III IC-45 exam-day guide
III IC-45 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired photo ID in the name you registered with. Confirm with the provider which ID types it accepts and whether a secondary ID is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy is accepted.
Appointment confirmation and test-center address
Save your scheduling confirmation offline (screenshot or printout) with the exact test-center address, arrival time, and reporting window. Confirm with the provider how early you must arrive and what happens if you are late.
Authorization-to-test or eligibility documentation
If your registration involved an eligibility or authorization step, bring any confirmation the provider instructs you to present. Confirm with the provider whether any authorization document must be shown at check-in.
Approved calculator or reference materials
Check the provider's list of permitted aids before packing anything. If calculators or reference sheets are allowed, use only the approved model or supplied version; confirm with the provider whether any are provided on screen or in paper form.
Permitted personal items plan
Plan for keys, phone, wallet, and outerwear to be stored per center rules. Most testing rooms restrict items at the workstation, so decide in advance what stays home or in a locker. Confirm with the provider what storage is available.
Logistics: travel time, parking, and backup route
Do a dry run or map the route with a buffer for traffic and security screening. Identify parking or transit alternatives so a delay does not cascade into a late arrival.
Rest, food, and hydration routine
Protect sleep in the final nights and eat a normal meal before the appointment. Avoid unfamiliar caffeine or medication on test day; bring water or a snack only if the provider permits items outside the testing room.
Break and timing expectations
Know in advance how many breaks are offered, whether they are timed, and whether you can access water or a restroom during them. Confirm with the provider, since break policy varies by delivery format and center.
Scoring and result-timing expectations
Understand how the exam is scored and when results are released before you sit. Confirm with the provider whether results are immediate or delayed and how score reports are delivered.
Retake and rescheduling policy awareness
Read the provider's policy on rescheduling, cancellations, and retake waiting periods before test day so an unexpected issue does not cost you an attempt. Confirm with the provider for the current terms.
Grievance or incident procedure
Know how to report a testing irregularity, equipment problem, or accessibility concern. Ask staff immediately during the exam and follow the provider's documented process afterward.
Accessibility or accommodation arrangements
If you have approved accommodations, confirm they are recorded on your appointment and bring any confirmation the provider requires. Confirm with the provider well before test day that the arrangements are in place.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the appointment time, location, and any authorization requirements with the provider. Review the permitted-items list and resolve any uncertainty about ID, calculator, or reference materials now rather than on arrival.
Finish content review and shift to consolidation: skim your own summary notes, formula sheet, and error log rather than starting new material. Identify the two or three topics most likely to appear and rehearse them briefly.
Practice the exam's timing under realistic conditions with one timed set, then review mistakes for patterns rather than isolated facts. Stop heavy practice at least a day before the exam.
Confirm logistics: route, parking or transit, backup plan, and departure time with buffer. Arrange anything needed at home or work so the morning is free of errands.
Pack the checklist items in one place: ID, confirmation, approved aids, and any required documentation. Lay out clothing and decide what stays home or in a locker.
Do a light review only, focused on high-yield summaries and your error log. Avoid cramming new topics, which tends to increase anxiety without improving recall.
Set two alarms, confirm the departure time, and check the weather and any transit advisories. Eat a normal dinner and prioritize sleep over one more study session.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and avoid unfamiliar stimulants. Leave earlier than the map suggests to absorb screening and check-in time.
Arrive within the provider's reporting window with ID and confirmation in hand. Follow staff instructions for item storage and workstation setup, and report any equipment problem immediately.
Read the instructions and any tutorial screens carefully, confirm the timing display, and note how to flag questions for review if the interface supports it. Ask staff about anything unclear before the clock starts.
Work at a steady pace and monitor the clock at checkpoints rather than continuously. If a question stalls you, mark it, make a best provisional answer, and move on; return only if time allows.
Use breaks as permitted to stand, hydrate, and reset. On returning, reorient to the remaining section and remaining time before resuming.
Note anything unusual, such as equipment issues or procedural irregularities, and follow the provider's reporting process if needed. Record your result timeline and, if relevant, the retake policy for planning.
Rules to check
Present valid, unexpired identification in the name used at registration. If your ID name differs from your registration for any reason, resolve it with the provider before test day; confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Follow all test-center or remote-proctoring instructions from staff and proctors, including item storage, workstation setup, and any room or camera requirements. Noncompliance can lead to dismissal, so ask before acting if a rule is unclear.
Do not bring or use unauthorized materials, devices, or notes. Assume phones, smartwatches, and personal notes are prohibited at the workstation unless the provider explicitly permits them; confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Breaks are governed by the provider's policy, which may specify timing, count, and whether the clock runs. Confirm the break rules for your delivery format with the provider, and follow proctor instructions during any absence from the workstation.
Scoring, score reporting, and any passing standard are set by the provider. Confirm the current scoring method, result-release timing, and whether results are immediate with the provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Rescheduling, cancellation, and retake rules, including any waiting period or attempt limit, are set by the provider. Confirm these terms before test day so an unforeseen event does not forfeit an attempt.
Report any testing irregularity, equipment failure, or accommodation problem to staff immediately and follow the provider's documented grievance process. Raising it during the session creates the best record.
Maintain academic integrity throughout. Sharing, reproducing, or soliciting exam content after the test may violate the provider's terms; confirm the confidentiality terms you agreed to with the provider.