III IC-27 exam-day guide
III IC-27 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID the testing provider requires; name and spelling must match your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is needed.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Have your booking confirmation, candidate/registration number, and the test centre address and arrival time saved offline on your phone and on paper. Confirm with the provider whether any printed confirmation is mandatory.
Know the exam format and duration
Confirm with the provider the number of questions, item types, total seat time, and whether sections are timed separately or the whole test is one clock. Plan your pacing from that, not from rumour.
Approved calculator or on-screen calculator
Check the provider's calculator policy before the day: some exams supply an on-screen calculator, some allow a specific model, some prohibit all. Do not assume; confirm with the provider and practise on the permitted tool.
Permitted reference material
Most professional exams do not allow notes or open books. Confirm with the provider what, if anything, is permitted, and assume nothing unless it is stated in writing.
Personal items plan
Expect a secure-storage or locker rule for bags, phones, and watches. Confirm with the provider what must be left outside the testing room and whether storage is provided.
Break and refreshment policy
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or unavailable, and whether food, drink, or medication can be taken into the room. Plan hydration and medication around the answer.
Access arrangements, if applicable
If you need extra time, a separate room, or another adjustment, these are normally requested and approved in advance, not on the day. Confirm with the provider well before the exam and bring any approval letter.
Travel and arrival buffer
Arrive earlier than the stated check-in time to absorb transport delays and security screening. Confirm with the provider the latest arrival time after which you may be refused entry.
Logistics for remote proctoring, if applicable
If sitting online, confirm with the provider the platform, system check, camera and microphone requirements, room rules, and the identity-verification step. Run the system test at least a day ahead.
Scratch paper and pen policy
Many providers issue or forbid scratch paper and writing instruments. Confirm with the provider rather than bringing your own.
Rest and readiness plan
Protect sleep in the final nights, eat a normal meal before the test, and decide in advance how you will handle a question you cannot answer so you do not lose time to it.
Plan the day
Re-read the official candidate handbook or information notice from the provider and note every rule that affects you: ID, calculator, breaks, arrival time, and prohibited items. Resolve any open question by contacting the provider now, not on the day. Stop learning new material; switch to consolidation.
Do one timed full-length practice set under realistic conditions to calibrate pacing. Record how long you spend per question and identify the section where you run out of time. Decide a per-question time budget and a rule for when to guess and move on.
Review your own error log rather than the whole syllabus. Rework the questions you got wrong and write one line on why each was wrong. Confirm your weakest two or three topics and do targeted practice there only.
Confirm the appointment: time, address or online link, and what to bring. Check the journey or run the proctoring system test. Lay out ID, confirmation, and any approved items in one place.
Do a short, light review of key formulas, definitions, or frameworks, then stop. No new topics, no full mock. Eat normally, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and dress in layers so room temperature does not distract you. Leave with buffer time and arrive early for check-in and identity verification.
Do not cram new material in the waiting area. If you review anything, skim your own one-page summary of mistakes and formulas, then put it away.
Read the instructions and any tutorial screens carefully before the clock starts, and note how to flag and revisit questions. Start with a steady pace matching your time budget rather than racing the first items.
Answer every question, since unanswered items normally score zero. Flag uncertain items, make your best choice, and return only if time allows. If a question stalls you, mark it and move on.
Watch the clock at defined checkpoints and adjust pace. Before submitting, confirm you have answered all items and review flagged questions only if time remains. Follow the provider's rules for breaks and for leaving the room.
Rules to check
Bring the exact identity document the provider requires and be ready for verification at check-in. If your ID does not match your registration details, you may be refused entry; confirm with the provider in advance if there is any discrepancy.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and proctors. Do not communicate with other candidates, pass materials, or attempt to view another candidate's screen or paper.
Do not bring unauthorised materials into the testing room, including notes, phones, smart watches, or earpieces. Confirm with the provider where personal items must be stored and what counts as prohibited.
Use only the calculator or reference material the provider permits. If the policy is unclear, ask before the exam rather than assuming.
Breaks are governed by the provider's rules and may be scheduled, optional, or unavailable, and may or may not stop the clock. Confirm with the provider so you can plan hydration and medication.
Scoring rules, including whether wrong answers are penalised, whether items are equally weighted, and how results are reported, vary by exam. Confirm with the provider and answer accordingly.
If something goes wrong during the test, such as a technical failure or a disturbance, raise it immediately with the invigilator or proctor and note the time, rather than trying to fix it silently.
Results, score reporting timelines, and any appeal or misconduct process are set by the provider. Read those rules before the exam so you know what to expect afterwards.