ICAP PRC-3 Business and Economic Insights exam-day guide
ICAP PRC-3 Business and Economic Insights · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID in the name you used to register. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have the booking confirmation (email or printed copy) with your appointment time, test centre address or online-proctoring link, and any candidate number. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Know your test centre route or platform check-in steps
For a test centre, plan the route and arrive with buffer time. For remote proctoring, run the platform's system check in advance and know the check-in sequence. Exact arrival and check-in windows: confirm with the provider.
Approved calculator
PRC-3 is quantitative, so a calculator matters. Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is permitted, which models are allowed, and whether an on-screen calculator is provided instead.
Permitted reference materials
Confirm with the provider whether any formula sheet, tables, or notes are supplied on screen or allowed in the room. Do not assume open-book access.
Personal items storage plan
Phones, watches, bags, and notes are typically not allowed at the desk. Confirm with the provider what storage is available at the centre or what to do with devices during remote proctoring.
Water and a light snack for before/after
Check the provider's rules on food and drink in the test room; many centres restrict them to break areas. Do not rely on eating during the exam.
Rest and logistics
Sleep, travel time, and a quiet space (if remote) are preparation items too. Arrange childcare, work cover, and a stable internet connection in advance if testing remotely.
Syllabus and formula recall sheet (for revision only)
Use the official syllabus to confirm topic coverage. Leave any personal notes at home or outside the test room; confirm with the provider what written material may be brought in.
needs_review: Break and timing policy details
The number and length of breaks, and whether the clock stops, are set by the provider. Confirm with the provider and read the candidate handbook rather than assuming.
needs_review: Permitted item list for your specific delivery mode
Allowed items can differ between test-centre and remote delivery. Confirm with the provider for your booked format.
Plan the day
Switch from learning to consolidation. Re-read the official syllabus and tick off each topic as confident, shaky, or unknown. Spend remaining time on shaky topics and on formula recall, not on new material. Do one timed mixed-topic practice set under exam conditions to calibrate pacing, then review every wrong answer for the reasoning error, not just the correct option.
Confirm logistics: appointment time, location or remote link, ID requirements, permitted items, and break policy. Confirm with the provider on anything the handbook does not state clearly. Check travel time or run the remote system test on the same equipment and network you will use.
Do a light review only: formula sheet, common traps (unit mismatches, compounding periods, real versus nominal rates, elasticity signs), and your own error log. Stop studying early enough to sleep well. Prepare the ID, confirmation, and permitted items in one place. Avoid last-minute cramming of unfamiliar topics, which raises anxiety without improving recall.
Eat a normal meal, arrive early or log in early as instructed, and re-check the ID and confirmation. Skim your one-page formula summary, then put it away. Keep conversation and screens calm. If remote, close other applications and silence devices before check-in.
Read the instructions and note the time budget. Answer confident questions first and flag long calculations to return to. For quantitative items, write the formula, substitute with units, and sanity-check the magnitude of the answer. Watch for questions asking for the exception or the false statement. If a break is offered, use it to reset, and confirm with the provider whether the clock runs during breaks. Leave time to review flagged items and ensure no question is unanswered if there is no penalty for guessing (confirm the scoring rule with the provider).
Rules to check
Bring original government-issued photo ID matching your registration name; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a second form is needed.
Follow all instructions from the invigilator or proctor. Do not talk, pass materials, or use unauthorised devices; remote candidates should keep the camera and screen visible as instructed.
Only use items the provider permits at the desk. Confirm with the provider whether a calculator, formula sheet, or notes are allowed for your delivery mode, and store everything else as directed.
Breaks are governed by the provider's policy. Confirm with the provider the number and length of breaks and whether the exam clock stops; do not leave the room or disconnect without permission.
Scoring and result timing are set by the provider. Confirm with the provider how the exam is scored (for example, whether wrong answers are penalised and what the pass mark is) and when results are released.
If something goes wrong (technology failure, illness, disruption), stop and notify the invigilator or proctor immediately and follow the provider's incident process; confirm with the provider how incidents are handled and what evidence is needed.
Do not attempt to record, copy, or share exam content. This is a conduct rule under the provider's candidate agreement; confirm with the provider for the exact wording and consequences.