IIBF AML/KYC exam-day guide
IIBF AML/KYC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your application
Carry the original government-issued photo ID (typically PAN, Aadhaar, passport, or driving licence) whose details match your IIBF registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted for your exam mode and whether a photocopy is permitted.
Printed or digital hall ticket / admit card
Download the admit card from the IIBF portal once available and check name, exam name (AML/KYC), date, time, centre address, and registration number. If any detail is wrong, raise it with IIBF before exam day rather than at the centre.
Exam-centre login credentials or candidate ID
Note your registration number, user ID, and any password issued for the test. For remote-proctored delivery, confirm the login process and system check window with the provider.
Passport-size photograph
Some centres ask for a recent photograph for verification. Carry one or two copies in the specified size; confirm the requirement with the provider as it varies by exam cycle.
Reach the centre early
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time printed on the admit card so there is buffer for security checks and identity verification. Exact reporting margins must be confirmed with the provider.
Know the syllabus weightings
Revise the AML/KYC syllabus structure: prevention of money laundering concepts, KYC policy and customer due diligence, risk categorisation, record keeping and reporting, and the FATF/PMLA framework. Know which sections carry more marks so you allocate revision time.
Revise key definitions and thresholds
Be able to state definitions precisely: money laundering stages (placement, layering, integration), KYC, customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence, beneficial owner, politically exposed person, suspicious transaction report, and cash transaction report. Learn the reporting thresholds and timelines applicable under the PMLA framework as covered in your study material.
Practise scenario questions
AML/KYC papers test application, not recall. Work through cases such as a customer structuring deposits below reporting thresholds, a PEP opening an account, or a dormant account suddenly receiving large transfers, and practise stating the correct action and escalation.
Prepare a rough-sheet and pen plan
Confirm whether the exam is paper-based or computer-based, and whether rough paper, pen, or on-screen calculator is allowed. Do not assume; check the instructions on your admit card or with the provider.
Plan travel and buffer time
Confirm the exact centre location a day earlier, check transport options, and allow extra time for traffic or security queues. Keep the admit card and ID in one accessible folder.
Read the on-screen or paper instructions
Before starting, read the section-wise marks, negative-marking rule (if any), and navigation instructions. Confirm whether questions can be revisited or flagged for review.
Manage time per section
Divide total minutes by the number of questions to get a per-question budget, then protect a final review block. Do not let one difficult case question consume time meant for easier marks.
Plan the day
Complete a full revision pass over the syllabus, focusing on definitions, thresholds, reporting obligations, and risk-categorisation rules. Take one timed mock or solve previous-pattern questions under exam conditions to check speed. List weak topics and revise only those on the last day. Confirm admit card details, centre address, and ID requirement with the provider.
Do light revision of summary notes, key acronyms, and the stages of money laundering. Prepare the documents folder: admit card, photo ID, photographs, and any provider-specified items. Charge devices if the exam is computer-based. Confirm travel route and reporting time. Sleep at a normal hour; avoid new topics or cramming past midnight.
Eat a proper meal, re-check the admit card and ID, and leave with buffer time. Arrive at the centre early for verification. Skim only your one-page summary of definitions and thresholds; avoid discussing uncertain answers with other candidates. Keep phone and valuables according to centre rules.
Read instructions, note the per-question time budget, and answer confident questions first. For scenario questions, identify the customer type, risk level, and required action (CDD, EDD, STR, or escalation) before choosing. Flag doubtful questions and return to them. Keep a few minutes at the end to review flagged items and ensure no question is left blank if there is no negative marking.
Rules to check
Carry the original photo ID that matches your registration details; entry may be refused if the name or ID does not match. Confirm accepted ID forms with the provider before exam day.
Bring only permitted items to the desk. Mobile phones, smart watches, notes, and unauthorised material are typically prohibited in the exam hall; follow the centre's instructions exactly.
Follow the provider's rules on breaks, leaving the hall, and re-entry. In most invigilated exams you cannot leave during the test; confirm the specific policy with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates or attempt any unfair means. Invigilators may cancel a candidature for misconduct; the exact penalty is governed by the provider's rules.
Answer according to the marking scheme: confirm whether there is negative marking for wrong answers before guessing blindly, and confirm the pass mark and section-wise requirements with the provider.
For scenario questions, choose the option that reflects the documented compliance process: identify the customer, apply due diligence proportionate to risk, escalate, and report where required.
Keep track of time yourself; do not rely solely on invigilator announcements, and ensure all answers are submitted or the paper is handed over before time is called.
Follow the provider's instructions on any declaration, biometric verification, or signature at the centre, and retain your exam acknowledgement or receipt for later reference.