RICS APC Ethics exam-day guide
RICS APC Ethics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm exam format and logistics with RICS
The APC final assessment structure and delivery method (in-person vs remote) can vary by pathway and cohort. Confirm the exact format, platform, and joining instructions directly with RICS or your assessment provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Photo identification
Bring the specific ID type your provider requires (commonly a current passport or photocard driving licence). Check the accepted ID list in your joining instructions; do not assume any government-issued ID will be accepted.
Appointment or confirmation email
Have your assessment confirmation, candidate number, and any joining/reference codes accessible, either printed or on your phone, in case of a check-in query.
Printed or downloaded copy of your submission
Keep a copy of your submitted documents (e.g., summary of experience, case study, CPD record) so you can refresh your memory and reference your own evidence if asked.
Notes on your own experience
Bring concise, personal prompt sheets: key projects, your role, competencies claimed, and two or three STAR-style examples per competency. These are for your own preparation and use where permitted.
Competency self-assessment summary
A one-page grid of the competencies you are claiming at each level, with your strongest evidence noted against each, so you can steer answers to your declared levels.
Calculator and pen
If your assessment includes any numerical or valuation content, bring a basic calculator and pen. Confirm whether these are permitted under the provider's rules.
Plan travel and arrive early
For in-person assessments, plan the route in advance and aim to arrive with buffer time for security and check-in. For remote assessments, test your camera, microphone, and connection beforehand.
Quiet, well-lit space and backup connection
For remote delivery, use a private room, close other applications, and have a phone hotspot or dial-in number ready as a fallback.
Know the conduct and materials rules
Read the provider's rules on permitted materials, notes, and AI or reference tools before the day, and confirm anything unclear with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read your own submission end to end. For each competency you claim, write a two-line summary of your best evidence and rehearse saying it aloud in under a minute. Identify your three weakest competencies and prepare one honest example for each, including what you learned.
Rehearse aloud with a colleague or peer: practice concise, structured answers (situation, action, outcome, reflection). Time yourself so answers land in roughly one to two minutes rather than rambling.
Refresh the RICS ethical standards and your professional obligations, and prepare one or two examples of how you handled an ethical or conflict-of-interest situation.
Confirm logistics: re-check the joining instructions, ID requirements, timings, and any technology checks. Resolve any uncertainty with RICS or your provider now, not on the day.
Do a light review only. Re-read your competency summary sheet and ethical examples. Do not attempt to learn new material. Prepare your clothes, ID, confirmation email, notes, calculator, and pen, and pack them together.
For remote delivery, run a full technical rehearsal at the same time of day as your assessment: camera, microphone, screen sharing if required, and platform login. Charge devices and locate chargers.
Confirm your travel plan or quiet room arrangement, set two alarms, and get a full night's sleep. Avoid last-minute cramming, which tends to increase anxiety without improving recall.
Eat properly, hydrate, and arrive or log in early. Do a final five-minute skim of your own summary sheet only. Keep the atmosphere calm and avoid comparing notes with other candidates, which can unsettle you.
Listen to the full question before answering. If a question is unclear, ask for clarification politely. Structure answers around your own experience, state your role honestly, and reflect on outcomes and lessons learned.
If you do not know something, say so and explain how you would find out or who you would consult. Do not bluff. Manage your time, keep answers focused, and stay composed if challenged; treat challenge as an invitation to show reasoning.
Note down anything you found difficult while it is fresh, for your own development record, and await results through the official channel rather than speculating with peers.
Rules to check
Bring and present the exact photo identification specified in your joining instructions. If you are unsure what is accepted, confirm with the provider before the day; candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted materials, notes, and devices. Do not bring or use unauthorised reference material, and confirm in advance whether any aids you plan to use are allowed.
For remote assessments, comply with any identity-verification, camera, or room-scan requirements set out in your instructions, and keep the room private for the duration.
Take breaks only where the format and provider permit. If you need to leave the room or step away, follow the stated procedure; do not simply disappear.
Answer honestly from your own experience. Do not claim work you did not do or inflate your role; assessors probe for depth and consistency.
Engage with ethical questions by reference to your professional obligations and the public interest, and be prepared to explain your reasoning, not just your conclusion.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by RICS and are not something to negotiate on the day. If you are unclear how you will be assessed, confirm the published criteria with the provider beforehand.
If something goes wrong (technology failure, illness, a disruption), notify the assessment administrator immediately and follow their process; do not attempt to resolve it informally after the event.