ICDL Presentation (ICDL) exam-day guide
ICDL Presentation · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring the ID required by your test centre. Accepted forms vary, so confirm with the provider which photo ID is acceptable and whether a digital copy is allowed. Treat this as needs_review until confirmed.
Appointment confirmation and booking reference
Bring your booking confirmation, candidate number, or login details if the provider issued them. Store them offline as well as on your phone in case phone use is restricted.
Test centre address and contact number
Confirm the exact building, room, and arrival entrance. Save the centre's phone number and plan your route with a buffer for delays.
Access arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, screen adjustments, or other support, confirm in advance that it has been approved and will be ready. This is needs_review because arrangements are provider-specific.
Glasses, hearing aids, or medical items
Bring any personal items you normally need. Tell the invigilator about medication or aids if required, but confirm the centre's policy first.
Knowledge of the Presentation syllabus
Review the skills the module covers: creating and formatting slides, using layouts and master slides, inserting and editing text, images, tables, charts, and other objects, applying transitions and animations, setting up a slide show, and preparing output such as printouts or exported files.
Practice in the correct software version
Confirm with the provider which presentation application and version the test uses, then practise the same operations there. Menu names and file options can differ between versions and between Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress, and web-based tools.
File-management routines
Practise opening files from a specified folder, saving frequently, using Save As, choosing the required file format, and saving to the exact location and filename given in the task.
What you may bring into the test room
Notes, printed guides, USB drives, phones, and smartwatches are commonly restricted, but rules vary. Confirm with the provider what is permitted and what must be left outside. This is needs_review.
Water or a snack
Confirm whether drinks or snacks are allowed at the workstation. If they are, keep them away from the keyboard and paperwork.
Plan the day
Confirm your booking, ID requirements, arrival time, access arrangements, and which software version the test uses. Check travel plans and resolve any missing information with the provider. Do two or three timed practice tasks covering the full syllabus rather than only your favourite features.
Do one complete practice presentation from a blank file: apply a consistent design, use layouts, insert text and images, add a table or chart, apply transitions and animations, run the slide show, and save and export in the required formats. Review weak areas briefly, prepare your ID and confirmation, charge your phone, and get normal sleep. Avoid learning a completely new tool the night before.
Eat and hydrate normally. Leave early enough to arrive at the centre with time to spare. Re-read the provider's arrival instructions and keep your ID and confirmation accessible. Do not rely on last-minute cramming; a short review of file-saving steps is more useful than new material.
Read the candidate instructions and each task fully before clicking. Note the required filename, folder, and format. Work steadily, save after each major change, and use Save As when a new file is requested. If a task is unclear, ask the invigilator for procedural guidance only, not for the answer. Leave time to check that every required file is saved in the correct location and that the slide show runs as intended.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID. Confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether expired or digital ID is permitted.
Do not use phones, smartwatches, notes, or unauthorised storage devices in the test room unless the provider explicitly allows them. Follow the invigilator's instructions for storing personal items.
Follow all instructions from the invigilator and test centre staff. If software, hardware, or a task instruction appears faulty, raise it immediately rather than trying to work around it silently.
Ask about breaks before the test starts. Timed certification tests often do not allow breaks, but this is provider-specific, so confirm the policy rather than assuming.
Marks are normally awarded for completing the specified actions and saving the required files, not for how polished the presentation looks. Check the provider's scoring and pass-mark policy in advance.
Stay within the task: do not open other applications, browse the internet, or access files outside those provided unless the task specifically requires it.
Manage your time across all tasks. Do not spend so long perfecting one slide that later tasks are left incomplete; partial completion may earn some credit depending on the provider's marking scheme.
Keep your work saved. Confirm the required filename, folder, and file format before submitting or ending the test.