ICAP Strategic Case Study exam-day guide
ICAP Strategic Case Study · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admit card / roll number slip
Download and print two copies as soon as the window opens. The exact document name, release date and portal vary by session - confirm with the provider. Mark as needs_review.
Original photo ID
Bring the original identity document specified in your exam instructions (usually the national ID card used at registration). Photocopies and digital copies are normally not accepted. Confirm the accepted document list with the provider before exam week.
Confirmed venue and route
Check the centre address on the admit card against the provider's centre list, do a dry run or map the route, and note transport timings and any security screening at the building entrance.
Calculator
Bring a non-programmable calculator with fresh batteries plus a spare. Confirm the permitted model/type with the provider - rules on programmable or stored-text devices are strictly applied
Stationery
Two black or blue pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener, small ruler and a highlighter for marking up the case and requirement wording.
Plain analogue watch
A non-smart watch lets you pace the case without relying on a wall clock. Smart watches and any device with connectivity will normally be removed.
Water and a light snack
Bring water in a clear bottle and something easy to eat during any permitted break. Confirm the centre's policy on food and drink in the hall.
Any permitted reference material
If the paper is open book or permits annotated notes, bring only what the instructions allow, tabbed and indexed. Do not assume open book - confirm the format with the provider.
One-page personal framework sheet
Your own summary of how you will structure an answer: requirement analysis, issue identification, analysis, recommendation, implementation, risks. Written by you, not copied from a study text.
Backup essentials
Spare calculator batteries, a second pen, and a printed copy of travel and contact details kept separately from the admit card.
Plan the day
Lock down logistics: confirm venue, transport, timings and ID requirements with the provider. Download and print the admit card. Sit one full case under timed conditions and mark it against the requirements, not against a model answer.
Light, active revision only: your framework sheet, a handful of technical areas you keep getting wrong, and two or three past case scenarios read for structure rather than content. Reset your sleep schedule to match the exam start time.
Pack the bag completely and place it by the door. Check the calculator works. Do a final read of your framework sheet and stop. No new topics, no late-night cramming - a rested brain reads a long case far better than a tired one.
Eat properly, arrive at the centre with generous margin (confirm the arrival and late-entry cut-off with the provider), and avoid discussing content with other candidates. Use the waiting time to re-read your framework sheet only.
Read the requirements before the detail. Note the marks per requirement, convert marks into minutes, and write the allocation on your answer sheet or scratch paper. Skim the exhibits and case background so you know where each piece of evidence lives.
Answer requirement by requirement in the order that maximises marks, not necessarily the order printed. Use headings, tie every point to a specific case fact, quantify where numbers are available, and keep a visible clock check at each quarter of the exam.
Stop writing new content. Check that every requirement has a visible answer, that recommendations are stated plainly rather than implied, that arithmetic carries through, and that appendices and workings are labelled and referenced.
Rules to check
Carry the same original photo ID you used at registration. The name must match your admit card and registration record; discrepancies are dealt with at the centre, so raise them with the provider well before exam day.
Arrival time, late-entry cut-off and any security screening are set by the centre. Confirm these with the provider in advance rather than assuming a standard allowance.
Phones, smart watches, earphones and any connected device must be switched off and stored exactly as the invigilator instructs. Do not keep a device on your person 'just in case'.
Only the calculator type permitted by the provider may be used. Confirm the permitted specification in advance; invigilators can withdraw a device they consider non-compliant.
Do not remove question papers, answer booklets, scratch paper or any centre-owned material from the hall. Everything issued is collected or accounted for.
Break policy varies by centre and paper length. Confirm whether supervised breaks are allowed and assume you must remain in the hall unless told otherwise.
If you believe the paper contains an error, or you need something during the exam, raise your hand and follow the invigilator's process. Do not annotate the question paper beyond the instructions given.
Marks in a case study are allocated across requirements and reward application to the specific case facts, technical accuracy and clear structure. The exact weighting and marking approach are set by the provider - confirm the published assessment criteria rather than relying on assumption.
Anything not specified in your instructions should be treated as unknown. Confirm with the provider before exam day rather than guessing on the day.