Licensee & Approved Manager Liquor Training exam-day guide
Licensee & Approved Manager Liquor Training · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID it accepts and whether the name must match your enrolment exactly.
Confirmation of enrolment and appointment details
Have the booking confirmation, start time, and venue address saved offline on your phone as well as printed. Check the provider's instructions for arrival time, which is often earlier than the stated start.
Course materials and notes permitted by the provider
Ask the provider in advance whether any notes, handbooks, or legislation extracts may be taken into the test room. If the assessment is closed-book, leave prohibited materials at home or in a locker.
Pen and any permitted stationery
Bring at least two working pens if the test is on paper. Confirm with the provider whether answer sheets require black or blue ink and whether correction fluid or pencil is allowed.
Water and a light snack
Sessions can run several hours including briefing and marking. Check the venue's rules on food and drink in the test room before bringing items to your desk.
Travel plan with a backup
Plan to arrive with a buffer for traffic or public transport delays. Identify a backup route and the nearest parking or station in advance.
Provider contact number
Save the provider's phone number and email so you can notify them immediately if something goes wrong on the day. Confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled.
Any approved accommodations arranged in advance
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other adjustments, confirm approval with the provider well before the test day and bring any confirmation they require. Do not assume adjustments can be arranged on arrival.
Review of responsible service of alcohol fundamentals
Reread your own summary of refusal-of-service grounds, acceptable ID, intoxication indicators, and incident reporting. Use your course material, not third-party question banks.
Personal readiness plan for medical needs
Confirm with the provider how to manage medication, mobility needs, or toilet breaks during the test. Ask whether leaving the room during the test is permitted and how it affects your attempt.
A watch or awareness of timing
Confirm whether a clock is visible in the room and whether watches are permitted. Practise pacing yourself on practice questions under timed conditions.
Clear plan for the rest of the day
Avoid scheduling anything demanding immediately after the test in case it runs long. Confirm with the provider when and how results are issued.
Plan the day
Confirm your booking, venue, start time, and ID requirements with the provider. Recheck the address and plan your transport, including a backup route. Ask any outstanding questions about permitted materials, breaks, and accommodations in writing so you have a record.
Do a focused review of the areas you find hardest rather than rereading everything. Write short summaries in your own words of refusal-of-service grounds, acceptable forms of ID, signs of intoxication, and reporting obligations, then test yourself without looking.
Sleep on a normal schedule for the next three nights. Avoid last-minute cramming sessions late at night, as fatigue affects reading accuracy on scenario questions more than extra study helps.
Pack your bag: original photo ID, booking confirmation, permitted stationery, water, and any approved accommodation paperwork. Lay out clothes and check the weather and travel advisories.
Do one light review pass over your own summaries and stop early. Confirm the alarm and a backup alarm, and check again that your transport plan still works for the expected time of day.
Eat normally, avoid heavy alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. If you are unwell, contact the provider as early as possible to ask about rescheduling or special arrangements, and confirm their policy rather than assuming.
Eat a proper meal and hydrate. Leave earlier than the map suggests and aim to arrive with a comfortable buffer. Bring your ID in an accessible pocket rather than buried in a bag.
Do a short, calm review of your own summary sheet only, then put it away. Avoid discussing answers with other candidates in the waiting area, as conflicting information can undermine your confidence.
Follow the provider's check-in process, present your ID, and store bags and phones where instructed. Listen carefully to the briefing on timing, permitted materials, and how to ask questions.
Read the instructions and each question in full, noting words such as 'must', 'may', 'not', and 'best'. Answer the questions you are confident about first, then return to harder ones if time allows.
For scenario questions, identify who is responsible, what the risk is, and what action the law or house policy requires before choosing an answer. Eliminate clearly wrong options first.
Keep an eye on the time and reserve a few minutes to check that every question is answered and your details are correct on the answer sheet or screen. Submit or hand in as instructed by the invigilator.
Follow the provider's instructions on leaving the room and collecting belongings. Ask when and how results will be issued, and note any next steps such as certificate collection or further licensing applications.
Rules to check
Bring original government-issued photo ID and present it on request. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what happens if you cannot produce acceptable ID, as you may be refused entry or your attempt may be voided.
Arrive by the stated check-in time. Confirm with the provider how late arrivals are treated, as many providers will not admit candidates after the briefing has begun and rescheduling policies vary.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and the provider's conduct rules. Do not talk during the test, do not look at another candidate's work, and raise your hand if you need assistance.
Keep phones, smart watches, and other devices switched off and stored as directed. Confirm with the provider what items are prohibited from the test room before you arrive.
Do not bring unauthorized notes, books, or recording devices into the test room unless the provider has confirmed they are permitted. If the assessment is closed-book, treat any reference material as prohibited.
Confirm with the provider in advance how breaks are handled, including whether you may leave the room, whether the clock stops, and whether supervised toilet breaks are available. Do not assume breaks are automatic.
Ask the invigilator if an instruction or question is unclear, but expect that they cannot explain or interpret test content. Confirm the provider's policy on queries about question wording.
Confirm with the provider how the test is scored, what the pass mark is, whether incorrect answers are penalized, and how and when results and feedback are issued. Do not rely on secondhand claims about scoring.