BHS-Matura exam-day guide
BHS-Matura · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission document / invitation to the exam
Bring the official invitation or registration confirmation issued by your school or exam provider, plus a government-issued photo ID (passport or national ID card). Exact ID requirements vary by provider, so confirm with the provider which documents are accepted.
Photo ID matching your registration
The name on your ID should match the name you registered under. If your name has changed or the spelling differs, contact the provider before exam day; the procedure for handling discrepancies must be confirmed with the provider.
Permitted writing instruments
Bring several pens and pencils of the type your provider allows, plus an eraser and sharpener if pencils are permitted. Whether specific pen colours or ink types are required is set by the provider, so confirm with the provider.
Permitted calculator or formula aids
For mathematics and science components, check which calculator models are allowed and whether formula sheets are supplied. Do not assume any device is permitted; confirm the approved list with the provider.
Approved dictionary or language aids
For language subjects, monolingual or bilingual dictionaries may or may not be allowed. Confirm with the provider which aids are permitted and whether they must be inspected beforehand.
Clear water bottle and small snack
Bring water in a transparent bottle and a quiet snack for before or after the exam. Rules on food and drink at the desk vary, so confirm with the provider what may be taken into the room.
Watch (non-smart) if clocks are not guaranteed
A simple analogue or digital watch without communication features can help you pace yourself. Smart watches and phones are almost always prohibited at the desk; confirm the provider's policy on timekeeping devices.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or in storage
Plan where your phone will be during the exam. Many providers require devices to be switched off and stored outside the room; the exact rule and consequences of a violation must be confirmed with the provider.
Know the venue, room, and arrival time
Check the address, building entrance, and reporting time in advance and plan a route with a buffer. Arrival and late-admission cut-offs are set by the provider; confirm them rather than guessing.
Review the provider's instructions for candidates
Read the official information sheet on permitted items, timing, breaks, and conduct. This is the authoritative source; where anything is unclear, confirm with the provider.
Personal necessities and medication
Bring any prescribed medication and inform invigilators if you may need to take it during the exam. The procedure for medical needs and extra time must be arranged in advance; confirm with the provider.
Backup transport and contact plan
Have a backup route and a contact number for the school or exam centre in case of delay. Report any emergency as early as possible; how late arrivals are handled must be confirmed with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review summaries, formula sheets, and your own error notes for each subject, cycling through them in short blocks with breaks. Confirm the venue, reporting time, and permitted items using the provider's official instructions, and lay out ID, stationery, and any approved aids. Protect sleep: keep bedtime consistent rather than cramming late.
Do a light review only, focusing on structures and key terms rather than new problems. Pack your bag with admission document, ID, pens, pencils, eraser, approved calculator or dictionary, water, and snack. Check transport times and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy caffeine in the evening, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, dress in layers, and leave with a generous buffer. Re-check that your admission document and ID are in the bag. Arrive at the reporting time rather than the start time. Keep conversation with other candidates light and avoid last-minute debate about answers or topics.
Read the instructions and check the paper for missing pages. Fill in your name and candidate details exactly as instructed. Note the total time, the number of tasks, and any choice requirements, then sketch a rough time budget per section and leave a few minutes for checking.
Start with tasks you can handle confidently to build momentum, but do not let one hard question consume your budget; mark it and return later. Show working where marks are awarded for method, and write legibly. Watch the clock at planned checkpoints rather than constantly.
Stop writing new content with enough time to check that every required task is attempted and that choice rules are respected. Verify that your name and candidate number are correct, and that pages are in order. Hand in materials exactly as the invigilator instructs.
Avoid comparing detailed answers immediately, as this raises anxiety without changing results. Note briefly which topics felt weak for future study, then rest before the next component. Keep your admission documents until results are confirmed.
Rules to check
Bring and display the admission document and photo ID as required; if you lack either, contact the exam centre immediately, as the procedure for missing documents must be confirmed with the provider.
Follow all instructions from invigilators on seating, starting and stopping writing, and handing in papers. Writing after the instruction to stop may lead to consequences set by the provider.
Keep phones, smart watches, and other communication devices switched off and stored as directed. Unauthorised devices at the desk are typically treated as a serious violation; the exact rule must be confirmed with the provider.
Only use permitted aids such as calculators or dictionaries that appear on the provider's approved list. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask the provider before exam day.
Breaks and toilet visits are usually supervised and may not extend your working time. Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; the specific break policy must be confirmed with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam or attempt to view others' work. Suspected cheating is handled under the provider's misconduct procedure, which you should read in advance.
If you feel unwell or face an emergency, tell an invigilator at once. Procedures for illness during the exam and for requesting special consideration must be confirmed with the provider.
Scoring and grading rules, including how partial credit and grade boundaries work, are set by the provider. Read the official subject specifications rather than relying on rumour.