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Open free ICDL Documents prep resources ↗Exam facts & prep options
Documents module (previously Word Processing)
Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for ICDL Documents, with direct links to official sources.
Official exam siteJump to prep options ↓
QuestionsNot publicly disclosed — The current first-party exam pages and candidate materials cited for this record were reviewed; they do not publish this field.
Testing timeNot publicly disclosed — The current first-party exam pages and candidate materials cited for this record were reviewed; they do not publish this field.
ScoringPass mark of 75% for all ICDL modules; performance automatically assessed by the automated test system on completion of the test
Exam feeNo national published fee: the price of testing (and training) is set by each ICDL Accredited Test Centre in South Africa; contact the local test centre for pricing; re-sits require additional fees set by the centre; the first two ICDL Profile certificates are free, thereafter a charge per print
Prep options
Study resources for ICDL Documents
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- ICDL ZA
- Category
- Digital Literacy
- Current version
- Word Processing Module Syllabus Version 6.0 (current); Syllabus 5.0 still in use during the transition period; module rebranded 'Documents' (previously Word Processing) under ICDL Workforce/Core
- Where it applies
- ZA — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- Percentage-based result (pass mark expressed as a percentage)
- Testing provider
- ICDL Accredited Test Centres in South Africa (examination conditions supervised by an ICDL Accredited Tester; automated test systems)
- Format
- Computer-based automated test taken under examination conditions at an ICDL Accredited Test Centre, supervised by an ICDL Accredited Tester; South African test centres use automated test systems; the test is theory and practice-based (sample papers combine multiple-choice questions with practical tasks)
- Availability
- Start at any time by contacting any ICDL Accredited Test Centre; module tests may be taken in any order, subject to training or testing schedules set by each test centre
- Results
- Immediate feedback: the automated test system assesses performance on completion of each test and provides immediate feedback to both the centre and the candidate
- Remote testing
- Not available
Exam structure
One certification test for the module, theory and practice-based (multiple-choice questions plus practical tasks), mapped to the Syllabus 6.0 task inventory across six categories: Using the Application (working with documents, enhancing productivity); Document Creation (enter text; select, edit); Formatting (text, paragraphs, styles); Objects (table creation, table formatting, graphical objects); Mail Merge (preparation, outputs); Prepare Outputs (setup, check and print)
Where rules vary
This row is the South African delivery of the ICDL Word Processing/Documents module, operated by ICDL South Africa; the FAQs describe delivery via South African test centres ('Test centres in South Africa use automated test systems'), while the same module test is offered by other national ICDL operators worldwide; a candidate's registration number works at any ICDL Accredited Test Centre worldwide
Eligibility
No training requirement or prior certification required: candidates register (purchase a Candidate Registration Number) and may take the module test without training if they can meet the syllabus criteria; tests are taken in any module order
Retake policy
Failed modules can be re-sat at the next available time at the chosen test centre with additional fees; a 24-hour waiting period applies before re-writing a module; each module requires one test