ISTQB Foundation exam-day guide
ISTQB Foundation · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document (typically a passport or photo driving licence) in the exact name used on your booking. Confirm which ID types your exam provider accepts before test day - this varies between test centres and online-proctoring platforms.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have the booking confirmation email or candidate/registration number available. For a test-centre sitting it also tells you the exact address and arrival time; for online proctoring it contains the launch link.
Login details for the exam platform
For online proctored exams, verify your username and password work at least 24 hours in advance, and complete any system or identity check the provider asks you to run beforehand.
Compatible computer and stable internet (online sittings)
Run the provider's system test on the same device you will use: webcam, microphone, speakers, browser version and bandwidth. Have a fallback connection (e.g. mobile hotspot) planned.
A quiet, well-lit, private room
Clear the desk of papers, books, phones and notes. A proctor may ask you to pan the camera around the room at the start. Tell household members not to enter during the exam.
Know the exam format
ISTQB Foundation Level is 40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes with a 65% pass mark (26 correct answers). Confirm the syllabus version and your specific exam slot length with your provider, since translated or non-native-language sittings may differ.
Confirm any extra-time or access arrangement
Extra time for non-native speakers or reasonable adjustments must normally be requested and approved in advance, not on the day. Check your booking reflects what you requested.
Confirm whether scratch paper or a calculator is permitted
Rules on blank paper, pens and calculators differ between test centres and online proctoring. Ask your provider rather than assuming; assume nothing may be on your desk unless told otherwise.
Water in a clear container
Often allowed, but some proctoring services restrict drinks. Confirm the rule for your delivery method.
A one-page revision sheet for the last look
Use it only in the hours before the exam - not during it. Focus on the keyword lists for each chapter, the test-process terminology and the review/inspection distinctions you keep mixing up.
Plan your route or check-in window
For a test centre, arrive early enough to absorb delays; for online, log in before the start time to complete ID checks and room scan without eating into your 60 minutes.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read the syllabus keyword list for each chapter and take one full timed mock exam (40 questions, 60 minutes) under realistic conditions, then review every wrong answer against the syllabus.
Take a second timed mock, focusing on your weakest two chapters. Drill the factual recall items - definitions, test levels, test types, review roles, and the seven testing principles - since these are quick marks.
Re-confirm the appointment time, location or proctoring link, and ID requirements. Prepare your ID and any permitted items in one place. Do a light review of your own error list only; no new mock exams in the evening.
Set two alarms, charge your device, and get a full night's sleep. A tired candidate misreads 'which is NOT' questions far more often than an under-prepared one.
Eat properly, avoid cramming entire chapters, and skim only your condensed notes. Arrive or log in with time to spare; if online, close every other application, silence notifications and put your phone out of reach.
Read the instructions, check the question count and timer, and confirm the scratch mechanism (on-screen notes or permitted paper). Note roughly 1.5 minutes per question as your pace.
Answer in two passes: clear the questions you know immediately, flag anything long or ambiguous, then return to the flagged ones. Read for qualifiers - NOT, EXCEPT, BEST, MOST LIKELY - and eliminate options that are true but do not answer the question asked.
Make sure no question is left blank - there is no penalty for a wrong answer. Re-check that your answers are recorded in the system before submitting, then submit deliberately rather than letting the timer run out.
Rules to check
Scoring: all 40 questions carry equal weight with no negative marking, so never leave a blank. You need 65% (26 of 40) to pass; results are typically reported as pass/fail with a percentage and per-chapter breakdown, but confirm what your member board issues.
Closed book: no syllabus, notes, textbooks or search tools during the exam. Anything on your desk or screen will be treated as material and may void your result.
ID verification: you must present valid photo ID matching your registration. If your ID name differs from the booking, resolve it with the provider before the exam day - do not turn up hoping it will pass.
Online sittings are recorded and proctored: follow the proctor's instructions, stay in camera view, keep your face and hands visible, do not read questions aloud, and do not leave the room during the exam.
Breaks: for this exam format, breaks are generally not permitted once the clock has started, and leaving the room during an online exam may end your session. Confirm the specific break policy with your provider.
If you are disrupted by a technical failure during an online exam, stop and contact the proctor or support line immediately and note the time; do not attempt to fix it silently and continue. Follow their instruction on rescheduling or re-sitting.
Rescheduling and cancellation cut-off times, fees and refund rules differ by provider and region. Check your booking terms well before the deadline rather than on the day before.
Do not share, photograph or reproduce exam questions afterwards - this breaches the ISTQB Code of Ethics and can invalidate your certification.