15 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First ICC Exam

I walked into my first ICC® exam thinking I was going to hit every question out of the park. I'd studied the code. I'd worked in the industry for a few years. I was confident.

I passed, but not by the margin I expected. And I learned a lot of lessons the hard way that would have saved me stress and helped me perform better.

Over the years, I've watched thousands of candidates prepare for their first exam, and I've noticed patterns. Certain things trip up almost everyone. Other things only the successful candidates figure out. Here are the 15 things I wish someone had told me clearly before I sat for that first exam.

The Exam Tests Code Reading, Not Code Knowledge

This one shifted everything for me. I went in thinking the exam was testing whether I knew the code. It's not. It's testing whether I can read a specific code section, understand what it says, and apply that exact language to a scenario.

The difference matters. You might know the International Building Code® (IBC) inside and out, but if you can't quickly locate the right section and read it accurately during a timed exam, that knowledge doesn't help you.

This is why practicing with timed questions is so valuable. It teaches you how to find information under pressure, not just whether you remember the information.

Tabbing Your Code is Non-Negotiable

I thought I could pass without heavily tabbing my code. I was wrong. When you sit down with an exam in front of you and you have 10 minutes to answer 25 questions, the difference between finding a section in 30 seconds and finding it in 2 minutes is huge.

Plan to tab your code aggressively. Use the index. Use the table of contents. Create custom tabs for sections you know you'll reference. A well-organized code book can shave 20-30% off your search time, and that time compounds across 100+ questions.

You Won't Finish and That's Okay

The exam has a lot of questions, and the pace is relentless. I went in thinking I'd breeze through with time to spare. I finished reviewing my answers with about two minutes left.

Most people don't finish early. Some people don't finish at all and have to guess on the last few questions. Here's the thing: that doesn't mean you failed. It means you need to pace yourself better. Answer questions in order, but don't get stuck. If a question is taking you more than 2-3 minutes, flag it and come back if you have time.

Prioritize questions you're confident about. Build momentum. Then go back to the harder ones.

The Code Language Might Not Match Your Mental Model

The code says things in very specific ways. The exam questions use that exact language. If you've built a mental understanding of the code that's slightly different from how it's written, you might pick the wrong answer even though you understand the concept.

This is why reading the actual code matters more than reading summaries or learning guides. You need to get comfortable with how the code actually words things. The exam will use that language, not a paraphrased version.

Bring Everything You're Allowed to Bring

Check the ICC guidelines for what you can bring. For most exams, you can bring your code book (or code books), reference materials, and a few other items. Don't minimize what you bring thinking you'll save time. You don't gain anything by not bringing your resources. You only lose if you need something and don't have it.

I've seen people leave behind calculator apps or reference guides thinking they'd just "remember" the information. That overconfidence costs them questions they should have gotten right.

You'll Second-Guess Answers You Actually Got Right

This is psychological and it's brutal. You'll answer a question with relative confidence, move on, and then 20 questions later, you'll think, "Wait, did I interpret that correctly?" Then you'll doubt yourself and waste mental energy.

My advice: answer the question, tab it if you're less than 80% confident, and move on. Don't flip back and forth. If you come back to it at the end and you're still unsure, maybe reconsider. But more often, your first instinct was correct.

The Exam Covers Everything, Not Just What You Think Is Important

I went in thinking certain sections would show up a lot and others barely at all. The exam spread questions broadly. There were questions about sections I barely studied because I thought they were less important.

The ICC doesn't favor certain topics for the sake of it, but they do test the full breadth of the code. You can't just study the "big" topics and hope to do well. You need reasonable familiarity with everything, though obviously some sections are more heavily tested than others.

This is another argument for thorough study and practice exams. They show you where the actual distribution of questions is, not where you think it is.

Your Work Experience Doesn't Replace the Code

This was my biggest misconception. I thought, "I've been in construction for years. I know how things actually work." The exam doesn't care about reality. It cares about what the code says, even when the code doesn't match real-world practices.

I'd answer questions based on my field experience and get them wrong because the code said something different. The code is the authority. Your experience is context, but it's not the answer.

You Need to Understand the "Why," Not Just Memorize the "What"

Early study, I memorized fact after fact. That helped, but the questions that really tripped me up were ones where I didn't understand the logic behind a rule.

Example: Why does the code require certain egress widths? If you understand it's about allowing people to exit quickly, you can answer questions about egress modifications you've never specifically seen. If you just memorized the number, you're lost when the scenario is slightly different.

Understanding the underlying principle makes you flexible when questions don't match your exact study materials.

You'll Get Some Questions Wrong and That's Not a Failure

This is important: the pass threshold is usually around 75%. That means you can get 25% of the questions wrong and still pass. You don't need to be perfect. You don't need to understand every single topic at mastery level.

I went in with the mental model that getting anything wrong was a failure. That created unnecessary anxiety. The truth is, the exam is designed for the passing score to be challenging but achievable. Some questions you'll miss, and that's built into the pass threshold.

Timing Strategy Matters More Than You'd Think

Spending 5 minutes on a question you eventually get right is less valuable than spending 1 minute and moving on. The math is brutal. At roughly 1.5 minutes per question, you don't have time to get every answer perfect. You have time to get most answers right.

Which questions do you spend time on? The ones you're close to getting right. Which do you flag and guess on? The ones where you're clearly missing knowledge. That triage decision, made quickly, can be the difference between a pass and not.

Your Environment on Test Day Matters

The temperature in the testing center, whether you slept well, whether you had coffee—these things are real and they affect your performance. I can't control whether the testing center is cold, but I can control whether I eat breakfast, whether I get sleep the night before, and whether I manage my anxiety.

Test day is not the time to try something new. Eat what you normally eat. Wear what's comfortable. Arrive early so you're not rushed. Small things compound into either clarity or anxiety.

You Don't Need to Study Right Up to Test Time

I see candidates studying in the waiting room, cramming notes, trying to squeeze in last-minute facts. You've either learned this material or you haven't. Three pages of last-minute notes aren't going to change that.

The day before, do light review. The morning of, relax. Go for a walk. Eat well. Get your mind ready, not scrambling. You'll think more clearly, remember more accurately, and perform better.

Practice Exam Scores Don't Perfectly Predict Results

I scored in the 78-82% range on practice exams and then scored 84% on the real thing. Other people have done the opposite. Practice exams are useful for identifying weak areas and building familiarity with format, but they're not a perfect predictor.

The real exam can feel easier or harder depending on whether the questions align with your preparation. Don't obsess over whether your practice scores are high enough. Use them as a diagnostic tool, not a prophecy.

Your Second or Third Exam Will Be Easier—But Don't Get Overconfident

After you pass your first exam, the next one feels manageable. You know the format. You know your pace. You've done it before. This is true—it usually is easier.

Where candidates stumble is thinking they can pass their second or third exam with less study because the first was "easier." The difference is you now know the system, but each new code (residential, electrical, mechanical, etc.) has its own depth and specifics. Don't let success go to your head.

What Matters Most is Actually Showing Up Prepared

After all of this, here's what it comes down to: the people who pass are the ones who study systematically, show up to the exam, and execute their plan. There's no magic, no shortcuts. It's not about being naturally smart or having perfect code knowledge.

It's about discipline. About following a study schedule. About practicing timed questions. About showing up calm and focused.

I wish I'd understood that my first exam was as much about my preparation process as my knowledge base. You can't cram a building code. You can't fake your way through an exam. But you can absolutely prepare in a way that sets you up to succeed.

That's what everyone who passes does, regardless of their background.

Disclosure: This post was written by Levi Mittag, founder of Building Code Academy.

ICC®, International Building Code®, International Residential Code®, and related certification names are registered trademarks of the International Code Council, Inc. Building Code Academy is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the International Code Council.