This International Standard describes a procedure to verify the degree of misalignment of the load train of the test machines using a reference test specimen uniformly loaded in tension or in compression, and to give indications in order to correct defects such as torsion and bending. This International Standard is not intended to provide a quantitative and acceptable limit before the testing of ceramic matrix composites with a fibre reinforcement: unidirectional (1D), bidirectional (2D), and tridirectional (xD, with 2 < x ≤ 3) loaded along one principal axis of reinforcement. This limit depends on the sensitivity of each type of composite to the misalignment defect. NOTE 1 This limit is to be defined between the testing establishment and the customer. NOTE 2 Monolithic ceramics are very sensitive to misalignment defects while CMCs (ceramic matrix composite) in general are moderately sensitive to them.