ICRI CSRT Grade 1 exam-day guide
ICRI CSRT Grade 1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID whose name matches your registration exactly. If your registration name differs (for example a maiden name or a shortened form), contact the provider before test day to correct it or to confirm which supporting documents are accepted. Confirm the exact ID requirements with the provider, since accepted document types vary by test centre and country.
Admission or confirmation document
Print or save the appointment confirmation, candidate number, and any admission letter the provider issues. Test centres may ask for the candidate number at check-in. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Know your test centre route and arrival time
Do a dry run or map the route in advance, including parking, public transport changes, and security screening at the building entrance. Aim to arrive well before your reporting time; the provider sets a cut-off after which candidates may be refused entry. Confirm the reporting time and late-arrival policy with the provider.
Review the published syllabus and weighting
Use the official syllabus to confirm which domains are examined and roughly how they are weighted. Spend the final days on high-weight domains and on any topic you have not yet revised, rather than re-reading material you already know.
Practise the item formats under time
The CSRT Grade 1 exam uses multiple-choice questions. Practise answering at exam pace so you can judge how long to spend per question and when to move on. Confirm the number of questions and the total test time with the provider, because these can change between exam versions.
Confirm the calculator and reference-material policy
Some computer-based exams provide an on-screen calculator, some permit a supplied physical calculator, and some prohibit personal calculators entirely. Confirm with the provider what is allowed and whether any formula sheet or reference material is provided on screen.
Plan for personal items and storage
Most test centres require phones, watches, bags, and notes to be stored away from the testing room. Leave valuables at home. Confirm with the provider what storage is available and whether a locker is provided.
Check accessibility and special arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, a screen reader, or other accommodations, these are usually arranged in advance and are not granted on the day. Confirm with the provider that your approved arrangements are recorded on your booking.
Prepare for the check-in process
Expect identity verification, a photograph, a signature, and possibly a palm-vein or fingerprint scan, plus a visual check of glasses and pockets. These steps take time, so build them into your arrival plan. Confirm the specific procedures with the provider.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Sleep normally the night before rather than cramming. Eat a normal meal beforehand and bring water if the centre permits it. Confirm with the provider whether drinks and snacks are allowed in the testing room or only during scheduled breaks.
Bring a backup plan for transport failure
Identify a second route and keep the test centre phone number with you. If something goes wrong on the day, contact the centre immediately rather than simply not arriving; some providers allow rescheduling in documented emergencies. Confirm the rescheduling and no-show policy with the provider.
Read the candidate handbook
The provider's candidate handbook is the authoritative source for conduct rules, scoring, and results timelines. Read it before test day rather than relying on second-hand accounts from forums. Confirm any point you are unsure about directly with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment time, the test centre address, and the reporting time. Re-read the candidate handbook sections on ID, prohibited items, and conduct. Check that your ID is valid and that the name matches your registration. Finish your revision of the highest-weight domains and take one timed practice set under exam conditions, then review only the questions you got wrong. Stop learning new topics at this point; consolidation is more valuable than new material.
Do a light review of formulas, definitions, and any memory aids you rely on. Pack your bag: ID, confirmation document, and any permitted items. Confirm your travel plan and, if you are driving, check parking availability and any roadworks or events that could affect traffic. Avoid starting any new practice question bank at this stage.
Confirm the reporting time one final time and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not attempt an all-night revision session; fatigue is one of the most common causes of careless errors on multiple-choice exams. Put your ID and confirmation document in a fixed place by the door.
Eat breakfast, dress in layers so you can adapt to room temperature, and leave earlier than the map suggests. Arrive ahead of the reporting time and allow for security screening. Leave phones, smart watches, and notes in the car or in the provided storage. Use the washroom before check-in, since breaks may be limited.
Present your ID and confirmation document, complete identity verification, and follow staff instructions about pockets, glasses, and sleeves. If you are given a locker, place all personal items there. Ask staff if you are unsure whether an item is permitted rather than bringing it into the testing room.
Read each question stem carefully and watch for words such as 'except', 'most likely', and 'best'. Answer the questions you know first and flag difficult ones to return to. Do not spend a disproportionate amount of time on a single item; every question carries the same weight unless the provider states otherwise.
Return to flagged questions and eliminate clearly wrong options before choosing. For calculation questions, estimate the answer first so you can spot a misplaced decimal. Change an answer only when you have a specific reason; second-guessing without a reason often turns a correct answer into a wrong one.
If a scheduled break is offered, take it, stand up, and drink water; confirm with the provider in advance whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether the clock stops. In the final minutes, confirm that every question has an answer and that no flagged item was left blank. Submit only when you are satisfied.
Note the date by which results are expected and how they will be released. Confirm with the provider how and when results are issued, and keep your candidate number for any follow-up. If you did not perform as expected, ask the provider about retake rules and any waiting period before booking again.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid photo ID that matches your registered name. Photocopies, expired documents, and digital images are generally not accepted. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider before test day.
Do not bring notes, textbooks, phones, smart watches, or any other electronic device into the testing room. Most centres provide storage, but items left in the room can lead to invalidation of your result. Confirm the prohibited-items list with the provider.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and test-centre staff. Talking to other candidates, looking at another screen, or attempting to copy material during the test is treated as misconduct and can lead to removal and cancellation of your score.
Do not attempt to remove or reproduce exam content. Sharing remembered questions publicly may breach the candidate agreement you accepted at registration. Confirm the exact terms of that agreement with the provider.
Breaks are usually limited and may be scheduled rather than on demand. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are permitted, whether the timer stops, and what identification or sign-out procedure applies during a break.
Scoring is typically based on the number of correctly answered questions, and there is usually no penalty for guessing. Confirm with the provider whether unanswered questions score as incorrect and whether a pass mark or scaled score is used.
If you feel unwell, experience a technical problem, or believe there is an error in a question, raise it with the invigilator immediately rather than after the test. Confirm the provider's procedure for reporting a problem on the day.
Arrive by the reporting time. Candidates who arrive after the published cut-off may be refused entry and may forfeit the fee. Confirm the late-arrival and rescheduling policy with the provider, as it varies between centres and countries.