How to Sit the ICAG Level 1 Online Exam: PC Requirements, Timetable and Rules
ICAG Level 1 is sat as an online, proctored examination you take on your own computer. That changes how you prepare: as well as knowing the four subjects, you need the right PC, a stable connection and a clear understanding of the rules, because a technical slip or a proctoring breach on the day can cost you the paper.
ICAG Level 1 has four online papers from Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 October 2026, all starting at 10:00 am, with portal login and authentication at 9:30 am. You need a compatible Windows or Mac computer, Chrome, Firefox or Edge, a webcam, microphone and reliable internet. The exams are closed-book and proctored, with an on-screen calculator and strict room, identity, speech and device rules. See the Financial Accounting timing note beneath the timetable.
The current timetable and exam logistics below follow ICAG’s official November 2026 Notice to Level One Students. Dates change each diet, so use the current notice and the details in your own ICAG email as the final authority.
Published ; last reviewed and updated . Exam logistics follow the official ICAG Notice to Level One Students; paper structure follows the ICAG Professional Qualification Syllabus 2024–2029.
The four papers and the exam timetable
- Four papers. Business Management & Information Systems, Financial Accounting, Business & Corporate Law, and Introduction to Cost & Management Accounting.
- Four consecutive mornings. All papers begin at 10:00 am; check the Financial Accounting timing note beneath the timetable.
- Online and proctored. Sat on your own computer with an in-built online invigilator; the notice lists Chrome, Firefox and Edge as supported browsers.
- Closed book. An on-screen calculator is provided, so physical calculators, watches and notes are not allowed.
ICAG Level 1 is examined as four separate online papers over four days. You must register for the diet through ICAG and sit each paper at the scheduled time from a suitable private location with a compatible computer and connection. The timetable below is the official schedule for the November 2026 diet.
| Date | Paper | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, 27 October 2026 | Business Management & Information Systems | 10:00 am to 12:00 noon |
| Wed, 28 October 2026 | Financial Accounting | 10:00 am; see timing note† |
| Thu, 29 October 2026 | Business & Corporate Law | 10:00 am to 12:00 noon |
| Fri, 30 October 2026 | Introduction to Cost & Management Accounting | 10:00 am to 12:00 noon |
† Timing note: ICAG’s current November 2026 notice prints a 12:15 pm finish for Financial Accounting. Previous Level 1 sittings, including July 2026, used the usual 12:00 noon finish. Please follow the time in your ICAG portal or admission notice unless ICAG publishes a correction.
Current sitting. These dates apply only to the November 2026 diet. Your login details will be emailed the night before each exam; follow any candidate-specific instruction in that message.
Exam-day timing: login at 9:30, start at 10:00
Log in to the assessment portal at 9:30 am, 30 minutes before the 10:00 am start, to authenticate and complete the proctoring checks. Use the authentication period to confirm your login, camera, microphone, identity check, room scan and screen-sharing steps are complete before the exam clock begins. For Financial Accounting, follow the time in your ICAG portal or admission notice and read the timing note beneath the timetable above.
Treat each paper as a fixed appointment. Because the exam is proctored and timed centrally, there is no flexibility to start late, and a paper missed for being unprepared is simply a paper failed. Plan for the four days as four separate exam mornings.
- 9:30 am: log in and authenticate; complete the proctoring photo and ID capture
- 10:00 am: the paper begins
- Finish time: follow the timetable and any candidate-specific time in your ICAG portal or admission notice
- Each day: one paper only, so you can give the next morning’s paper a fresh start
Minimum PC requirements
Your computer must meet ICAG’s minimum specification for the online assessment platform. Check this well before exam day, not the night before, and have a backup device ready in case your main one fails. The notice lists Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge on Windows and Mac.
| System specification | Windows PC | Mac OS |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster x86-compatible processor (or Intel Atom 1.6 GHz or faster for netbooks) | 1 GHz or faster processor |
| Memory | 4 GB minimum | 4 GB minimum |
| Operating system | Windows 10 or above | OS X v10.6 or above |
| Graphics | 512 MB graphics memory minimum (internal or external) | 512 MB graphics memory minimum (internal or external) |
| Multimedia | Sound card; microphone (standard 3.5 mm jack or internal); webcam supporting minimum 320x240 colour video at 15 fps | Sound card; microphone (standard 3.5 mm jack or internal); webcam supporting minimum 320x240 colour video at 15 fps |
| Supported browser | Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge | Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge |
A few practical notes on the multimedia requirement, because it is the part most candidates overlook. You need a working webcam and microphone, both enabled in the browser, because the online invigilator uses them throughout. ICAG does not recommend mobile-phone microphones, so use the computer’s built-in or a wired microphone. The official demonstration uses Chrome and the Honorlock extension; follow the browser and extension instructions in your own exam email, and grant camera and microphone permission before 9:30 am.
Internet connection and bandwidth
Because the exam streams your webcam to the online invigilator while you work, a stable connection matters as much as a fast one. ICAG publishes a minimum and a recommended bandwidth per user.
| Tier | Upload | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum per user | 1 Mbps | 1 Mbps |
| Recommended per user | 10 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
Aim for the recommended speed rather than the minimum, and protect the connection on the day. Sit close to your router or use a wired connection, ask others in the house to stay off heavy downloads and video calls for the full assessment window, and have a mobile-data hotspot ready as a backup. A dropped connection mid-exam is stressful and avoidable, so test your real upload and download speed in the same room, on the same device, a few days before.
A quick, indicative check of your download and upload against ICAG’s thresholds. For an exact reading, use the full tools at the bottom.
Scale is logarithmic in Mbps. The coloured bands map ICAG’s thresholds: red is below the 1 Mbps minimum, amber meets the minimum, and green meets the 10 Mbps recommended speed.
This is an indicative single-connection check, and it reads low on fast lines, so your true speed is usually higher than shown. For an exact figure, use the full tools below.
Tap “Test my speed” to check the connection in the room where you will sit the exam.
Want an exact reading? Run a full test for precise download, upload and latency figures:
Online proctoring and the exam rules
The exam platform has an in-built online invigilator, or proctor. Before the paper begins it asks you to capture your photo and ID card, complete a room scan and share your entire screen. It records you throughout the assessment. The rules below are not formalities: any suspected breach can be reviewed against the recording.
What the proctor requires
- A working webcam and microphone, enabled in the browser, for the duration of the paper
- Your photo captured at the start, and your ID card shown to the camera to confirm identity
- A fresh scan of the room before each examination and your entire screen shared when the portal requests it
- No other person in the room, with a clean desk and only authorised equipment present
- Your upper body visible from the chest upward throughout, not only your face
- A quiet, well-lit room with daylight-quality lighting, preferably from overhead
What is not allowed
- Foreign materials. Earpieces, AirPods, headphones, phones and digital watches are not permitted
- Physical calculators and watches. The platform provides an on-screen calculator, so your own calculator and any watch are not allowed
- Notes, paper and books. This is a closed-book test; no books, papers, textbooks, notebooks or other reference material
- Speech. Do not read questions or any exam content aloud; enhanced speech detection may pause the assessment for review
- Screen photography. Do not photograph or record any question or other content on the exam screen
- Eating, drinking or smoking during the test
- Leaving your seat or moving away from the computer at any point during the examination
Malpractice cancels the paper. ICAG states that any form of examination malpractice will lead to cancellation of the examination paper upon review of the video recording. The safest approach is simple: clear your desk, keep your hands and face visible, and treat the room as if a human invigilator were standing beside you.
Before exam day: logins, demo and practice
Most exam-day problems are prevented in the days before. ICAG provides everything you need to arrive ready, so use all of it.
Your logins
Your login details are sent to your email the night before each exam date. If you have not received your login before the date of the exam, email ICAG at examsicag@gmail.com rather than waiting. Check the inbox you registered with, including spam, the evening before.
The official demonstration video
ICAG has published an official demonstration video of the online assessment platform. Watch it before exam day so you know what to expect when signing in, answering questions and submitting your paper.
Official ICAG online assessment platform demonstration. If the video does not play, open ICAG’s original.
What the demonstration shows
- Sign in with the email address and password supplied in the ICAG candidate email
- Allow location and notification access, then complete the Honorlock extension, privacy and compatibility checks shown in the demo
- Close other browser tabs, capture your face and ID, test the microphone and complete the workspace checklist
- Record and submit the room scan, share the entire screen and finish authentication
- Use the countdown timer, numbered multiple-choice questions, Previous and Next controls, on-screen calculator and proctor chat
- Review the attempted and unanswered totals in the final confirmation, then select Final Submit & End Exam only when finished
The practice questions
ICAG provides official practice questions for all four Level 1 papers. Attempt them on the same computer and browser you will use on the day so you rehearse the content, timing and technology together.
- Test your computer against the minimum specification, and ready a backup device
- Confirm a supported browser is installed and updated, with camera and microphone permissions granted
- Check your real upload and download speed in the room you will sit in
- Have your ID card to hand for the proctoring check
- Watch the full demonstration and complete the official practice questions in advance
- Confirm your login the night before, and email examsicag@gmail.com early if it has not arrived
What each Level 1 paper tests
Level 1 is the knowledge foundation of the ICAG qualification. The four papers introduce the core of accounting, the business and information environment, the law that governs organisations, and the basics of costing and management accounting. The table sets out what each one covers under the 2024–2029 syllabus.
| Paper | What it tests |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Financial Accounting | Double-entry technique and the principles behind it: recording transactions and events, correcting errors and performing reconciliations, preparing basic financial statements for single entities, partnerships, accounts from incomplete records, an introduction to public sector statements, and key accounting ratios. |
| 1.2 Business Management & Information Systems | How organisations in Ghana are structured and run: entity types and objectives, organisational structures and processes, the business environment, planning and behaviour, operations and business functions, managing business information, and the impact of technology on the accountant. |
| 1.3 Business & Corporate Law | The legal framework for business: the legal system, the law of obligations, employment law, the formation and constitution of organisations, the capital and financing of companies, the management and regulation of companies, companies in difficulty, and governance and ethics. |
| 1.4 Introduction to Cost & Management Accounting | How management accounting supports decisions: the scope of management accounting, accounting for cost elements, costing techniques and pricing, forecasting, budgeting including the public-sector budgeting process, and standard costing with basic variances. |
Knowing the weightings helps you spend your study time where the marks are. In Financial Accounting, recording transactions, reconciliations and preparing statements together carry the bulk of the marks. In Business & Corporate Law, the law of obligations and company administration are the two heaviest areas. In Cost & Management Accounting, cost elements and costing techniques dominate. In Business Management & Information Systems, operations and business functions carry the most, with technology and information management close behind.
For the full syllabus, learning outcomes and our tuition for each paper, see the ICAG Level 1 hub and the individual pages for Financial Accounting, Business Management & Information Systems, Business & Corporate Law and Introduction to Cost & Management Accounting.
How to pass Level 1 at the first attempt
Passing an online ICAG paper takes two things at once: command of the subject, and command of the format. Candidates who know their material can still lose marks to the clock or the technology, so prepare for both.
Practise on the real platform
Do the ICAG mock questions on the same computer, browser and connection you will use on the day, so the screen, the on-screen calculator and the navigation are second nature. The first time you use the platform should never be in a live exam.
Work to the clock
Rehearse complete papers to the time shown in your current ICAG portal or admission notice, paying particular attention to the Financial Accounting timing note above. Learn the pace, where to start and when to move on. Most avoidable marks are lost to unfinished questions, not to gaps in knowledge.
Study where the marks are
Use the syllabus weightings to prioritise. Secure the heavily weighted areas in each paper first, then broaden out, rather than spreading your time evenly across topics that are not weighted evenly.
Rehearse the exam-day setup
Run a full dress rehearsal: log in, complete the camera and ID check, clear your desk, and sit a timed mock under the real rules with no notes, no phone and the on-screen calculator only. By exam morning, nothing about the process should be new.
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ICAG Level 1 online exam: frequently asked questions
When is the ICAG Level 1 November 2026 timetable?
Business Management & Information Systems is Tuesday 27 October, Financial Accounting is Wednesday 28 October, Business & Corporate Law is Thursday 29 October, and Introduction to Cost & Management Accounting is Friday 30 October. Every paper starts at 10:00 am and candidates should log in at 9:30 am. See the Financial Accounting timing note beneath the timetable.
Is the ICAG Level 1 exam sat online?
Yes. ICAG Level 1 is an online, proctored examination sat on a compatible computer. An in-built online invigilator captures your photo and ID, requires a room scan and screen sharing, and records you throughout, so you need a working webcam, microphone and stable internet connection.
How many papers does ICAG Level 1 have and how long is each?
There are four papers: Business Management & Information Systems, Financial Accounting, Business & Corporate Law, and Introduction to Cost & Management Accounting. Level 1 papers have usually run for two hours. The current notice has an unusual Financial Accounting finish time, explained in the timing note beneath the timetable.
What are the minimum PC requirements for the ICAG online exam?
A Windows PC running Windows 10 or above, or a Mac running OS X v10.6 or above, with a 1 GHz or faster processor, at least 4 GB of memory, at least 512 MB of graphics memory, a sound card, microphone and webcam supporting at least 320x240 colour video at 15 fps. The notice lists Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge.
What internet speed do I need?
ICAG sets a minimum of 1 Mbps upload and 1 Mbps download per user, and recommends 10 Mbps upload and 10 Mbps download. Aim for the recommended speed, use a wired or close connection where possible, and have a mobile hotspot ready as a backup.
Can I use my own calculator in the ICAG online exam?
No. The platform provides an on-screen calculator, so physical calculators are not allowed. Watches, including digital watches, are also not permitted.
Is the ICAG Level 1 exam open book?
No. It is a closed-book test. Books, papers, textbooks, notebooks, phones, physical calculators, watches, earpieces, AirPods and headphones are prohibited. Do not read exam content aloud, photograph the screen, eat, drink, smoke or leave the computer; remain visible from the chest upward throughout.
How does the online proctoring work?
The in-built online invigilator asks you to capture your photo and ID, scan the room and share your entire screen before the paper begins, then records you throughout the assessment. ICAG states that malpractice will lead to cancellation of the examination paper after review of the video recording.
What time do I log in, and what if my login does not arrive?
Log in to the assessment portal at 9:30 am to authenticate, 30 minutes before the 10:00 am start. Your login is emailed the night before each exam date. If it has not arrived by exam day, email ICAG at examsicag@gmail.com.
