AAT MATS exam-day guide
AAT MATS · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the original, current photo ID specified in your admission details (commonly a passport or photocard driving licence). Photocopies, expired documents and digital copies are usually refused. Confirm the exact accepted ID types for your venue with the provider before travelling.
Appointment confirmation
Print or download your booking confirmation showing date, start time, venue address and your candidate/reference number. Have it accessible on paper in case phone use is restricted on arrival.
Venue route and travel plan
Check the venue location, entrance, parking or public transport options and journey time in advance. Aim to arrive with a comfortable buffer before your scheduled start; late arrival can mean refused entry. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider.
Confirmation of permitted materials
AAT-style computer-based assessments normally supply an on-screen calculator and/or scratch pad. Confirm in advance whether you may bring your own calculator, pen and paper, or a printed standards/reference document - rules vary by unit and venue.
Nothing prohibited at the desk
Leave phones, smart watches, notes, textbooks and bags in the designated storage area. Devices must normally be switched off, not merely silenced. Check any medical or access arrangements with the provider beforehand.
Access arrangements confirmed
If you need extra time, a separate room, screen reader or other adjustments, confirm in writing that these are approved and will be in place on the day. Arrangements are rarely granted at short notice.
Water and a light snack for after
Drink and eat sensibly before the session. Keep any water bottle label-free and stored as the invigilator directs - some venues do not allow drinks at the desk.
Timed practice under exam conditions
Complete at least one full-length mock or question set under timed, no-notes conditions before the exam. This calibrates your pacing more reliably than untimed revision.
A one-page summary of weak areas
Prepare a short sheet of formulas, double-entry rules, ratio definitions or format layouts you keep getting wrong. Review it in the final 24 hours, then leave it in your bag - not at the desk.
Rest and a realistic alarm
Protect sleep in the last two nights and set an alarm with a backup. Fatigue costs more marks than one extra hour of cramming gains.
Plan the day
Re-read the booking confirmation and verify venue, start time, ID requirements and any approved access arrangements. Contact the provider immediately if anything is unclear or missing.
Finish content revision. Switch from learning new topics to retrieval practice: worked questions, then marking your own answers against the model answer or syllabus guidance.
Sit one full timed mock at the same time of day as your real appointment, on a computer if the assessment is computer-based, to rehearse the interface and your pacing plan.
Review only your error log and weak-topic summary. Re-work questions you previously got wrong rather than starting fresh material.
Plan the journey in detail - route, departure time, backup transport option, parking or ticket, and what you will do if you arrive early.
Light review only: skim your summary sheet for 30–60 minutes, then stop. No new topics, no all-nighters.
Pack ID, appointment confirmation, any confirmed permitted items and a pen. Lay everything by the door. Check the venue's website for last-minute access notices.
Eat a normal meal, set two alarms, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Avoid alcohol and heavy screen use late in the evening.
Eat a proper breakfast, hydrate, and re-check the venue address and travel conditions. Leave earlier than you think you need to.
Do not attempt heavy last-minute revision. A five-minute glance at your summary sheet is enough; anything more tends to raise anxiety rather than marks.
Present your ID and confirmation, store bags and devices as instructed, and follow the invigilator's seating and set-up directions. Ask the invigilator - not another candidate - about anything unclear.
Read the on-screen instructions and note the total time and question count. Do a quick mental arithmetic of how many minutes per question or per section you can afford.
Work in two passes: answer everything you can quickly, flag anything long or uncertain, and return to flagged items. Never leave a question blank if the format does not penalise wrong answers.
For calculation questions, check units, dates, rounding and whether the question asks for a figure, a journal entry, a narrative or a selection. Show your workings where the format allows partial credit.
Stop new questions, revisit all flagged items, confirm every question has an answer, and check you have submitted or saved as the system requires.
Rules to check
You must present valid, original photo ID matching the name on your booking. If your ID is expired, lost or in a different name, contact the provider before the exam - the venue generally cannot admit you without it.
Follow all invigilator instructions. They govern seating, desk items, movement in the room and when you may leave; refusal to comply can lead to your assessment being voided.
Mobile phones, smart watches, wearables and any other electronic devices must be switched off and stored away from your desk. Possession of unauthorised material at the desk is normally treated as malpractice, whether or not you used it.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the assessment, and do not copy, photograph, screen-capture or share question content afterwards. Assessment materials are confidential and sharing them breaches the provider's conduct rules.
Break arrangements differ between venues and assessment types - some sessions run without breaks. Confirm your specific break policy with the provider and plan hydration and restroom visits around it.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the awarding body and may be expressed as a percentage mark or as competent/not yet competent. Confirm the pass standard, results release date and resit policy for your unit with the provider rather than assuming.
If you feel unwell, experience a technical failure or believe an incident affected your performance, tell the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded. Claims raised after you leave are much harder to support.
Check the provider's rules on what happens if you arrive late or need to reschedule. Cut-off times, cancellation windows and fees are set by the provider and are not negotiable at the venue.