JAIIB AFM exam-day guide
JAIIB AFM · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed or digital exam admit card / hall ticket
Download it from the IIBF member portal as soon as it is released and carry the exact copy the institute asks for. Confirm with the provider whether a printed hard copy is mandatory or a digital copy is accepted at your centre; if unsure, carry a printout. Check that your name, photograph, exam name (AFM), date, shift time and centre address are correct, and raise any mismatch with IIBF before exam day.
Original government photo ID matching the admit card
Carry the original (not a photocopy) of the ID you declared in your application, typically Aadhaar, PAN, passport or driving licence. The name must match the admit card spelling exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a photocopy plus original is needed.
Recent passport-size photographs
Keep two or three copies in case the centre asks for pasting or verification. Confirm with the provider the exact number and specification required for your exam cycle.
Transparent water bottle and permitted stationery
Carry a small transparent water bottle. For rough work, most computer-based centres issue scribble pads and pens; do not assume you may bring your own paper, calculator or log tables. Confirm with the provider the permitted stationery list for AFM.
Know the reporting time and centre route
Note the reporting time, which is usually well before the shift start for verification, and plan to reach the centre at least 30-45 minutes early. Do a route check the day before and identify the exact gate, since large campuses can have multiple entrances.
Rehearse the computer-based test interface
Use the official mock test or demo link if IIBF provides one for your cycle so the on-screen calculator, question palette, mark-for-review and section navigation feel familiar. Confirm with the provider whether a mock link is published for AFM.
Revise the AFM calculation shortcuts and formats
Skim your own one-page sheet of ratio formulae, time-value-of-money factors, bond yield and duration formulae, capital budgeting criteria, and the format of a balance sheet, fund flow and cash flow statement. Do not learn new topics at this stage; consolidate what you already know.
Sleep, food and medication plan
Protect sleep in the last two nights and eat a normal light meal before the shift. If you take regular medication, carry it only if centre rules permit and confirm with the provider in advance.
Leave valuables and electronic devices at home
Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth earbuds and similar devices are normally not allowed inside the test hall. Carry the minimum; where lockers are not guaranteed, arrange for someone to hold your belongings.
Read the on-screen instructions before starting
Spend the first couple of minutes checking the marking scheme, number of questions, section structure and whether there is negative marking as shown on the instruction screen, so your attempt strategy matches the actual paper.
Plan the day
Switch from learning to consolidation. Re-read your own summary notes for AFM's core areas: accounting fundamentals and final accounts, ratio and trend analysis, interpretation of financial statements, time value of money, capital budgeting, cost of capital, working capital management, and banking-related financial analysis. Attempt one or two timed sectional or full mock tests, then spend more time analysing errors than attempting new papers. Confirm your admit card details, centre address, reporting time and ID requirement, and resolve any discrepancy with IIBF immediately rather than on exam morning. Keep the last evening free of new material.
Do a light revision of formulae, formats and the points you repeatedly get wrong, then stop. Pack your bag: admit card, original photo ID, photographs if required, transparent water bottle, and any stationery the provider permits. Check the centre route and travel time, set two alarms, and decide your departure time with a buffer for traffic and security queues. Get a full night's sleep; a rested candidate handles calculation-heavy questions far better than a sleep-deprived one who crammed till midnight.
Eat a light, familiar meal and avoid heavy or unusually spicy food. Re-check that the admit card and original ID are in your bag. Leave early enough to arrive at least 30-45 minutes before the reporting time. At the centre, complete verification calmly, use the washroom before entering the hall, and once seated, use any pre-test time to settle down rather than to panic-revise. Follow the invigilator's instructions exactly.
Read the instruction screen and note the number of questions, marks per question, sectional structure and negative-marking rule if any. Do a first pass answering questions you are confident about, mark doubtful ones for review, and skip long calculation questions for the second pass. For numerical items, write the given data and the formula before computing, and sanity-check the answer's magnitude. Watch the clock and reserve the last few minutes to review marked questions and ensure no question is left blank where guessing is not penalised. Do not spend disproportionate time on one question.
Rules to check
Carry the original photo ID that matches your application and admit card; entry is normally refused without it, and photocopies may not be accepted. Confirm with the provider the exact ID and admit-card requirements for your centre.
Reach the centre by the reporting time. Late entry is usually not permitted once the test has started, and the shift clock is not extended for latecomers. Confirm with the provider the cut-off for entry.
Electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart watches and earbuds are generally prohibited inside the test hall. Switch off and surrender them as directed; possession inside the hall may be treated as unfair means.
Do not engage in any unfair practice: no talking, no borrowing stationery, no looking at another candidate's screen, and no carrying unauthorised notes. Invigilators may report such conduct, and IIBF can cancel or debar a candidate. Confirm with the provider the consequences stated in its exam instructions.
Breaks are normally not allowed during the test; leave the hall only with the invigilator's permission in an emergency, and note that the clock keeps running. Use the washroom before the shift begins.
Scoring follows the marking scheme shown on the instruction screen, including any negative marking for wrong answers. Read it before attempting and decide your guessing policy accordingly; do not assume a scheme from a previous cycle. Confirm with the provider the current marking and passing criteria.
Keep your admit card and ID on the desk throughout for verification, and sign the attendance sheet as directed. Follow every instruction from the invigilator; if a technical problem occurs at your terminal, raise your hand immediately rather than restarting or adjusting the machine yourself.