CEMC exam-day guide
CEMC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring the identification the competition or exam provider requires. CEMC contests are typically written at your own school under a teacher supervisor, so confirm with your teacher or the provider which ID (if any) is needed.
Confirmation or registration details
Know your contest name, level, and any candidate number or login the provider issued. Confirm with the provider how you will be identified on the answer sheet.
Permitted writing tools
Bring several sharpened pencils, an eraser, and pens if allowed. Confirm with the provider or your supervising teacher exactly which writing instruments are permitted.
Permitted calculator
Calculator rules vary by contest and level. Confirm with the provider which models are allowed and whether any are banned before relying on one.
Ruler and geometry tools
Some contests allow a ruler, compass, or protractor. Confirm with the provider what is permitted for your specific contest.
Scrap paper policy
Do not assume extra paper is allowed. Confirm with your supervisor whether rough work must go on the provided booklet or on supplied paper.
Watch or timer
A simple watch helps you pace yourself if the room has no visible clock. Confirm with the provider whether watches are permitted and whether smart devices are banned.
Water and a light snack
Bring water and something easy to eat before or after, subject to room rules. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at the desk.
Directions and arrival time
Know where and when to report. If writing at your school, confirm the room and start time with your teacher; if at a test centre, confirm with the provider.
Rest and logistics the night before
Plan sleep, transport, and a backup way to arrive on time. Treat this as a fixed commitment so nothing is rushed on the day.
Review the contest format
Know the number of questions, format (multiple choice and/or written), and time limit. Confirm the exact format with the provider for your contest and level.
Emergency contact and provider details
Have your teacher's or the provider's contact information with you in case of delay or a question about the sitting. Confirm the correct contact with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own error log and formula sheet, redo a few representative problems under time, and confirm all logistics (room, time, ID, permitted tools) with your teacher or the provider.
Check your calculator works and has fresh batteries if permitted, and pack your pencil case. Confirm with the provider that your calculator model is allowed.
Do a light review only: skim key formulas and strategies. Avoid cramming new topics. Prepare clothes, ID, tools, water, and transport plan, then get to bed at a normal time.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and re-check that you have your ID and permitted tools. Do not attempt heavy last-minute study; a brief formula skim is enough.
Read all instructions, confirm the time limit and how answers must be recorded, and note the mark value of each section. Ask the supervisor any procedural question before the clock starts.
Work in passes: answer what you know first, mark hard problems, and return to them. Watch the clock and reserve time to transfer or check answers in the required format.
Make sure every answer is recorded as required, no question is left blank if there is no penalty for guessing (confirm the guessing policy with the provider), and your name or ID is filled in correctly.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from your supervising teacher or invigilator; they control the conduct of the sitting. Confirm any procedural question with the provider rather than guessing.
Bring and present the identification the provider requires. If you are unsure what ID applies to your contest, confirm with the provider before the day.
Use only permitted tools. Do not bring calculators, notes, or devices unless the provider explicitly allows them for your contest and level.
Keep your work your own. Any collaboration, communication, or use of unauthorized material during the contest is misconduct and may lead to disqualification. Confirm the provider's academic-integrity policy with them.
Breaks and leaving the room are at the supervisor's discretion. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are permitted and how time is handled if you leave.
Scoring and answer format are set by the provider. Know in advance whether there is a penalty for wrong answers and how written solutions are marked; confirm these details with the provider.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a problem with the sitting, raise it with the supervisor and follow the provider's procedure. Do not attempt to resolve it yourself.
Respect the time limit and stop writing when instructed. Continuing after time is called may be treated as misconduct under the provider's rules.