IROP exam-day guide
IROP · 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 ID types are accepted for your delivery mode (test centre vs. remote proctoring) and whether a secondary ID is required.
Appointment confirmation and test-centre address
Save the confirmation email offline and note the exact building, entrance, and room. Test centres are often inside shared office buildings; confirm the provider's stated arrival time and check-in window rather than guessing.
Know your exam code and eligibility pathway
Be able to state the exam code (IROP) and the eligibility route you registered under. This helps staff resolve any registration mismatch quickly. Confirm the exact code format with the provider.
Review the current candidate handbook or exam guide
Download the provider's latest handbook for rules on scheduling, rescheduling, cancellation, scoring, and score reporting. Policies change; use the version dated closest to your appointment.
Confirm remote-proctoring system requirements (if applicable)
If testing online, run the provider's system check on the same computer and network you will use. Confirm camera, microphone, browser, and bandwidth requirements with the provider; do not assume a work laptop with a locked-down firewall will pass.
Plan travel and arrival buffer
Arrive earlier than the provider's minimum arrival time to absorb transport delays and security checks. For remote exams, be logged in and checked in before the start time stated in your confirmation.
Know what is prohibited and where to store it
Phones, smart watches, notes, and bags are commonly restricted. Confirm the provider's list and whether on-site storage is available; if not, leave prohibited items at home or with a companion.
Confirm break and accommodation policy
Ask the provider in advance whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are allowed, whether the clock stops, and how to request testing accommodations. Do not rely on informal reports from other candidates.
Prepare for scratch materials or on-screen tools
Confirm whether the provider supplies a whiteboard, scratch paper, or an on-screen notepad, and whether you may bring your own. Rules differ by delivery mode and change over time.
Confirm score reporting and retake policy
Know when and how results are released, the passing standard as published by the provider, and any waiting period before a retake. Ask the provider directly if the handbook is ambiguous.
Plan a low-stress morning routine
Eat, hydrate, and sleep on your normal schedule. Avoid starting new study topics in the final hours; a short review of your own summary notes is enough.
Backup contact and contingency plan
Save the provider's support number and know what to do if you are delayed, the test centre has an issue, or your remote session disconnects. Confirm the provider's incident-reporting process in advance.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and your appointment confirmation, and verify ID, arrival time, location or remote check-in steps, and prohibited-item rules. Resolve any uncertainty with the provider now, not on exam day. Do light review of your own summaries and practice items, focusing on weak areas rather than new material. Protect sleep and avoid cramming the night before.
Confirm transport and, for remote testing, run the system check again and clear your desk area per the provider's rules. Pack your ID and confirmation. Stop heavy study early, review only high-level frameworks or formula sheets you have already mastered, and set two alarms. Check the provider's website or email for last-minute scheduling or centre changes.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the test centre or log in ahead of the provider's stated time. Leave prohibited items behind or stored. Do a brief, calm review of your own notes only; do not attempt new practice questions. If anything goes wrong, contact the provider's support line and document what happened.
Follow the proctor's instructions and the on-screen directions exactly. Read each question fully, watch for qualifiers such as 'best' or 'except', and manage the clock so you leave time to review flagged items. If breaks are permitted, follow the provider's procedure for pausing and resuming. If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor or support immediately rather than continuing silently.
Rules to check
Present the original, unexpired government-issued photo ID in the name used at registration; confirm accepted ID types and any secondary-ID requirement with the provider before exam day.
Arrive or check in by the provider's stated time. Late arrival may result in forfeiture of your appointment or fee; confirm the exact late-arrival and rescheduling rules with the provider.
Do not bring or use prohibited materials or devices. The specific list varies by delivery mode; confirm it with the provider and store restricted items as instructed.
Follow all proctor instructions and test-centre or remote-proctoring rules. Unauthorized behavior may lead to dismissal or score cancellation; confirm the provider's misconduct policy in the candidate handbook.
Breaks are governed by the provider's policy and may or may not stop the clock. Confirm in advance whether breaks are allowed and how to request them.
Scoring, the passing standard, and score reporting timelines are set by the provider. Do not rely on unofficial pass marks; check the current handbook or ask the provider directly.
Retake eligibility and waiting periods are provider-specific. Confirm the rules before scheduling a second attempt.
If a technical or facility problem occurs, report it immediately to the proctor or provider support and follow their incident process; confirm how to document the issue.