Burkina Faso CEP exam-day guide
Burkina Faso CEP · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirmation of convocation and exam center
Bring the convocation notice (convocation) showing your name, exam center, date, and time. If you have not received it, or the details look wrong, confirm with the provider (the exam organizer or your school) before the exam day. Carry a printed copy even if you also have it on a phone.
Valid identity document
Bring the original identity document required for the CEP, typically a national identity card or birth certificate with photo, in the exact form the organizer specifies. Photocopies are usually not accepted. Confirm with the provider which document and whether a photo is required.
Several blue or black ballpoint pens
Bring at least two or three working pens of the same accepted color, plus a spare. Check that each writes clearly before leaving home. Do not rely on a single pen.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for rough work and for any sections that require shading or drawing. Keep them in a clear pouch so they are easy to show at the entrance.
Ruler and simple geometry tools if allowed
A short ruler is commonly useful for mathematics items. Bring only plain tools without notes or markings. Confirm with the provider whether any additional instruments are permitted.
Nothing written on hands, arms, or clothing
Check yourself before leaving: no formulas, notes, or markings on skin, clothing, pencil case, or water bottle. Invigilators may check these at the door.
Water and a light snack
Bring water in a plain, unlabeled bottle if the center allows it, and a small snack for after the exam. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk.
Watch or time awareness
A simple non-connected watch can help you pace yourself if the room clock is hard to see. Smart watches and phones are normally prohibited at the desk. Confirm with the provider what timepieces are allowed.
Plan the route and arrival time
Know exactly how to reach the center and how long the trip takes. Aim to arrive well before the stated reporting time, allowing for transport delays. Visit or map the route in advance if you can.
Emergency contact and transport money
Carry enough money for the return trip and keep a parent or guardian's phone number written on paper, since phones are usually collected or switched off during the exam.
Leave prohibited devices at home
Phones, smart watches, earphones, and any connected device are normally banned in the exam room. Leaving them at home avoids confiscation or disqualification. Confirm with the provider the exact policy.
Rest and normal breakfast
Sleep a full night and eat a normal breakfast you are used to. Avoid trying new foods or heavy meals on the morning of the exam.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your summary sheets, corrected exercises, and past mistakes in short sessions of about 45 minutes with breaks. Practice one full paper under timed conditions if you have not already, then correct it carefully. Prepare your documents and materials early so the last day is calm. Confirm the exam center location and reporting time with the provider if anything is unclear.
Pack your bag: identity document, convocation, pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, water, and transport money. Lay out clothes. Do a light review of key methods only, no new topics. Set an alarm and a backup alarm. Go to bed at a normal hour; do not stay up late revising.
Eat breakfast, check your bag against the checklist, and leave with extra time. Arrive at the center early, find your room, and locate the toilets. Keep calm, breathe slowly, and avoid comparing preparation with other candidates. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions before the papers are distributed.
Write your name and candidate details exactly as instructed. Read the instructions on the paper and check the number of pages and items. Scan the whole paper quickly and note the marks or time suggested for each part. Plan how long to spend on each section and keep a few minutes at the end for checking.
Answer the easiest items first to secure marks, then return to harder ones. Show your working in mathematics; a clear method can earn partial credit. Watch the clock at fixed points rather than constantly. If you are stuck, move on and come back. Write legibly and cross out mistakes neatly rather than scribbling over them.
Check that every required item has an answer and that your name and details are correct. Verify units, signs, and that you have not left blanks where you meant to write. Do not make large last-minute changes unless you are certain. Stop writing immediately when told.
Rules to check
Bring the original identity document and convocation required by the organizer. Candidates without the correct documents may be refused entry, so confirm the exact requirements with the provider in advance.
Arrive before the reporting time. Latecomers may be admitted or refused at the organizer's discretion, and no extra time is normally given. Confirm the late-arrival policy with the provider.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, earphones, or any connected device into the exam room. Possession of such items is commonly treated as cheating and can lead to disqualification.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, do not look at others' papers, and do not pass anything between desks. Raise your hand and wait for the invigilator if you need help.
Use only the writing materials and colors permitted. Do not write on your body, desk, or materials, and do not bring notes of any kind.
Follow the invigilator's instructions exactly, including when to start, when to stop, and how to hand in your paper. Stop writing immediately at the final signal.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait to be accompanied. Confirm with the provider the rules on toilet breaks and whether extra time is granted.
Scoring and results procedures, including how marks are awarded and how results are published, are set by the organizer. Confirm these details with the provider rather than relying on hearsay.