IC-38 General exam-day guide
IC-38 General · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID whose name exactly matches your registration. If your registration name differs even slightly (middle name, hyphen, maiden name), confirm with the provider before test day how to correct it.
Confirmation email and candidate/registration number
Have the appointment confirmation accessible, ideally printed as well as on your phone. It carries the appointment time, test-center address, and any candidate ID the proctor may ask for.
Second acceptable ID (backup)
Carry a second form of identification in case the primary one is questioned. Confirm with the provider which secondary documents are accepted before relying on one.
Know your test format and delivery method
Confirm whether your sitting is at a test center or online-proctored, and whether the exam is computer-based or paper-based. The rules on personal items, scratch paper, and calculators differ by format.
Review the permitted-items list
Check the provider's current list of what may be brought to the desk. Assume phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags must be stored away; confirm any exceptions with the provider.
Calculator policy
Determine whether a calculator is provided on screen, whether you may bring an approved physical model, or whether none is allowed. Do not assume; confirm with the provider.
Arrival time and travel plan
Plan to arrive earlier than the stated reporting time to absorb traffic, parking, and security screening. Confirm the required arrival window with the provider, since late arrivals may be refused entry.
Scratch paper and writing instrument policy
Many providers supply laminated note boards and markers and prohibit your own paper. Confirm what is supplied and what is banned before test day.
Break and refreshment plan
Ask whether scheduled or optional breaks exist, how they are timed, and whether water or snacks are permitted in the testing room or only in a designated area. Confirm with the provider.
Rest, meals, and medication routine
Protect sleep in the final week, eat a normal breakfast, and follow your usual medication schedule. If you need accommodations or to bring medical items, arrange approval with the provider well in advance.
Logistics for online-proctored sitting
If testing remotely, confirm the platform, system check, camera and microphone requirements, room-scan procedure, and prohibited desk items. Run the equipment check at least a day early.
Post-exam plan
Know how and when results are released and whether a preliminary score appears on screen. Confirm the score-report timeline and retake policy with the provider rather than relying on rumor.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Spend the time on a short review of your own summary notes, formulas, and recurring error patterns, then taper. Reconfirm the appointment time, address or platform, and ID requirements. Prepare the bag with ID, confirmation, and any approved items so nothing is left to the last morning.
Take at most one timed practice set under exam-like conditions to calibrate pacing, then review only the misses. Avoid marathon cramming, which trades short-term recall for fatigue on test day.
Check the route or the remote-testing setup, confirm transport or parking, and decide on meal timing. If anything about eligibility, ID, or permitted items is unclear, contact the provider now rather than on the morning of the exam.
Do a light pass over high-yield summaries and stop studying by early evening. Lay out clothes, ID, confirmation, and approved items. Set two alarms. Get a full night's sleep; sleep is worth more than one more hour of review.
Do not start new topics, do not attempt full-length mocks late in the day, and do not rely on last-minute memorization of long lists. Keep the evening calm and predictable.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive within the provider's required window. Leave your phone and smartwatch stored as instructed. Do not discuss content with other candidates, and do not bring notes into the testing room.
Read the on-screen or printed instructions carefully, confirm the number of questions and the time limit, and note whether questions can be flagged and revisited. Enter the first questions calmly rather than rushing to bank time.
Track your pace against the number of questions remaining. Answer every question if there is no penalty for guessing, flag uncertain items, and move on rather than stalling. Revisit flagged items only after reaching the end.
If breaks are offered, take them as permitted and note whether the clock keeps running. Use them to stand, stretch, and reset attention, then return promptly.
Use remaining time to check that no questions are unanswered and that flagged items have a response. Confirm submission only when you are ready, since some systems do not allow reopening.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid identification in the exact name used at registration; photocopies and expired documents are typically refused. Confirm accepted ID forms with the provider.
Follow the provider's rules on personal items. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags are generally prohibited in the testing area and must be stored as directed.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not copy, photograph, or share exam content. Attempting to capture questions is a serious violation.
Breaks, if any, follow the provider's procedure; the clock may or may not pause. Confirm the break policy and timing with the provider before test day.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the provider. Do not assume a particular number of correct answers guarantees a pass; check the current scoring and reporting policy with the provider.
If you need accommodations, extra time, or to bring medical items, request approval in advance through the provider's process rather than at the test center.
If a technical failure or disruption occurs during the exam, stop and notify the proctor or support channel immediately and follow their instructions; do not attempt to fix the system yourself.
Results, retake waiting periods, and score reporting timelines are governed by the provider. Confirm these details and any appeal process with the provider rather than relying on secondhand information.