IDC PREPARATION.
You are thinking about becoming a PADI instructor.  Or you have committed to become one by signing already for a PADI IDC.
What is your destination? or final objective?
Yes, your IDC is aimed at you passing the PADI Instructor Examination (IE).
You will learn many things.  But your main focus is to pass the IE.
QUESTIONS you may have.
1.   What is this IE?
2.   The IE requires you to demonstrate skills from the Open Water Diver and the Rescue Courses in the IE.  So what is this mastery of demonstration of what skills?
3.   The IE also requires you to pass a 5 part dive written theory exam.  How do you prepare or study for this?  ( As a PADI DM, you are supposed to have enough knowledge to pass the Instructor Dive Theory Exam.  Some IDCs expect this and revision of dive theory will not be conducted during the IDC.  However I have always done this for my candidates).
4.    The IE requires you to pass a written PADI Standards and Procedures Exam.  Or you must be conversant with how you will teach and conduct PADI courses and Programs.  How do you get some knowledge before the IDC starts?  So as to lessen any stress during the IDC.

ANSWERS to your questions:
1.  The Structure  or Components of the Instructor Examination (IE)  (PADI  Guide to Teaching. Page 171)

There are 4 main parts in a PADI IE:

a.   Part 1.  Written Exams.  2 sub parts.

    i. Standards and Procedures Exam.   50 multiple choice objective questions.   90 minutes.  50% more time for Malaysians or if the exam is not available in your national language.    75% pass.  Open book exam with access to the 1. Instructor Manual and 2. The  PADI Guide to Teaching. No make-up.

     ii.   Theory Exam consisting of 5 papers - Physics, Physiology, Skills and Environment,  RDP and Decompression Theory, Equipment.  12 questions each.  75 %  pass on each paper.  Make-up on 1 paper allowed  if you pass any 4 papers.  90 minutes. 50% additional time  for Malaysians or if the written exam is not available in your national language.  Must have RDP Table, eRDPML, and calculator. 

b.           Part 2.   Knowledge Development Presentation.  A short prescriptive lesson presentation to re-mediate a student on his  missed knowledge review question.  Score of 3.5 out of 5 to pass.  Must have Introduction, Body and Summary.  Make-up available.

c.   Part 3.   Confined Water Segment Requirement.  2 sub parts.

    i.    Confined Water Skill Presentation.  Present an Open Water Diver Course or Rescue Diver  Course skill consisting of: 
        a.  Briefing the skill,  
        b. Demonstrating the skill, 
        c. Correcting problems during student's practice, 
        d. Ensuring good control and delivery
        e. Debriefing the students.

 3.4 out of 5 to pass.  Make-up available.

    ii     Skill Circuit.  

        a.  Demonstrate 5 skills that will be selected for everybody in the same IE. Only from Open Water Diver Course.  Maximum of 5 points per skill. 17 points from a possible 25 to pass.  Must score at least a 3 in each skill.
        b.    If you scored  3 or more in every skill, but the total score is less than 17, make-up (that is second chance), you repeat all 5 skills.  OR if you scored 17 or more points but only one skill is less than 3, then you repeat that skill to get a minimum of 3 for that skill.

d.    Part 4.  Open Water Segment Requirement.  2 sub parts.

    i.   Open water presentation of 2 skills.  2 skills from the open water diver course / Adventure Dive / Rescue Course  will be assigned. Candidates score points in:
        a.  Briefing of the skill
        b.  Problem solving during student practice.
        c.  Control of the session techniques.
        d.  Delivery techniques.   
        e. De-briefing of the skill

    25 points available per skill. Total of 50 points available.   Must get a combined total of at least 3.4 or 68% to pass.  No make-up available.

    ii.   Rescue Course Ex 7 Demonstration.   Demonstrate the way to look after an unconscious diver on the surface from the time you see him on the surface, until you have made him buoyant, called  for help, gave resuscitation breaths either by mouth or by pocket mask, remove all scuba gear from him and yourself, and towed him about another 20 meters.  Make-up available.

2.   How do you (In your DM course, in the IDC Prep Course or during your IDC) demonstrate Diving Skills.
        i. The current DM course requires you to demonstrate  24 basic skills.  The IDC and IE also need you to be able to demonstrate /  conduct about 25 additional  skills such as:                    a. Deploying a lift bag.
        b. The Approach, Evaluation and Making Contact with an irrational diver on the                        surface. 
        c. Open  Water descents and ascents.  
        d. 5 point descent without bottom contact.
        e. Deploying a surface marker buoy.
        f.  Deploying a surface marker buoy.
        g.  Dealing with aloose cylinder band.
Details on the Steps of each skill in Confined Water, its Value, Review in open water, Organization and videos of skills will be given to you in my IDC. (Example: go to Youtube. richardmei idc.  See some of the skills)
       ii.  How to demonstrate?  Ensure  that your demonstrations are:
            a. Very slow 
            b.  Every important step of a skill is make known to your audience before     execution.  Example in mask clearing would be to show that you are going to press the top of your mask against your forehead before actually doing so.
            c. All critical attributes are exaggerated.     Example in mask clearing, would be to emphasize using your index finger to rotate in front of your nose to emphasize exhalation using your nose,  and using your hand to point upwards  to emphasize looking up.
            d.   Your demonstration is seen clearly by your students / audience.

3.   Mastering Instructor Dive Theory Knowledge.   You must have sufficient knowledge of diving theory to do well in the PADI Instructor Exam (IE).  In general first go back to your earlier courses!!   Study under guidance using my tested method : (Start doing well before your IDC - months? Get the required materials mentioned in the following text from me*)

        a.   Level 1 Open Water Diver Knowledge .  Complete the current Open                Water Diver final Exams* to ensure you have a solid understanding of basic            diving concepts such  as the use of the RDP - both versions, Buoyancy,                  Pressures and Volumes relationships.  I also  recommend highly reading the          Open Water Diver Course Manual in its entirety and watching the 5                          Videos. The Open Water Diver Manual and Video gives so much useful and            valuable knowledge for an aspiring instructor preparing for the PADI IE

        b.   Level 2. Adventures in Diving Knowledge .  Complete or read as                    many knowledge reviews answer keys (from PADI Pro or from me) of                      Adventure dives that you can, in particular paying  attention to Altitude Dive,            Boat Dive, Navigation Dive, Night Dive, Deep Dive, Wreck Dive, Enriched Air          Nitrox Dive, Dry suit Dive. Must complete the Altitude Dive Knowledge                    Review as there will most certainly be IE questions on this Dive.

        c.   Level 3 Rescue Diver Knowledge .    Complete the Rescue Diver                    exam*.  If bad score, read the Knowledge Reviews answer keys*, and the                Manual. Then try the B exam to get good scores. Watch the Course Video*. 

        d.   Level 4. Richard Mei 5 part Tutorials.  Now you are ready for                          Divemaster or Instructor level of Dive Theory knowledge.  

              i. Level 4 a.  Study the provided Tutorial on Equipme*.  Then test                      yourself in 2 given exams.  Guidance provided after each exam.  Learn                    from mistakes. Score over 85% to progress to next sub-level.

              ii.  Level 4 b.  Study the Tutorial on Skills and Environment*. Also                      read DM KR 6 and 8 answer keys* Follow the process as for Level 4a.

              iii.  Levels 4 c, 4d and 4e. Study the Tutorials - c. RDP/Decompression                Theory, d. Physiology, and e. Physics one at a time. Then follow the                     process as at Level 4a. 
              
        e.  Level 5 - Practice Practice Practice.  You have almost mastered the 5              part PADI Dive Theory exam.  Now you consolidate and go for 95 to 100 %            mastery.  Every day or periodically until your IE date, do complete Dive                    Theory 5 parts exams.  A total of 12 practice exams* are provided.  If you do           this honestly, it is impossible to fail!

        f.    To assist those with weak pre-knowledge of Diving Physics, I have                    worked examples for Physics questions* in 4 practice exams  to help my                  candidates.  

4.   Familiarization of PADI Standards and Procedures before your IDC.
      a.    Get a copy of the latest PADI Instructor Manual early.
     b.    Read  a summary of the General Standards ( page 1 to about 40) from me.  (Tutorial OL2).
      c.  Read other tutorials of the main parts of the Instructor Manual.  My candidates and friends can get from me.  My Tutorials in two formats - Word document and Excel document include how to conduct DSD, Bubble Maker, Seal Team, Skin Diver, Discover snorkeling, DLD, Scuba Review, Open Water Diver, Adventures in Diving, Rescue Diver, Divemaster and others.  Each tutorial has questions and answers to confirm understanding.
      d.   After reading my tutorials, you now have the knowledge to be able to read the Instructor Manual and appreciate this Manual which guides you as an Instructor so well.
    
           “ I wish you every success in your endeavors”