DIM Bakalavr Group I exam-day guide
DIM Bakalavr Group I · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the exact identity document the testing centre requires. The accepted types and whether a photocopy is allowed are set by the provider, so confirm with the provider before exam day and check that the document is unexpired.
Admission or registration confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your name, exam name (DIM Bakalavr, Group I), date, time, and centre address. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy is accepted.
Know your exact reporting time and address
Reconfirm the session start time, the reporting (arrival) time, and the building entrance at least 24 hours ahead. Arrival cut-offs and late-entry rules vary, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.
Permitted stationery only
Bring only what the provider lists as allowed (for example, pens or pencils of a specified type). Do not bring your own paper, notes, or formula sheets unless explicitly permitted; confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Approved calculator or no calculator
The DIM Group I quantitative sections may or may not allow a calculator, and model restrictions vary. Confirm with the provider which device, if any, is permitted, and do not rely on a phone as a calculator.
Personal items plan
Expect phones, smart watches, bags, and notes to be stored away or prohibited in the testing room. Confirm with the provider whether secure storage exists on site so you can decide what to leave at home.
Water and a light snack for after the test
Bring water and a snack to have after the session. Whether food or drink is allowed at your desk during the test is provider-specific, so confirm with the provider and plan to keep items outside the room.
Rest, sleep, and travel buffer
Sleep normally the night before, eat a normal breakfast, and plan to arrive with a comfortable buffer for transport delays. Being early is safer than relying on a tight connection.
Language and instructions check
Confirm with the provider which language(s) the paper and instructions are given in and whether a bilingual glossary or dictionary is permitted. Do not assume a translation aid is allowed.
Access or accommodation arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, or another accommodation, confirm in advance with the provider that it has been approved and will be in place on the day. Such arrangements usually cannot be granted on the spot.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summary sheets, formula list, and past mistakes. Do two or three timed mini-sections under exam conditions to check pacing, then mark and review them. Confirm the exam date, reporting time, and venue address with the provider, and plan the route and travel time. Prepare the documents and permitted items in one bag.
Check transport options and identify a backup route. Decide what you will leave at home (phone, smart watch, large bag, notes). Re-read the provider's rules on permitted items, ID, and calculators, and resolve any uncertainty by contacting the provider rather than guessing.
Do a light review only: skim your summary sheet and the list of error types you tend to make. Do not start new topics or sit a full mock. Pack the bag with ID, confirmation, permitted stationery, water, and snack. Set two alarms. Confirm the alarm time against the reporting time, allowing for breakfast and travel. Go to bed at your normal time.
Eat a normal breakfast and avoid heavy caffeine if you are sensitive to it. Recheck the bag against the checklist. Leave early enough to arrive before the reporting time with a buffer. On arrival, follow staff instructions, store prohibited items, and use the restroom before entering the room. Do not join last-minute discussions of topics with other candidates; it raises anxiety and rarely helps.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions, the time limit, and the marking scheme, including whether wrong answers are penalised. Write down the start and end times if a clock is visible. Do a quick scan of the paper to see the section structure before starting.
Work in passes. First answer the questions you can solve quickly and confidently. Mark difficult items and return to them. Watch the clock against the number of questions remaining and keep a reserve for the final check. Show working where it helps you avoid slips. If a question is consuming too much time, leave it and move on.
Use the last minutes to transfer or check answers, make sure no question is left blank unless the marking scheme penalises wrong answers, and verify that your name and any required details are filled in correctly. Stop writing immediately when instructed.
Note down which topics felt weak while the memory is fresh, for future study. Do not attempt to reconstruct or share the questions with others; exam content is confidential. Confirm with the provider how and when results will be released.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document the provider requires and present it on request. If you do not have acceptable ID, entry may be refused; confirm the accepted documents with the provider in advance.
Follow all instructions from invigilators. Do not talk, pass items, or communicate with other candidates once the test has begun, and do not attempt to view another candidate's work.
Keep phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices switched off and stored as instructed. Using an unauthorised device or unauthorised material during the test is treated as misconduct.
Do not bring notes, books, or formula sheets into the testing room unless the provider explicitly permits them. Confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Use only permitted stationery and equipment. If you are unsure whether a calculator or other aid is allowed, confirm with the provider before the day rather than bringing it and risking confiscation.
Breaks are usually limited and taken under supervision, if they are allowed at all. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are permitted and how they affect your time; plan fluids accordingly.
The marking scheme, including whether incorrect answers are penalised, is set by the provider. Confirm this before the test so you know whether to leave questions blank or guess.
Exam content is confidential. Do not copy, photograph, or share questions or answers, and do not discuss the content with others after the session.