This NCIDQ cheat sheet strips the IDFX, IDIX, and IDPX down to the codes, clearances, and life-safety numbers examiners test most. It's a premium cheat sheet built by Capital Prep — the one premium prep we trust — and it's yours free. Reinforce it with the rest of your free NCIDQ toolkit: the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.
NCIDQ exam at a glance
- Sections: 3 — IDFX, IDIX (formerly the Practicum), and IDPX; you must pass all three
- Questions & time: IDFX 115 in 3 hrs · IDPX 115 in 3 hrs · IDIX 130 in 4 hrs (each includes 15 unscored pre-test items)
- Passing score: Scaled 200–800; 500 or higher to pass each section
- Cost: Non-refundable application fee (~$235 Route 1) plus per-section exam fees (~$305 IDFX / ~$365 IDPX / ~$470 IDIX)
- Certifying body: Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ), delivered at Prometric
What’s on the NCIDQ cheat sheet
- IDFX — Fundamentals — the early design phases — Existing Conditions, Pre-Design, Programming, Space Planning, Preliminary FF&E and Finishes, and Schematics; Schematics (20%) and Space Planning (19%) carry the most weight.
- IDIX — Implementation (32% Construction Documents) — design development and construction documentation — Construction Documents, Integration and FF&E, Consultant Drawing Coordination, Codes and Life Safety, and Specifications & Schedules; the biggest, most code-heavy section.
- IDPX — Professional — construction administration and project management — Contracts, Procurement & Permitting (28%), the Construction Process, Feasibility Studies, Scheduling & Budgeting, and Site Observation & Close-Out.
- Codes & clearances quick reference — the means of egress, occupant-load factors, ADA/ICC A117.1 dimensions, flame-spread classes, and the STC-vs-NRC distinction — the numbers the exam asks directly.
How to use it in your final week
- Drill the code numbers cold — 44-inch egress corridor, 20-foot dead-end, occupant load = area ÷ load factor (business 150 gross, unconcentrated assembly 15 net). These are the fill-in-the-blank and hot-spot items on the IDIX.
- Chant the ADA set as one block — 60 (turning circle), 30 × 48 (clear floor space), 36 (accessible route), 32 (door clear width), 1:12 (ramp). The exam asks them directly.
- Read the IDPX side once a day — construction-administration order (submittals → site observation → change orders → punch list → close-out) and the fee structures, so the professional-practice items feel like recall.
- Pair each pass with a short timed practice set so pacing stays sharp — the IDIX is 130 items in 4 hours and the IDFX and IDPX are 115 items in 3 hours each.
The cheat sheet is your review layer — your NCIDQ practice test drives the exam-readiness ring at the top of this page. Download it, review, then take a full practice exam (or drill with the study guide and flashcards) to see where you stand.
NCIDQ cheat sheet FAQ
Yes — the NCIDQ cheat sheet downloads as a PDF with no sign-up and no account. It rides alongside Career Employer's free NCIDQ toolkit: the practice test, the study guide, and the flashcards, all built around the same content areas CIDQ tests.
Yes. It condenses the high-yield material for the IDFX (Fundamentals), the IDIX (Implementation, which replaced the hand-drawn Practicum in 2026), and the IDPX (Professional) onto one quick reference. Each section is scored from 200 to 800, and you need a scaled 500 to pass it.
Lock in the egress and accessibility figures the exam asks directly: a 44-inch egress corridor, a 20-foot dead-end limit, a 60-inch turning circle, a 30-by-48-inch clear floor space, a 32-inch door clear width, and a 1:12 ramp slope. Also fix the flame-spread ladder — Class A is 0 to 25, B is 26 to 75, C is 76 to 200.
Yes — it reflects the 2026 CIDQ blueprints, including the retirement of the Practicum and its replacement by the fully computer-based IDIX. It references the 2021 IBC and the 2017 Accessibility Code (ICC A117.1), so ignore older prep that describes a hand-drawn Practicum.
Click the download button or the preview card at the top of this page and the PDF opens instantly. Bookmark this page so it's easy to find again the week before your exam appointment at Prometric.
References
- 1.Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). “About the NCIDQ Exams.” cidq.org, 2026. ↑
- 2.Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). “NCIDQ Candidate Handbook.” cidq.org, 2026. ↑
- 3.Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). “NCIDQ Exam Blueprints 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions.” cidq.org, 2026. ↑
- 4.International Code Council (ICC). “2021 International Building Code, Chapter 10 — Means of Egress.” ICC Digital Codes, 2026. ↑
- 5.U.S. Department of Justice / U.S. Access Board. “2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.” ADA.gov, 2026. ↑
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