ICDL Advanced Documents exam-day guide
ICDL Advanced Documents · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name you registered with. If you are unsure which ID types the test centre accepts, confirm with the provider before test day.
Appointment confirmation
Have your booking confirmation (printed or on your phone) showing date, time, and test centre address. Confirm the arrival time the provider expects, as it may be earlier than the start time.
Test centre location and route
Check the exact address and plan the route and travel time. If the centre is unfamiliar, confirm entrance details and parking or public transport options with the provider.
Practice files and sample tasks
Rehearse the document-production skills the syllabus covers (styles, templates, tables, mail merge, references, review tools, macros) using your own practice files. Do not rely on any single question bank.
Software familiarity
Practise in the same word-processing application and version family the exam uses. Confirm the exact application and version with your provider if it is not stated in your candidate materials.
Know the exam format
Confirm with the provider the number of tasks, time allowance, pass mark, and whether the test is live-application or simulated. Do not assume these; they vary by provider and version.
Rest and logistics plan
Plan sleep, meals, and travel so you arrive calm and early. Fatigue is the most avoidable cause of careless file-handling errors.
During-test file discipline
Plan to save work frequently and save into the location the task specifies, using the exact filenames requested. Misnamed or misplaced files are a common avoidable loss of marks.
Read-the-brief habit
Commit to reading each task fully before acting, noting the required filename, format, and any stated constraints. Practise this habit in your rehearsal.
Access arrangements (if applicable)
If you need extra time or other adjustments, confirm eligibility and the request deadline with the provider well in advance; arrangements are usually not granted on the day.
What not to bring
Assume personal notes, reference sheets, and unauthorised devices are not permitted in the test room. Confirm the provider's rules on phones, watches, and personal items.
Backup contact
Save the test centre or provider contact number so you can call if travel problems arise. Confirm the provider's policy on lateness or rescheduling.
Plan the day
Work through the full syllabus skill by skill using your own files; do targeted practice on weak areas such as mail merge, cross-references, or tracked changes. Stop learning new features 48 hours out and switch to consolidation.
Do at least one full timed mock under exam-like conditions: read the brief, produce and save files to a specified folder with specified names, and check your output against the task requirements.
Confirm logistics: appointment time, arrival time, address, ID requirements, and any access arrangements. Re-read the provider's candidate handbook for rules on permitted items and breaks.
Light review only: skim your own summary of key procedures and common pitfalls (styles vs direct formatting, section breaks, field updates, filename conventions). Avoid cramming new material.
Prepare and pack ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. Charge devices only if the provider confirms they are allowed; otherwise leave them at home.
Set alarms, plan the journey with a buffer, and get a full night's sleep. Eat normally before the test.
Eat a proper meal, re-check the route and departure time, and arrive at the centre earlier than the stated arrival time. Bring only permitted items.
Do a brief mental warm-up on procedures, not on facts. Stay calm; if travel goes wrong, contact the centre immediately using the saved number.
Read the whole task brief before starting, note required filenames and formats, and save early and often to the specified location. Work steadily; if a task stalls, move on and return if time allows.
Before finishing each task, verify the file is saved with the exact name and in the exact location required, and that the document meets the stated requirements. Use remaining time to re-check saved files rather than to add unrequested content.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID in your registered name; if you are unsure which forms are accepted, confirm with the provider before test day.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted and prohibited items; assume notes, reference materials, and unauthorised devices are not allowed unless the provider states otherwise.
Arrive at the arrival time the provider specifies. Lateness, rescheduling, and no-show policies vary, so confirm them with the provider in advance.
If you need a break, follow the centre's procedure. Whether breaks are allowed and whether the clock stops varies by provider; confirm the policy beforehand and do not leave the room unescorted.
Save every file with the exact filename, format, and location the task specifies. Work saved elsewhere or misnamed may not be marked.
Work only on the tasks set. Do not attempt to access other files, the internet, or other candidates' work; treat all exam materials as confidential.
Scoring is based on the finished files and the specified requirements. Confirm the pass mark and marking method with the provider; do not assume partial credit for every step.
Raise any technical problem or ambiguity with the invigilator immediately rather than trying to fix it silently; confirm the provider's incident procedure on the day.