ADC Written Exam exam-day guide
ADC Written Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Appointment confirmation
Bring a printed or downloaded copy of your booking confirmation showing the test centre address, date and scheduled start time. Note that reporting times are usually earlier than the start time - confirm the exact reporting time with the provider.
Primary photo ID
A current, valid photo ID (typically a passport) with a signature, matching the name on your registration exactly. Check the ADC/Pearson VUE list of accepted ID documents before test day; an expired or mismatched document can mean refused entry.
Secondary ID / supporting document
Some centres ask for a second document or a copy of your authorisation letter. Confirm with the provider whether a second ID is required - do not assume.
Confirmation of your test format and timing
Know in advance how many parts the written examination has, how many questions, and the timing of each part and any scheduled break. Re-read the current ADC candidate handbook the week before; do not rely on second-hand accounts.
Layered clothing
Test rooms are often cold or unevenly air-conditioned. Wear layers that are easy to remove; avoid clothing with large pockets or logos that might complicate security screening.
Water and a light snack for breaks
Confirm the centre's rules on food and drink at the workstation - many prohibit it at the desk but allow it in a designated area during breaks.
Plan for prohibited items
Phones, smart watches, fitness bands, notes, textbooks and bags must be stored as the test administrator directs. Leave anything you do not need at home or at your accommodation.
Travel and arrival plan
Rehearse the route to the centre, identify parking or public transport options, and build in a buffer for delays. Arriving flustered is one of the most common avoidable problems on test day.
Accommodation (if travelling)
Book somewhere quiet within easy reach of the centre; a short, low-stress commute matters more than hotel quality.
Approved accommodations, if applicable
If you need extra time, a separate room or other adjustment, arrangements must normally be requested well before test day - not in the final week. Confirm the deadline and status with the provider.
Interface familiarity
If the provider offers a tutorial or practice test for the delivery platform, complete it beforehand so that navigation, flagging and review functions do not cost you time on the day.
Final-revision material only
Bring nothing to the centre, but in the days beforehand restrict yourself to your own condensed notes and the published exam scope rather than new textbooks.
Plan the day
Re-read the official candidate handbook and your booking confirmation. Verify ID validity and name matching. Confirm the centre address, reporting time and route. Book accommodation if needed. From this point, do consolidation only - revisit your weakest two or three topics with your own summary notes; do not start new material.
Complete one timed practice block under exam-like conditions to rehearse pacing, then review only your errors. Write a one-page 'last look' sheet of facts you keep getting wrong. Stop heavy study by the end of this window.
Light review of the one-page sheet only. Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, layers, snacks, transport details. Check the weather and transport disruptions. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and excessive caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time - a familiar sleep routine beats an early night you are not used to.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Do not cram - a rushed review raises anxiety more than it adds marks. Leave earlier than you think necessary and aim to reach the area near the centre well ahead of the reporting time. Use the restroom before you are seated.
Follow the administrator's instructions for ID checks and secure storage. If a tutorial is offered, use it to confirm how to flag, review and move between questions. Report any equipment problem immediately rather than trying to work around it.
Pace against the clock: note roughly how many minutes per block of questions you can afford. Answer every question - do not leave blanks unless the provider's rules penalise incorrect answers (confirm this). Flag anything that takes more than your target time and come back to it. Re-read the stem for words like 'except', 'most likely' and 'initial'. In any break, stand up, drink water, and avoid comparing answers with other candidates.
Note down, while fresh, which topic areas felt weak, and confirm with the provider the published date for results release. Do not attempt to reconstruct or share question content.
Rules to check
Bring the identification the provider specifies, with your name matching your registration exactly. If your ID is expired, damaged or differently named, you may be refused entry; confirm accepted documents with the ADC before test day.
Arrive before the reporting time stated on your confirmation. Late arrival may result in refused admission or reduced testing time - the exact policy is set by the provider, so confirm it in advance rather than assuming.
Keep the workstation clear. Phones, smart watches, notes, books and bags must be stored as directed; possession of unauthorised items at the desk is typically treated as misconduct.
Use only the writing materials or on-screen tools the provider supplies, and return or account for any scratch paper as instructed.
If breaks are scheduled, confirm with the provider whether the clock stops during them. Do not leave the test room without notifying the administrator.
Expect to accept a confidentiality agreement. Do not reproduce, discuss or share examination content afterwards - doing so can invalidate your result.
Follow all instructions from the test administrator. Behaviour that disrupts the session or breaches security can lead to removal and cancellation of your results, with the provider's decision process applying.
Scoring practice - such as whether incorrect answers are penalised, how questions are weighted, and how the pass standard is set - is published by the ADC. Confirm it in the current handbook rather than relying on what other candidates say.