ADF YOU Session exam-day guide
ADF YOU Session · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Current photo ID
Bring an original, unexpired government-issued photo ID (for example a driver's licence or passport). Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary form of ID is required.
Session confirmation details
Bring the booking confirmation email or SMS showing your session time, centre address, and any listed instructions, so staff can check you in quickly.
Education records
Gather Year 10/12 results, trade certificates, and any tertiary transcripts. Ask the provider in advance whether originals, certified copies, or digital copies are accepted.
Ranked role preferences
Write down the roles or job families you want to discuss, ranked in order, plus any questions about eligibility, training, and posting locations.
Personal and referee details
Have addresses, contact numbers, and referee contact details ready in case you need to complete forms on the day.
Health and medical information
Note any conditions, medications, allergies, or past injuries you may be asked about. Confirm with the provider what documentation, if any, you should bring.
Glasses or contact lenses
If you wear corrective lenses, bring them. Computer-based assessments and any vision screening are easier and more accurate with your usual correction.
Water and a snack
Sessions can run for several hours. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are permitted in the waiting area or must stay in a locker.
Pen and paper
Bring a pen for forms. Do not assume scratch paper or a calculator is allowed for the aptitude assessment - ask the provider what materials are supplied or permitted.
Comfortable clothing and transport plan
Dress comfortably and plan your route, parking, and travel buffer so you arrive calm and early.
Phone charging and storage plan
Charge your phone for travel and contact purposes, but expect to have it switched off and stored during testing.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the session time, centre address, and arrival instructions with the provider. Check that your photo ID has not expired. Collect all documents in one folder and read up on the roles you are interested in.
Start shifting your sleep schedule toward the session start time, and do light, timed practice on mental arithmetic, verbal reasoning, and pattern/spatial problems rather than cramming.
Lay out ID, documents, pen, glasses, and clothes. Confirm transport and parking. Avoid alcohol and heavy study, eat normally, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat breakfast, hydrate, and leave with enough buffer to arrive 20–30 minutes early. Keep your ID accessible rather than buried in a bag.
Check in with reception, follow instructions on storing your phone and belongings, and use the restroom before testing begins.
Read the instructions for each section carefully, watch the time, and do not get stuck on one question. Confirm with staff in advance whether unanswered questions or guessing affect your score.
Answer questions honestly and consistently, refer to your ranked role preferences, and write down anything you are told to follow up on.
Ask what happens next, expected timeframes, and who to contact with follow-up questions, then note the answers before you leave.
Rules to check
Bring acceptable original photo ID. Candidates without valid ID may be unable to sit the session, so confirm the accepted forms with the provider beforehand.
Arrive at the stated time. Late arrival may result in rescheduling rather than admission - confirm the provider's late-arrival policy in advance.
Switch off phones, smartwatches, and other devices when instructed and store them where staff direct. Do not access them during assessments.
Follow all staff directions and test-administrator instructions. Do not record, photograph, or share assessment content, and do not communicate with other candidates during testing.
Answer all personal, education, and health questions truthfully. Incorrect or incomplete information can affect your eligibility and may be checked later.
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, how long they are, and whether you may leave the testing area unsupervised.
Scoring and role eligibility are determined by the provider using its own criteria, which are not publicly released. Ask staff how and when you will be notified of outcomes rather than relying on unofficial sources.
If you need an adjustment due to a disability, medical condition, or religious observance, arrange it with the provider well before the session - do not assume it can be arranged on the day.