
Study materials packed for the wait only
You can review flash cards or notes in the lobby, but they must be stored before entering the testing room. Pack them so they are easy to stow.
Transportation and backup plan
Confirm the route, parking, and a backup ride. Save the test center phone number in case of a delay so you can call ahead.
Plan the day
Re-read the current candidate handbook and testing rules end to end. Verify your appointment date, time, and test center address. Take one final timed practice set under exam conditions and review your error log - stop trying to learn brand-new material at this point.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, permitted references with compliant tabs only. Do a light pass through your weakest two or three topic areas. Protect your sleep schedule; do not pull a late-night cram.
Short review of summary sheets and frequently missed items only. Lay out clothes, ID, and bag by the door. Confirm the commute and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the center with buffer time. Bring only permitted items to the check-in desk; store everything else. Read the on-screen tutorial carefully instead of clicking through it, and note how to flag questions for review if that feature is available.
Do a first pass answering everything you know quickly, flagging anything that needs more thought. Watch the clock and keep a steady per-question pace; do not let one long code lookup eat the clock. Use provided scratch materials for calculations and section references. Reserve the final minutes to revisit flagged items and confirm no question is left blank unless the exam penalizes guessing.
Keep your score report and any confirmation of completion. If results are preliminary, confirm with the provider when and how official results and any score verification process will be delivered.
Rules to check
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with a name that exactly matches your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and what happens if your name does not match.
Electronic devices - including phones, smartwatches, fitness bands, and earbuds - must be silenced and stored outside the testing room. Unauthorized devices in the testing area can void your score; confirm the site's storage arrangements in advance.
Do not bring your own scratch paper or writing instruments unless the provider explicitly permits them. Standard practice is that scratch materials are issued and collected by the test administrator - confirm the local rule.
Reference materials, if the exam is open-book, are limited to the editions listed in the current candidate handbook and must comply with the provider's annotation, tabbing, and loose-material rules. Confirm the annotation policy with the provider before test day.
Break availability and the treatment of break time relative to your exam clock vary by program and site. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, unscheduled, or unavailable, and plan your pacing accordingly.
Passing standards are set by the provider and reported on a scaled basis, not as a simple percentage of correct answers. Do not rely on a self-calculated raw score to predict your result; confirm the scoring and reporting method with the provider.
You will likely be asked to accept a confidentiality agreement covering exam content. Do not discuss, reproduce, or share specific exam questions after the test.
Arriving after the provider's cutoff time may result in forfeiture of your seat and fee, and rescheduling windows and fees are set by the provider. Confirm the late-arrival and rescheduling policies in writing before test day.