These ICAN exam tips aren't recycled study-skills advice. They come from chartered tutors who mark real ICAN-style scripts every diet and know exactly where marks get earned and lost.
Before the exam
- Study past questions, not just notes. The syllabus is what you need to know; past questions show you how ICAN asks about it.
- Time every past question. Untimed practice builds false confidence.
- Sit at least two full timed mocks per subject. Stamina is a skill.
- Build a formula/standard sheet. One page per subject you review nightly in the final two weeks.
During the exam
- Read every requirement twice. Underline the verb — calculate, discuss, advise.
- Allocate minutes per mark. If a 20-mark question deserves 36 minutes, leave when the clock says leave.
- Start with your strongest question. Bank easy marks first to build confidence.
- Show your workings. Method marks are real. A wrong final answer with correct workings still scores.
- Use headings and structure. Markers read hundreds of scripts. Make yours easy to mark.
For the Case Study specifically
- Analyse, prioritise, recommend, communicate. Every section of every answer follows that arc.
- Quote the scenario. Marks in the Case Study reward specific references to the exhibits, not generic theory.
- Write in business English. Short sentences, active voice, no jargon.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I start ICAN revision?+
For most subjects, focused revision should start 4–6 weeks before the diet. Weekly past-question practice should start from week one of your tuition.
What's the biggest reason candidates fail ICAN?+
Poor exam technique — running out of time, misreading requirements, and writing everything they know instead of what the question asked.
How many past questions should I attempt?+
As many as you can — but under time. A single timed past question is worth five casual re-reads of a topic.