ICAP CFAP exam-day guide
ICAP CFAP · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered with. Confirm with the provider which specific ID forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Admission or confirmation document
Bring the confirmation email or admission ticket if the provider issues one. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy is acceptable.
Know your candidate/registration number
Have your registration or candidate reference number accessible in case the test centre asks for it. Confirm with the provider where this number appears.
Approved calculator
Many finance exams permit only a specified calculator model. Confirm with the provider which models are allowed and whether the test centre supplies one.
Writing materials
Bring pens/pencils only if the provider permits them; many computer-based centres supply or prohibit them. Confirm with the provider.
Arrival time and venue logistics
Reconfirm the exact venue address, arrival time, and reporting window the day before. Confirm with the provider whether late arrivals are admitted.
Personal items plan
Plan where to leave bags, phones, and watches, since most centres restrict them. Confirm with the provider what storage is available and what is banned from the test room.
Review key formulas and syllabus areas
Do a light revision pass over high-weight topics and formula sheets rather than learning new material in the final days.
Rest and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the 72 hours before the exam and plan a normal meal before the session; avoid new caffeine or medication routines on exam day.
Backup travel plan
Identify an alternative route or transport option in case of delays. Confirm with the provider the policy if you arrive late due to circumstances beyond your control.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new topics. Consolidate notes, rework previously missed practice questions, and confirm venue, timing, and permitted items with the provider. Protect sleep.
Do a short, low-stress review of formula sheets and key concepts, prepare ID and documents, lay out clothing and travel items, and check transport. Avoid intensive cramming late at night.
Eat a normal meal, arrive at the venue with buffer time, carry only permitted items, and do a brief mental warm-up rather than a full mock.
Read the instructions and time allocations, answer confident questions first, flag uncertain ones for review, watch the clock at set checkpoints, and use breaks only as permitted.
Rules to check
Carry valid, unexpired photo ID matching your registration name; confirm with the provider the accepted ID forms and whether a second form is needed.
Bring only items the provider permits into the test room; phones, smart watches, and notes are typically prohibited. Confirm with the provider the exact banned-items list.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times; confirm with the provider the consequences of a conduct breach before exam day.
Confirm with the provider the break policy, including whether breaks are scheduled, timed, and whether the clock stops during them.
Confirm with the provider how the exam is scored, including pass mark, question weighting, and whether wrong answers are penalised.
Confirm with the provider the policy on rescheduling, absence, and what happens if you are late or cannot attend.
Confirm with the provider what materials, formula sheets, or on-screen tools are supplied versus what you must know from memory.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the session and do not attempt to record or share exam content; confirm with the provider any additional integrity rules.