AU exam-day guide
AU · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring the exact ID type named in your booking confirmation (typically a current passport or government-issued photo licence). Name and spelling must match your registration exactly. If your ID is expired, or your registered name differs from your ID, contact the provider before test day to fix it - this is the most common cause of refused entry.
Booking confirmation / admission document
Bring a printed or offline-accessible copy of your confirmation showing your candidate number, test centre address and start time. Do not rely on mobile signal inside the venue. The provider decides whether a printed copy is mandatory - confirm with the provider.
Confirmed arrival time
Note the reporting time, which is usually earlier than the start time to allow for ID checks and seating. Re-check the venue address the day before; centres occasionally relocate or use a different entrance.
Approved calculator (only if permitted)
Check the provider's list of permitted models and whether a calculator is allowed at all for your test. Do not assume a calculator is permitted; unapproved devices are usually confiscated.
Permitted stationery
Bring only what the provider allows - typically pens/pencils, an eraser and a sharpener. Scratch paper and notes are almost always prohibited; any paper supplied is collected at the end.
No prohibited items
Leave smart watches, fitness bands, phones, earbuds, notes and study materials out of the test room or in the storage the centre provides. Devices must be off, not merely silenced, if you are allowed to store them.
Water and a light snack
Bring water in a clear, label-free bottle if the venue permits drinks at the desk, plus a snack for any scheduled break. Confirm the venue's rules on drinks and food - policies differ.
Layered clothing
Test rooms are often heavily air-conditioned or stuffy, and you cannot control the temperature. Dress in layers you can remove without leaving the room.
Plan and backup transport
Confirm the route, parking and public transport options, and add a buffer of at least 30 minutes. Have a backup plan (taxi number, alternate route) in case of disruption.
Medical or access arrangements
If you have approved adjustments (extra time, separate room, rest breaks), bring the approval letter and confirm the centre has received it. Unapproved adjustments cannot usually be granted on the day.
Know the format and scoring
Be clear on the number of sections, item types, whether answers can be changed, and whether wrong answers are penalised before you sit down, so you are not learning the rules under time pressure.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, lay out ID and confirmation the night before, and avoid last-minute cramming that costs you sleep. Fatigue is a bigger threat to your score than one missed fact.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook or information notice for your specific test and confirm the essentials: venue, reporting time, ID requirements, permitted and prohibited items, break policy and scoring. Email the provider now if anything is unclear or if your ID details do not match your registration - resolving it in this window is realistic; on the day it may not be.
Do a full timed practice run under exam conditions (correct duration, no interruptions, no notes) so you can rehearse pacing and decide your strategy for each section. Stop introducing new material after this point.
Confirm your transport and, if possible, do a dry run to the venue or check it on a map. Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, permitted stationery and clothing layers. Prepare the payment or ticket you need for travel.
Light review only - your own summary sheets and the list of errors you keep repeating. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not attempt a late-night mock test.
Eat a proper breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive at the venue with a buffer rather than on the minute. Leave the phone and smart watch packed away or at home. Re-read the section instructions carefully once you are seated; do not start writing before you are told to.
Read each question's instruction line in full before answering, and watch the clock against section boundaries rather than against the whole test. Answer every question unless the format penalises incorrect answers - if you are unsure whether it does, confirm with the provider beforehand rather than guessing on the day.
If a question is blocking you, mark it, move on and return if time allows. Use any scheduled break to stand, drink water and reset - but check the rules on whether you may access notes or your phone during breaks, as this is often restricted.
Reserve the last few minutes to check that every question has a recorded answer and that your details on the answer sheet or login are correct. Stop writing immediately when instructed - continuing to write after time is called can lead to a misconduct finding.
Rules to check
Bring the ID type specified by the provider and nothing else as a substitute. If the name on your registration does not match your ID, the provider may refuse entry or void your result - sort this out before test day.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Candidates arriving late may be admitted at the centre's discretion or refused entirely, and no extra time is usually given to compensate.
Only permitted items may be taken to your desk. Phones, smart watches, notes and study materials must be stored as directed and switched off; possession at the desk is typically treated as misconduct even if unused.
Follow all instructions from invigilators immediately. Talking, looking at another candidate's work, or passing material during the test is treated as misconduct regardless of intent.
Break and rest-room rules vary by test - some allow access to notes or phones during breaks and others do not. Confirm with the provider what applies to your test rather than assuming. If you must leave the room, expect to be escorted and possibly subject to a re-check.
Scoring rules, including whether incorrect answers are penalised, whether sections are weighted, and what score constitutes a pass, are set by the provider for your specific test. Confirm these in advance so you can decide whether to guess.
If something goes wrong on the day - a faulty computer, noise disruption, illness - raise it with an invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded. Complaints raised only after you leave are much harder to support.
Your result and any score report remain subject to the provider's verification and misconduct procedures, so keep your confirmation and correspondence until results are issued.