ICAM CA(M) exam-day guide
ICAM CA(M) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission permit / confirmation letter
Bring the appointment or admission document your test provider issues after you book. If you cannot find one, confirm with the provider how admission is verified (some use only photo ID plus a booking reference).
Valid government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID in the name used on your booking. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a signature is required; do not rely on a photocopy or a digital copy.
Know your test format and duration
Re-read the candidate handbook so you know how many questions, the time limit, whether sections are timed separately, and whether negative marking applies. If the handbook is unclear, confirm with the provider before test day.
Know the pass mark and scoring method
Write down the pass standard and whether results are scaled or reported as a raw score. This shapes how you pace yourself and when you flag questions to revisit.
Confirm the venue, arrival time, and route
Check the address, the arrival window (usually before the scheduled start), and transport. For a remote-proctored sitting, confirm the platform, system check, and room requirements with the provider.
Confirm what is allowed at your seat
Rules on calculators, scratch paper, pens, watches, phones, and personal items vary by provider and centre. Confirm with the provider; assume nothing beyond your ID unless told otherwise.
Confirm break and rescheduling policy
Ask the provider whether breaks are scheduled or on request, whether the clock stops, and what happens if you arrive late or need to reschedule. Do not assume a grace period exists.
Prepare for the on-screen tools
Learn how to flag a question, move between questions, review flagged items, and submit. Practise on any sample or tutorial the provider offers so the interface is not new to you on the day.
Build a one-page formula and definition sheet
Condense key ratios, formulas, and definitions onto one page for the final review. Rewriting them from memory is more useful than re-reading notes.
Plan food, water, and sleep for the 24 hours before
Avoid a new routine on test day. A normal night's sleep and a light meal before the sitting protect attention more than last-minute cramming.
Set two alarms and a backup plan
Plan to arrive early enough that a delayed train or traffic jam does not cost you the sitting. Keep the venue phone number or provider contact handy.
Decide your exam-day strategy in advance
Choose your order of attack (for example, two passes: answer easy items first, flag the rest, return), your time budget per question, and your rule for guessing when there is no penalty for wrong answers.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Do one full timed mock under exam conditions, then review every wrong answer and every uncertain correct answer. Identify your three weakest topics and spend the remaining time only on those. Confirm venue, arrival time, ID requirements, and permitted items with the provider.
Do a second, shorter timed set focused on your weak topics. Build the one-page formula and definition sheet from memory, then check it against your notes. Rehearse the on-screen tools if the test is computer-based.
Light review only: the one-page sheet, the exam structure, and your pacing plan. Pack your ID and admission documents, lay out clothes, and check the route and travel time. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a light breakfast, re-read the one-page sheet once, and stop. Leave with buffer time. At the venue, follow staff instructions, use the restroom before you are seated, and do not join last-minute discussions that can unsettle your plan.
Read the instructions and note the time limit and question count. Write down your time checkpoint (for example, where you should be at the halfway mark). Start with a steady pace rather than racing.
First pass: answer what you know, flag anything slow or uncertain, and move on. Second pass: return to flagged items with the remaining time. Watch the clock at each checkpoint. If there is no penalty for wrong answers, never leave a blank.
Stop starting new long calculations. Confirm every question has an answer, check that flagged items were resolved or deliberately guessed, and submit before the deadline rather than at the last second.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID in the name used for the booking; entry can be refused without it. Confirm with the provider which documents count as valid ID.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and proctors. Unauthorised materials, phones, or smart devices at your seat are typically treated as misconduct; confirm with the provider what must be stored and where.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the sitting, and do not copy, photograph, or share exam content afterwards. Content is confidential and sharing it can void your result.
Ask the provider in advance whether scheduled or on-request breaks are allowed, whether the clock stops, and what you may access during a break. Do not leave your seat without permission.
Late arrival, rescheduling, and absence rules differ by provider. Confirm the cut-off time and any fees before test day rather than assuming a grace period.
Understand the scoring before you sit: the pass mark, whether wrong answers are penalised, and whether sections must be passed individually. Strategy follows from these facts.
If something goes wrong during the test (equipment failure, illness, disturbance), raise it immediately with the invigilator or proctor and ask how it will be recorded; report it to the provider afterwards as well.
Check the provider's rules on result release, score review, and retake limits in advance so you know your options if the outcome is not what you hoped.