TC exam guidance

Follow our step-by-step guide to get ready for your assessments.

All TC-level assessments (including mocks) are conducted through the online assessment platform using remote invigilation.

To make sure you’re fully prepared, and help remove some of the stress, we’ve explained how it works and what you must do to get ready for assessment day.

Please read through all the guidance below to understand what happens when, and what you need to do when.

(If you’ve been here before and are looking for something specific, click a link to jump to a section).

How to book an assessment
What to do (at least) one week before your assessment
What to do 72 hours before your assessment
What happens on assessment day
What happens after the assessment
Useful links

How to book an assessment

Upcoming assessments are available to book on Timetabler when the booking window opens. You’ll find more information and details of the latest assessment dates here.

What to do (at least) one week before your assessment

1. Watch our video guides

Assessment platform user guide

Remote invigilation software tutorial

2. Prepare what you’ll need to sit your assessment

A quiet, private and enclosed room/location with a desk and comfortable chair.
A working PC or laptop with an embedded webcam and microphone. (You can only use one screen, either the laptop or an extension monitor. If you choose to use an external monitor, you'll also need an external webcam, keyboard and mouse.)
A power connection for your laptop.
A stable internet connection (ideally for your sole use during the assessment).
2GB of free RAM for the proctoring software to run properly. (Close any applications that you don’t need.)
Chrome is set as the default web browser on the PC/laptop you’ll be using.
This Chrome plug-in is downloaded to the PC/laptop you’ll be using.
The Microsoft Teams app (or browser version) on the PC/laptop you’ll be using. (If using the app, download and install it before the day of your first assessment.)
If using a work laptop, your IT department may need to whitelist the following URL: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/proctorio/fpmapakogndmenjcfoajifaaonnkpkei.
Photo ID, such as a driving licence, passport or biometric national ID card. (The ID must be current and contain a photo and signature. Photocopies or digital copies won’t be accepted.)

3. Take the onboarding test

Log in to the assessment platform and take the Essential Onboarding Test. It will show you how the platform works and what to expect on assessment day. You will also be able to check the remote invigilation software and ensure it's compatible with your device. You can take the test as often as you like and should do so at least once before every assessment diet.

You’ll find it in your assessment platform dashboard approximately one week before your first assessment. Please note that it's your responsibility to get in touch with us if the Essential Onboarding Test is not in your dashboard.

4. Access your assessment Teams

For each assessment diet we’ll add you to a dedicated Team on Microsoft Teams, with two channels:

Announcements: this is where we’ll confirm the start time, send you important updates, reminders and links to key guidance ahead of your assessment(s).
General: this is where you can ask us pre-assessment questions and contact us with issues. (Before posting a question, please thoroughly read all the guidance on this page and in the Announcements channel.)

When logging in to Microsoft Teams, use your @student.icas.com email and its password, and remember to turn on all notifications.

We’ll add you to the Team approximately one week before your first assessment. Please note that it’s your responsibility to ensure you’ve been added and get in touch with us if not.

5. Read our Assessment T&Cs and associated policies

You must read our Assessment Terms & Conditions and the associated policies before sitting your first assessment.

6. Review your reasonable adjustments

If you’ve been awarded assessment adjustments, the details of your application and the assessment timings will be emailed to you no later than 2 working days before your assessment. If you don’t receive these and believe that adjustments should be applied to your assessment profile, please contact students@icas.com as a matter of urgency.

For short-notice requests within the 15 days before your assessment, please contact us as soon as possible on 0131 347 0100 and we'll do our best to help.

7. Get answers to your assessment FAQs

Our help centre has answers to all your assessment-related questions, covering everything from permitted materials to bathroom breaks.

What to do 72 hours before your assessment

1. Re-watch our video guides

If you haven’t already, watch our video guides, or watch them again to refresh your memory. You can’t be too prepared.

2. Check your assessment Team

Make sure you’ve been added to your assessment Team on Microsoft Teams and get in touch with us if not. That’s where we’ll confirm the start time, share key updates and where you can ask pre-assessment questions.

3. Check your assessment platform dashboard

Log in to the assessment platform, check your dashboard contains all the assessments you’ve booked and get in touch with us if not. You'll gain access to your assessments on the assessment platform at least 72 hours before your first assessment. We will keep you updated on the Microsoft Teams Assessment Announcements channel.

4. Read the invigilation guide

From looking at your wrists to vaping, learn the behaviours that online invigilators look out for and that you should avoid during the assessment.

5. Get answers to your last-minute questions

Any specific last-minute questions? Everything you need to know is on this page and our help centre has answers to all your assessment-related FAQs.

6. Get help with pre-assessment stress

It’s only natural to feel stressed in the run-up to an assessment. It’s just your brain and body’s way of reminding you to prepare for the day. Watch our video to learn more about ways to cope with assessment stress. And if you’re really struggling, our Student Assistance Programme has a free 24-7 helpline with BACP-accredited counsellors.

What happens on assessment day

Watch our video guide, and read through the information below, to discover everything that happens on assessment day, from what you're allowed to bring, to how to conduct the room scan.

Get your ID ready

Remember, you’ll need to show valid photo ID, such as a driving licence, passport or biometric national ID card. If your webcam struggles to focus on your ID during the assessment platform checks, ensure the room is sufficiently lit. If that doesn't fix the problem, take the best picture possible. If necessary, we'll contact you after the assessment for further verification.

Know what you can bring

Your permitted materials, a clock or stopwatch, ear plugs or ear defenders. You can bring food and drink if the food is in a clear container or bag and it must be shown to the camera at the start of the assessment.

Your permitted materials

You are not allowed to access the internet (including Advantage) to view materials or information. However, you are allowed up to 10 pieces of blank paper (lined or unlined), the formula tables for Finance or the Rate Sheets for Principles of Taxation. You are also allowed a non-programmable calculator which must be shown to the camera at the start of the assessment.

Know what you can’t bring

Headphones, earbuds/pods and smart watches/devices are not allowed. Articles of clothing that cover your head are also not allowed. Religious head coverings are permitted.

Switch off your phone

Switch off your phone and put it out of reach.

Log off your VPN

You will be unable to access the remote invigilation software and assessment platform if your device is connected to your VPN.

Log in to the assessment platform at the stated start time

Your assessment times will be posted in the Assessment Team on the Announcements channel the week before your first assessment. Log in to the assessment platform and click the link to begin the assessment at the stated start time. Don’t be late. Failure to log in at the start time may result in you being unable to sit the assessment.

You’ll then be given time to perform the room scan before starting the assessment.

If you’ve been awarded a time-based reasonable adjustment, we’ll email you in advance with your individual start time.

Taking bathroom breaks

If you need to take a bathroom break, raise your hand to the camera and say, “bathroom break”. Your break should take no longer than 5 minutes.

Check everything’s working

Periodically check that the assessment platform and the remote invigilation software are working correctly. If you notice any issues, please resolve these immediately.

How to deal with issues during your assessment

Please follow these steps if you experience a problem during your assessment:

Raise the issue by writing a new post in the General channel of your Assessment Team.
Stay calm. We’ll aim to investigate and resolve the issue as quickly as possible to get you up and running without losing assessment time.
Check the Announcements channel in your assessment Teams for further information and follow any instructions carefully.
If the issue is individual to you, complete a Special Considerations Form (see below).
If the issue has affected everyone sitting the assessment, we’ll report the issue to the Special Considerations and Extenuating Circumstances Panel, and they’ll consider it when reviewing marks.

What happens after the assessment

Applying for a Special Consideration

A Special Consideration can be applied after an assessment and relates to an unforeseen and temporary experience that’s impacted your performance during the assessment. A link to the Special Consideration form will be posted in the General channel of your exam Teams at the end of the assessment, and you can apply from then until 12:00am three days later.

Getting your results

Results dates can be found in our yearly planner and your results will be emailed to you by 10am on the relevant date. (Please note that we don’t give out assessment results over the phone.)

Appealing your results

Our Appeals Policy has full information on the rules governing appeals and how to apply.

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