Financial Planning Skills Certification Grade 2 exam-day guide
Financial Planning Skills Certification Grade 2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission document / confirmation letter
Print or download the appointment confirmation the provider sent you. It usually shows your candidate number, test centre, and start time. Keep a paper copy in your bag as a backup in case your phone battery fails at the door. If you were not given a confirmation document, confirm with the provider what proof of registration they accept.
Acceptable photo ID
Bring the exact ID type and name format stated in your registration terms (often a passport or national photo ID). The name on the ID should match the name on your registration; if it does not, contact the provider before test day. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted at your centre, as this varies by country.
Approved calculator
Check the provider's list of permitted calculator models and whether a basic or financial calculator is allowed. Clear the memory and test the battery the night before. If you are unsure whether your model is permitted, confirm with the provider rather than risk having it removed.
Spare batteries or a second approved calculator
If your model uses button cells or AA/AAA batteries, carry spares. A dead calculator mid-exam is avoidable and can cost marks on time-value-of-money and ratio calculations.
Pens and pencils plus eraser
Bring two dark pens and a pencil if the centre provides rough paper. Some centres supply stationery; confirm with the provider what is and is not allowed on the desk.
Clear water bottle and small snack
Bring a transparent bottle with no label and a snack for the break, if breaks are permitted. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at the desk or only outside the room.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace sections if the room clock is not visible. Smartwatches and fitness trackers are almost always banned; leave them at home or in your bag.
Printed one-page formula and process sheet
Summarise time-value-of-money formulas, the steps of the financial planning process, and key ratio definitions on one page. Use it for the final 24 hours only; it must stay in your bag during the exam.
Travel plan and backup route
Check the route, journey time, and parking or transport disruptions the day before. Aim to arrive well before the start time the provider specifies; confirm with the provider how early the centre opens and what happens if you are late.
Provider contact details
Save the provider's candidate services phone number and email in your phone and on paper. If you fall ill or a transport failure occurs, call as soon as possible; late-arrival and reschedule rules vary, so confirm with the provider.
Personal items plan
Decide what goes in the room and what stays in a locker or bag. Phones must normally be switched off and stored away, not just silenced. Confirm with the provider where bags and phones are kept.
Rest and logistics check
Book accommodation near the centre if the journey is long, and avoid a late-night study session. Sleep and a calm arrival matter more than one extra topic on the final evening.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new material to consolidating. Re-read your one-page formula and process sheet, then work through a timed set of mixed questions under exam conditions. Mark every wrong answer with the reason it was wrong: a formula slip, a misread question, or a genuine knowledge gap. Spend the remaining time only on genuine gaps.
Confirm logistics: test centre address, start time, arrival guidance, and what the provider requires for admission. Re-read the candidate handbook section on permitted items and conduct. If anything in the handbook is ambiguous, email or call the provider now rather than on the morning.
Do a calculator drill: time-value-of-money inputs, cash-flow sequences, and ratio calculations. Practise clearing and resetting the calculator. Speed and accuracy with the calculator often decide whether you finish the calculation-heavy section.
Rehearse the structure of written or case-based answers if your exam includes them. Practise a short framework: identify the client's goals and constraints, state the relevant facts, apply the tool or calculation, then give a recommendation with a reason. Practise writing it in the time allowed.
Do one light review of your summary sheet and the topics you have repeatedly missed. Stop studying by early evening. No new mock exams and no cramming after dinner; fatigue costs more marks than one forgotten formula.
Pack your bag: admission document, ID, approved calculator, spare batteries, pens, water, snack, watch, and provider contact details. Lay out clothes and confirm your alarm and transport plan. Check the centre's opening time and the provider's late-arrival rule.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive with time to spare. Do not do heavy last-minute study at the door; a brief glance at your summary sheet is enough. Keep your phone off and stored before you enter the building, following the centre's instructions.
At check-in, present your ID and admission document, store personal items where directed, and listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions on timing, breaks, and how to ask a question. If your calculator or ID is queried, stay calm and ask to speak to the centre supervisor.
Read the instructions and note the total time, number of questions, and whether sections are separately timed. Write down your time checkpoints (for example, the time you should reach question 25 and question 50) so you can monitor pace without panicking.
Answer in passes. First pass: answer the questions you know and flag the rest. Second pass: work the flagged questions, showing calculation steps so you can earn method marks where they are available. Third pass: check that every question has an answer and that units and rounding match the question's instruction.
For case or written questions, use short labelled paragraphs and bullet points rather than long prose. State the recommendation first, then the reason and the calculation. If time is short, write the framework and key figures; a structured partial answer scores better than a blank page.
Stop new work a few minutes before the end. Check for unanswered questions, transfer errors, and dropped minus signs. Make sure your name or candidate number is on everything the centre requires, then follow the invigilator's instructions for submitting materials.
Rules to check
Bring the ID type and name format specified in your registration terms and present it at check-in. If your ID name does not match your registration, resolve it with the provider before test day; do not assume the centre can override the rule.
Phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices must be switched off and stored as the centre directs, not kept on your person or desk. Unauthorised devices can lead to removal from the exam even if you did not use them.
Use only permitted items on the desk: approved calculator, pens, pencils, and anything the centre supplies. Confirm with the provider which calculator models and reference materials are allowed before the exam.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on timing, breaks, and leaving the room. If breaks are allowed, they are usually taken under supervision; confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are permitted and whether the clock stops.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not copy, photograph, or remove exam materials. Suspected misconduct is handled under the provider's disciplinary procedure, which can include cancellation of results.
If you feel unwell or a problem occurs (equipment failure, calculator fault, disturbance), raise your hand and tell the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded. Report it to the provider afterwards as well.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the provider and can change between sessions; do not rely on rumoured pass marks. Confirm with the provider how your exam is marked, whether method marks are awarded, and when results are released.
If you arrive late, miss the exam through illness, or need to reschedule, contact the provider as soon as possible. Late-arrival, deferral, and refund rules differ by centre and circumstances; confirm with the provider rather than assuming an outcome.