ICDL Project Planning (ICDL) exam-day guide
ICDL Project Planning · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you registered with. Accepted document types vary by country and test centre, so confirm the exact list with your provider before test day.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Have your booking reference, candidate ID, and the centre's contact number available, either printed or on paper. Do not rely solely on a phone, since devices are usually stored during the test.
Centre address, travel plan, and arrival time
Check the exact building and room in advance, note the reception procedure, and plan to arrive well before your slot so that traffic or parking does not reduce your working time.
Confirmation of the software version and test format
Ask the provider which project-management application and version the test uses, and whether tasks are delivered as a written list on screen, on paper, or in a supplied project file.
Knowledge of the permitted reference materials
Most ICDL practical tests allow no notes, manuals, or help files beyond what is built into the application. Confirm the rules for your centre and leave anything unapproved at home.
A review of the full syllabus areas
Ensure you can create and edit tasks, set durations and milestones, build dependencies, assign resources and calendars, work with costs, save baselines, track progress, and produce the specified views and reports.
Practice files saved and understood
Know where the test file will be saved and how to use Save As to the location stated in the instructions. Practise opening, saving, and closing a project file without losing data.
A personal task checklist memorised
Prepare a short mental routine covering task entry, linking, constraints, resource assignment, and verification. This helps you avoid skipping a required step when the clock is running.
Plan for storing personal belongings
Expect to lock away your phone, watch, bag, and any notes. Confirm with the provider whether lockers are available or whether you should travel with as little as possible.
Any approved access arrangements
If you need extra time, a reader, or other adjustments, confirm in writing that these have been approved and booked for your session. Arrangements are rarely granted on the day.
Rest, food, and water before the session
Book a slot at a time when you are alert, eat beforehand, and bring water only if the centre permits it. Practical tests reward accuracy and calm reading more than speed.
A plan for reporting technical problems
Know that you should raise your hand immediately if the software freezes or a file will not open. Do not attempt to repair the workstation yourself, because intervention may breach test rules.
Plan the day
Re-read your syllabus checklist and list the task areas you are least confident about, such as recurring tasks, effort-driven scheduling, resource leveling, or variance reporting. Spend the remaining practice time only on those areas in the same software version the centre uses. Rehearse the complete workflow once, from creating a project and entering tasks through to saving a baseline and producing a status view. Check that your ID is valid, that your booking details are correct, and that the centre has confirmed your start time and any access arrangements.
Stop learning new features and consolidate instead. Walk through your personal routine for a full project set-up so that the sequence is automatic. Confirm travel arrangements and the exact room or reception desk, and charge or prepare anything you are allowed to bring. Prepare your ID and booking reference in one place, decide what you will leave behind, and go to bed at a normal time. Avoid last-minute attempts to memorise dialog boxes, which tends to increase errors under time pressure.
Eat a proper meal and arrive at the centre with enough margin to complete check-in without stress. Present your ID and booking reference, store your belongings as instructed, and listen carefully to any briefing about the workstation, file locations, and how to submit. Before starting, confirm with the invigilator where your project file should be saved and how to summon help if something goes wrong. Settle in, check that the mouse, keyboard, and screen are working, and take a slow breath before you read the first task.
Read the instructions and every task before touching the file, so you understand the required deliverable and the saving convention. Note the clock and estimate how many minutes each task deserves, leaving a margin for checking. Identify the project file supplied and open it exactly as instructed rather than creating a new one unless the task requires it.
Work through the tasks in the order given, reading each one twice and doing exactly what is asked, including view, table, or report requirements that are easy to overlook. Save after each significant change using the filename and folder specified. If a task stalls you, note it, move on, and return with any remaining time. Use the final minutes to verify dependencies, resource assignments, dates, and the saved location of your output, then submit or end the test in the way the invigilator described.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID used at registration and present it on arrival. The list of accepted documents is set by the certification body and the test centre, so confirm it with the provider rather than assuming a driving licence or student card will be accepted.
Work alone and use only the application, files, and materials the centre provides. Do not use phones, smart watches, search engines, notes, or help from another person. Unapproved materials or communication during the test can void your result.
Read the test instructions carefully for where to save your file and what filename to use. Work saved to an unapproved location or under the wrong name may not be marked, even if the content is correct.
Report any technical problem, such as a frozen application, missing file, or unreadable instruction, to the invigilator immediately. Do not attempt to fix the workstation or restart the test yourself unless you are told to do so.
Breaks during a timed practical test are normally not allowed, and leaving the room may end your session. If you have a medical or access need that requires a break, arrange it with the provider in advance and confirm how it will be handled.
Scoring is based on the completed project file and any required outputs, not on effort or partial screenshots, and the pass mark is set by the certification body. Check the current pass mark and the marking approach with your provider before test day.
Follow the invigilator's instructions about the start and end of the session. Stop working when told and submit in the required way; continuing to edit after time is called may be treated as misconduct.
Treat the test content as confidential. Do not copy, photograph, record, or share task wording or files afterwards, as this is prohibited by the certification body's candidate agreement.