BCS Written Post-Related Psychology exam-day guide
BCS Written Post-Related Psychology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission ticket or confirmation email
Print or download the confirmation the provider issued at booking. It usually carries your candidate number and venue instructions. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy on your phone is accepted.
Photo identification
Bring the original ID document named in your booking. Check the provider's rules on which documents are accepted and whether an expired document is refused. Confirm with the provider before relying on any alternative form of ID.
Venue and reporting-time details
Write down the exact address, the building entrance, the reporting time, and the expected finish time. Re-check the venue on the provider's website the day before, since rooms and times can change. If unsure about entry doors or registration location, confirm with the provider.
Travel plan with a buffer
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time so that a delay in transport does not cost you the sitting. Identify a backup route and a nearby place to wait. Check local transport notices for the date.
Permitted stationery only
Bring only what the provider lists as allowed, typically pens and pencils for a written paper. Leave notes, textbooks, smart watches, and phones in line with the rules. Confirm with the provider which items are permitted in the room.
Water and a light snack for breaks
Bring water in a clear container if the venue allows it, and a snack for any scheduled break. Avoid noisy wrappers. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at the desk or only outside the room.
Watch or timekeeping plan
Many rooms have a clock, but do not assume it is visible from your seat. A simple non-smart watch is often permitted; confirm with the provider whether wristwatches are allowed in your sitting.
Personal medication and access needs
If you need medication, extra time, a separate room, or other adjustments, arrange this in advance with the provider. Bring only what has been approved and be ready to explain it at registration. Confirm with the provider what documentation is required.
Rest and preparation routine the night before
Prepare clothes, ID, ticket, and stationery the evening before, then stop studying early enough to sleep. Fatigue costs more marks than one extra hour of revision.
Plan for what to do if something goes wrong
Save the provider's contact details and know whom to call if you are delayed, ill, or cannot find the room. Report problems as early as possible; confirm with the provider how late arrival or illness is handled.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new material to consolidating what you already know. Review your own summary sheets, definitions, and the frameworks most likely to be examined, and practise writing short answers under time pressure. Check the venue, reporting time, and travel plan, and re-read the provider's conduct rules so nothing at the door surprises you. Protect sleep and regular meals from this point onward.
Pack the bag: ID, admission ticket, permitted stationery, water, snack, and any approved medication. Do a light review only, focusing on structure and key terms rather than volume. Confirm transport times, set two alarms, and go to bed at a normal hour. Avoid last-minute cramming that displaces sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, re-check the bag against your list, and leave with a generous buffer. Arrive early, register calmly, and use any waiting time to settle your breathing rather than to cram. Once seated, read the instructions and check the number of questions, the marks available, and the time allowed before you write anything.
Allocate time by marks, not by question order. Read each question fully, note the command word and how many points it is worth, and plan a short structure before writing. Answer the questions you know best first if that steadies you, but keep to your time budget. For essay or long-answer items, use headings and clear paragraphs, define terms, apply concepts to the scenario given, and finish with a brief conclusion. Leave time to check that every required question is attempted and that your candidate details are correct.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID specified by the provider and place it on the desk if asked. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Follow the provider's rules on what may be taken into the room. Phones, smart watches, notes, and unauthorised materials should be switched off and stored as instructed, not kept at your desk.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Late arrival may mean you are refused entry or given no extra time; confirm with the provider how lateness is treated.
Breaks are usually only at times set by the invigilator. If you need to leave the room, follow the procedure given; confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether time is stopped.
Raise a hand and wait for the invigilator if you have a question, feel unwell, or need something. Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper has started.
Stop writing immediately when instructed and hand in all materials. Continuing to write after the signal can lead to a penalty; confirm with the provider how breaches of conduct are handled.
Scoring is normally based on the marks shown for each question, so divide your time accordingly and attempt every required item. Do not assume that unanswered questions can be compensated for elsewhere.
If you believe something affected your performance, such as illness or a disturbance in the room, tell the invigilator on the day and follow up with the provider's stated procedure. Confirm with the provider what evidence is required.