ICSAN Intro Accounting exam-day guide
ICSAN Intro Accounting · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID (original, not a copy)
Bring the exact ID document named in your admission notice. If you are unsure which forms are accepted or whether a digital ID is allowed, confirm with the provider before exam day. An expired or mismatched ID can bar entry.
Admission/exam permit and appointment confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, test centre, date and time. Some centres require a printed copy; confirm the provider's requirement. Keep it with your ID so check-in is quick.
Approved calculator
Accounting papers involve ratios, depreciation, interest and present values. Use a non-programmable calculator that meets the provider's published model rules. If the policy is unclear, confirm with the provider and have a backup basic model ready.
Stationery: black/blue pens, pencil, eraser, ruler
Bring at least two working pens. Pencil and eraser are useful for workings and ledger layouts. Check whether the centre supplies answer booklets or scratch paper; do not assume you may bring your own.
Transparent water bottle and small snack
Hydration and a quick energy source help during a long paper. Labels must usually be removed and bottles must be clear. Confirm whether food is permitted at your centre and during any scheduled break.
Watch (non-smart, silent)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace sections if the room clock is hard to see. Smartwatches and any device with communication capability are normally prohibited. Confirm the centre's device policy.
Know your candidate number and centre route
Write your candidate number on a card you can check without your phone. Plan the route and arrival time; aim to arrive well before the start. Confirm the provider's recommended arrival window and late-entry cut-off.
Review the provider's exam-day instructions
Read the current candidate handbook or instructions for prohibited items, bag storage, ID rules and break policy. These details change; rely on the provider's latest notice rather than memory or forum posts.
Leave prohibited items at home or in storage
Phones, smartwatches, notes and unauthorised materials should stay outside the exam room. If you must bring a phone, confirm where it can be stored and that it is switched off. Unclear storage rules: confirm with the provider.
Confirm permitted reference materials
Some accounting exams allow a provided formula sheet or tax tables; others do not. Check what the provider supplies and what you may bring. If this is not stated in your notice, confirm with the provider before the day.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new topics to consolidation. Re-read your summary notes on core areas: double-entry, trial balance, accruals and prepayments, depreciation, inventory valuation, bank reconciliations, control accounts, sole trader and company financial statements, and basic ratio analysis. Do timed practice on one full paper or a large question set under exam conditions, then mark it honestly and list your three weakest areas. Spend the remaining time on those areas only. Prepare your exam bag and check the centre location, start time and ID requirements. Protect sleep: do not trade sleep for extra cramming in the last two nights.
Do a light review of formula sheets, journal entries and standard layouts rather than new material. Confirm your alarm, transport plan and arrival time, allowing a buffer for delays. Pack your bag: ID, admission permit, approved calculator with fresh batteries, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, water and snack. Re-read the provider's prohibited-items and conduct rules. Set out clothes and documents. Eat a normal meal and aim for a full night's sleep; avoid last-minute group chats about difficult topics that raise anxiety.
Eat a proper breakfast and avoid excess caffeine. Arrive at the centre with time to spare, as registration and ID checks take longer than expected. Keep your phone off and stored per the centre's rules. Use waiting time for a calm glance at key formulas or layouts, not for panic revision. During check-in, follow invigilator instructions, place your ID on the desk if asked, and check that your question paper and answer booklet are complete before the start is announced.
Read the instructions and check the marks per question before starting. Allocate time in proportion to marks and note your planned finish time. Do a quick first pass, answering questions you know well to bank marks, then return to harder ones. For computational questions, show workings clearly: method marks are often available even when the final figure is wrong. Keep an eye on the clock at the halfway point and again with 15 minutes left. If a question stalls you, move on and return. Reserve the final few minutes to check that every question has an answer, your candidate details are filled in, and calculations are transcribed correctly.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID specified by the provider and present it at check-in. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider in advance; a mismatch can prevent you from sitting the paper.
Follow all invigilator instructions and the provider's conduct rules. Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not attempt to access notes, phones or unauthorised materials. Suspected malpractice can lead to invalidation of your result.
Keep phones, smartwatches and other electronic devices switched off and stored as directed. If the centre's storage arrangements are not clear, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Use only calculators and reference materials that the provider permits. Check the approved calculator policy and whether formula sheets or tax tables are supplied; if this is not stated, confirm with the provider.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Toilet breaks are usually escorted and may not be allowed in the final minutes; confirm the centre's break policy in advance.
Do not assume extra time or compensatory marks. If you believe you have a disability or other circumstance requiring an access arrangement, apply through the provider well before the exam; late requests may not be accommodated.
Write your candidate number and details exactly as instructed on all answer materials. Do not write your name where the paper requires anonymity, and do not remove any exam materials from the room.
Scoring follows the provider's published marking scheme, including marks for workings where applicable. Read the rubric on the paper itself; if the pass mark or section weighting is not stated in your materials, confirm with the provider rather than relying on hearsay.