Mock Test, Test Preparation and Guidance, and after the Test

Section 1: Test Preparation

Section 2: Mock Test

Section 3: Guidance to doing well at the Test

Section 4: Getting your results after the Test

1. Test Preparation

There are various ways to acquire the required knowledge for an ISTO test, such as:

  • Take a Mock Test, which contains half the number of questions of a full certification test and receive per-question feedback with correct answers.
  • Undertake individual study
  • Participate in informal study groups
  • Attend formal review courses

Some keys to success include:

  • Knowing your strengths and weaknesses
  • Having a test preparation plan
  • Developing a test-taking strategy
If a candidate is re-taking an ISTO Test, they should pay special attention to the weaknesses identified in the ISTO Analytics Report. Note that knowledge and understanding are essential in passing the test.

Understand the Test Format and Platform

There will be three levels of response to capture candidates' decisions:

UNCERTAIN (yellow): Indicates a not very certain response.
CERTAIN (light green): Indicates a response with a high level of certainty.
REVIEWED (dark green): Indicates that the response has been reviewed.

The above three levels of response are functions designed to assist candidates in having a more effective test experience and assist candidates to perform better on the test.

Important: Candidate must click on Certain or Uncertain in order to have the selected answer captured by the system.

After responding to all the questions or by clicking the ">>|" button, a Review page will be shown to prompt candidate to review each question on the question panel on the right. The Question Panel represents the response levels for each question. Candidates can easily click on a specific question in the question panel to access that question and change their response as required.

2. Mock Test

The Test of Understanding Mock Test is an excellent tool for you to prepare for the Test of Understanding and boost confidence. It will provide per-question feedback, allowing you to identify your areas of weakness, together with the overall score as well as the percentile rank in %.

What do you get from a Mock Test

1

Real Test Experience

Familiarize yourself with question types, structure, and time constraints, significantly reducing test anxiety

2

Per-question Feedback and Analytics

Receive a detailed ACCURATE analytics report highlighting strengths and areas for improvement across eight distinct knowledge domains.

3

100% Online Access

Take mock tests anywhere, anytime, fitting preparation around your personal and professional schedule

4

Enhanced Success Rates

Mock test feedback accelerates learning and maximizes your chances of passing the official test on the first attempt

ISTO Mock Test – At a Glance

  • Fee: £70 for Level 1, £100 for Level 2
  • Take the mock test online and remotely at your convenience
  • Contains half the number of questions as the full certification test:
    • Level 1 - Practitioner: 40 questions, 60 minutes
    • Level 2 - Professional: 60 questions, 90 minutes
  • Same question style, structure, and timed conditions as the certificated Test of Understanding
  • Receive a detailed analytics report highlighting strengths and areas for improvement across eight distinct knowledge domains, with the correct responses with explanations provided
  • 180 days to take your mock test from the date of purchase

Take a free trial test with 24 questions, or register for a Mock Test to experience the test environment before the actual test.

Take the FREE Trial Test

ISTO's partners can provide trainings on the ISTO Test.
The trainings are created from the same topic outline from which test questions are drawn.

Training Enquiry

3. Test Guidance

Below are our best tips on doing well on the test:

  • Listen to and read all instructions carefully.
  • Take your time reading the questions. If you have a problem with a question, mark it and come back to it later.
  • Answer ALL questions. Blanks are always incorrect. There is no penalty for guessing.
  • Test Centre administrators and invigilators cannot answer questions regarding the test. If you think a question has a mistake or is unclear, use the Candidate Comment Form provided.
  • No reference materials, books, papers or personal electronic devices such as cell phones, personal computers, or programmable calculators will be permitted within the test area.
  • No talking or other communication is permitted during the test. Candidates shall not copy test materials, provide answers to others, use materials not allowed in the test room, or in any way cheat on a test.
  • No smoking, drinking, or eating is permitted in the test area.
  • No moving about the room or other behaviour distracting to other candidates is permitted.
  • One candidate at a time will be permitted to leave the test area to use the restroom or for emergencies.

During the Test

Take your time reading the questions. If you have a problem with a question, at least try an Uncertain response. Positively you have time to come back to review the question. If not, the Uncertain Response will be considered as final response in the marking process.

  • Try to complete all questions, even by guessing (25% chance!). Never leave a question behind.
  • Answer ALL questions. Blanks are always incorrect. There is no penalty for guessing.
  • The Test Administrator cannot answer questions regarding the test. If you think a question has a mistake or is unclear, use the feedback window down below the question. You can state your assumptions.
  • No moving about the room or other behavior distracting to other candidates is permitted.
  • One candidate at a time will be permitted to leave the test area to use the restroom or for emergencies.

Special Assistance

If a candidate requires external assistive devices or equipment such as crutches or wheelchair, the candidate must communicate with the respective ISTO Partner of your need to use these devices in the secure testing room at least two weeks in advance of the test date. If you fail to inform the ISTO Partner accordingly, the candidate may not be permitted to use those devices in the secure testing room.

Time Management

The time remaining for your test appears on your computer screen (top right). One test item at a time appears on the computer screen. You may select an answer for the item, skip the item, or answer the item and flag it for review.

Leaving Your Workstation

If you need to use the washroom, or when you leave your workstation for any reason, you must sign out and sign back in — the on-site proctor will log your activity. Your test clock continues to run during this time. You are not allowed to leave the building (or part of the building) controlled by the ISTO Partner for any reason while your test clock is running.

Test Environment

ISTO Partner will endeavor to ensure that the environment for writing the test is acceptable. Please be aware that on occasion, candidates may be exposed to minor distractions and the temperature in the testing area may vary. Candidates who are easily distracted by noise may request earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones from the Invigilator.

Note: ISTO tests are closed-book, except for a clean copy of the respective ISO management system standard.

4. Getting Your Results

Receiving Your Results

Once the test is completed, the candidate should receive the official notification of test results via regular email generated by the ISTO system typically within a week after the test. Alternatively, the candidate can login to their ISTO account to retrieve the results.

Note: Where candidates have commented/remarked on a question and the result of which affects the pass/fail decision, then there may be a delay of a few days in the announcement of the result. There will be a notice to the students within one to two hours regarding this slight delay.

Re-taking the ISTO Test

Should a candidate not be satisfied with their results, or wish to improve their areas of weakness in their understanding of the test, they can retake a test at 30% discount.