COI Diploma exam-day guide
COI Diploma · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have the confirmation email or booking reference accessible, either printed or on your phone, so you can locate your seat or test link quickly.
Admission ticket or candidate number
If the provider issues a separate admission document or candidate number, bring it. If you have not received one, confirm with the provider whether it is needed.
Confirmation of test format and location
Re-check whether you are sitting a paper-based, computer-based, or remote-proctored exam, and the exact venue or platform link. Confirm with the provider if anything is ambiguous.
Permitted reference materials
Check the current candidate handbook for whether any legislation extracts, formula sheets, or dictionaries are allowed. Do not assume a clean copy of a code or standard is permitted - confirm with the provider.
Permitted calculator or tools
If the exam allows a calculator, confirm the approved models and whether the test platform supplies one. Bring only what the handbook explicitly permits.
Transport and arrival plan
Plan to arrive with a buffer before the reporting time. For remote exams, test your device, camera, microphone, and internet connection the day before.
Personal items plan
Expect bags, phones, watches, and notes to be stored away or prohibited at the desk. Confirm with the provider what storage is available and what must be left at home.
Water and a light snack for breaks
Check whether food and drink are allowed at the desk or only during scheduled breaks. Confirm with the provider if you have a medical or access requirement.
Access or reasonable-adjustment approval
If you have approved extra time, a separate room, or other adjustments, bring the approval confirmation. Arrangements usually must be requested well in advance - confirm with the provider.
Review of the current candidate handbook
Read the latest version for rules on ID, prohibited items, timing, and scoring. Policies can change between sittings, so do not rely on an old copy.
Rest and readiness plan
Protect sleep in the final week and avoid last-minute cramming of new topics. Confirm the reporting time and any cut-off for late arrival with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the current candidate handbook and your appointment confirmation. Check the venue address and travel route, or run a full equipment and connection test for a remote exam. Confirm what ID and materials are permitted, and contact the provider about anything unclear rather than guessing.
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Review your own summary notes, formula or definition lists, and flagged weak areas. Do one timed practice set under exam conditions to rehearse pacing, then stop adding new material.
Lay out your ID, confirmation, permitted materials, and any approved adjustment letter. Charge devices and pack a bag if travelling. Check the provider's website or email for any change to the time, venue, or platform, and confirm the reporting time.
Do a light review only, then stop early. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and aim for a full night's sleep. Set two alarms and arrange your transport or a backup connection for a remote sitting.
Eat breakfast, hydrate, and arrive at the venue or log in with the buffer you planned. Leave prohibited items such as notes, smart watches, and phones stored as instructed. If you are running late or hit a technical problem, contact the provider immediately and follow their stated procedure.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions and any section time limits before starting. Answer the questions you know first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Keep an eye on the clock and leave time to transfer or check answers if the format requires it. Use scheduled breaks only as the rules allow.
Rules to check
Bring the original, valid photo ID in the name on your registration. Entry may be refused without acceptable ID, and the accepted forms should be confirmed with the provider in advance.
Follow the rules on prohibited items. Phones, smart watches, notes, and unauthorised reference materials are normally not allowed at the desk; confirm with the provider what must be stored or left outside.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam and do not share or copy question content. Suspected misconduct is typically handled under the provider's disciplinary procedure.
Use only permitted materials and equipment. If you are unsure whether a calculator, dictionary, or extract is allowed, confirm with the provider before test day rather than risk a ruling against you.
Breaks are usually limited and may be taken only at set points, with time possibly not stopping. Confirm the break policy and whether you may leave the room during the test.
Scoring rules, pass marks, and result release dates are set by the awarding body and can change. Check the current handbook and confirm with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
If a technical failure or emergency occurs during a remote or centre-based exam, stop and follow the invigilator's or proctor's instructions, and report the issue through the provider's stated channel.
Request any access arrangements or reasonable adjustments well before the exam. Late requests may not be accommodated, so confirm deadlines and approval with the provider.