ACEM Primary exam-day guide
ACEM Primary · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the exact ID type the exam provider specifies (commonly a current passport or government-issued photo ID). Confirm the accepted forms and validity requirements with the provider before travel.
Admission / confirmation document
Print or download your exam confirmation, including candidate number, venue address, and reporting time. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Venue logistics plan
Know the exact address, entrance, and reporting time, and plan a route with a buffer for delays. Confirm the reporting time and any entry cut-off with the provider.
Approved stationery
Bring several pens/pencils and an eraser. Check the provider's list of permitted and prohibited items; some centres supply materials and bar personal stationery.
Clear water bottle and small snack
Bring water and a snack for scheduled breaks. Confirm whether food and drink are permitted in the exam hall and whether the bottle must be unlabelled.
No prohibited electronics
Leave smartwatches, phones, and other devices at home or stored as directed. Confirm the provider's device and storage policy in advance.
Rest and sleep plan for the night before
Protect sleep in the final 48 hours; avoid last-minute cramming that displaces rest.
Logistics for travel and accommodation
If travelling, book accommodation near the venue and confirm check-in and travel times so the morning is low-stress.
Personal medication and necessities
Bring any prescribed medication and required personal items. Confirm with the provider how medication must be declared or stored during the exam.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the venue and provider contact details, and arrange a backup transport option in case of disruption.
Plan the day
Review your confirmation for venue, reporting time, and ID requirements; resolve any discrepancies with the provider immediately. Do light consolidation of high-yield topics only, and stop introducing new material.
Finalise travel and accommodation, check transport timetables, and pack your bag with ID, confirmation, and approved stationery. Keep study to brief recall practice and prioritise sleep.
Do a short, low-stakes review of key frameworks and then stop. Re-check the venue route and reporting time, set two alarms, prepare clothes and food, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive at the venue with a generous buffer, and re-check you have your ID and confirmation. Avoid heavy cramming in the waiting area; use brief, calm recall only.
Read each question or station instruction fully before answering, allocate time according to the number of items, and move on if stuck rather than over-running. Use scheduled breaks to reset, and return to flagged items if time allows.
Note anything the provider should clarify (results timeline, next steps) before leaving, and avoid post-exam analysis that adds stress without changing the outcome.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identification the provider requires; entry may be refused without it, so confirm accepted ID forms in advance.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and supervisors, including seating, timing, and movement in and out of the hall.
Do not bring or use prohibited devices or materials; confirm the provider's list of permitted items before the exam.
Breaks are taken only at times and in the manner the provider directs; confirm the break policy and whether leaving the hall is permitted.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider; do not assume a particular marking scheme, and confirm how results are reported.
If you believe there is a problem with a question, station, or conditions, raise it through the provider's stated process rather than discussing it with other candidates.
Notify the provider promptly of any illness or circumstance affecting your ability to sit the exam, and confirm their policy on deferrals or special consideration.
Maintain academic integrity at all times; confirm the provider's misconduct policy and the consequences of any breach.