GLAT exam-day guide
GLAT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Registration confirmation or admission ticket
Bring the confirmation email or ticket you received when you booked. Print a paper copy as well as keeping a digital copy, because some test centres collect or check paper documents at the door. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory, since policies vary by site and by test window.
Government-issued photo ID
The name on your ID must match the name on your registration exactly, including middle names and hyphens. If your ID uses a different name form, for example a maiden name or an abbreviated first name, contact the provider before test day to have the record corrected, because front-desk staff usually cannot amend it on the spot.
Exact test centre address, entrance, and arrival time
Write down the full address, the building entrance, the floor, and the arrival time printed on your confirmation. Large campuses and office towers often have several entrances and security desks, so check the route in advance. Confirm with the provider which entrance candidates should use and how early the doors open.
Pencils, eraser, and sharpener as permitted
Pack two or three pencils, a soft eraser, and a small sharpener if the provider allows them. Bring pens only if your confirmation states they are required for written sections. Check the permitted-materials list in your candidate handbook, because some centres supply stationery and prohibit bringing your own.
Calculator only if explicitly permitted
Many aptitude tests either supply a basic calculator on screen or ban calculators entirely. Do not assume your own model is allowed, and do not bring a programmable or graphing calculator unless your confirmation names that model. Confirm with the provider which calculator, if any, is permitted in your sitting.
Scratch paper and writing materials policy
Most centres issue scratch paper and collect it at the end of the session, and many prohibit bringing your own loose paper. Confirm the rule for your site so you are not asked to surrender notes at the door. If paper is supplied, raise your hand for a replacement rather than writing on your ID or desk.
A plain watch if the room clock is not guaranteed
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace sections when the room clock is behind you or absent. Smart watches and any device with connectivity are almost always banned, so leave them at home. Confirm with the provider whether wrist watches of any kind are allowed in the testing room.
Water and a snack for the scheduled break
Bring water in a clear container and a quiet snack, and expect to leave both in a designated area rather than at your desk. Eat something with slow-release energy before you arrive. Check whether drinks are allowed in the testing room at all, as rules differ between paper and computer sittings.
Phone switched off and stored, not in your pocket
Plan to switch your phone off completely, not merely to silent, and to store it in the bag or locker the centre provides. Alarms that fire during the test are treated as a conduct breach even if you never touch the device. Confirm the centre's storage arrangements so you know what to expect at check-in.
Transport plan with a backup route
Plan to arrive well before the stated arrival time, with a second route in mind for road closures or cancelled trains. Aim for a buffer of at least thirty minutes on top of your expected journey. Save the centre's phone number so you can call if you are delayed or cannot find the entrance.
A one-page summary of section order and timings
Write down the order of sections, the number of questions in each, and the time limit per section on a single sheet you review the night before. Knowing the structure prevents surprises and helps you decide when to move on from a hard question. Confirm the structure against your official candidate handbook.
Nothing prohibited in your pockets
Empty your pockets before check-in. Notes, formula sheets, earbuds, smart watches, fitness trackers, and any second device should stay at home or in your stored bag. Centres may search bags or use a metal detector wand, and an accidental item can lead to your result being withheld.
Plan the day
Confirm the logistics: re-read your confirmation email for the address, arrival time, and permitted-materials list, and phone or email the provider if anything is ambiguous. Print your ticket and ID copies. Do a dry run of the journey at the same time of day so you know the entrance, the security desk, and where you will wait.
Take one full, timed practice section under test conditions, then stop practising new material. Review only your own error log and the section instructions, so that on the day you recognise the wording immediately and do not lose minutes reading instructions for the first time.
Prepare the physical kit: lay out ID, ticket, pencils, eraser, sharpener, watch, water bottle, snack, and a small bag. Check the watch battery and the pencil supply. Read the conduct rules once more so that the phone and smart-watch rules are automatic rather than a last-minute decision at the door.
Protect your sleep. Set two alarms, charge your phone, and confirm your transport for the morning, including any earlier train or bus you would take if the first one is cancelled. Eat a normal dinner at a normal time and avoid starting any new topic or taking a full practice test, which will only add fatigue.
Do a fifteen to twenty minute light review of your one-page summary: section order, timings, and two or three personal pacing rules such as a maximum time to spend on any single question. Pack the bag and place it by the door. Decide in advance how you will handle a question you cannot solve.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water, but avoid heavy caffeine if you are not used to it. Leave earlier than your calculated journey requires. Re-check the centre's address and phone number before you set off, and carry your ID in a place you can reach without unpacking your entire bag at the security desk.
Arrive early, switch your phone off completely and store it, then present your ID and ticket. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions on timing, scratch paper, and how to flag a problem, and ask a clarifying question at check-in rather than mid-section. Use the washroom before you are seated.
Read the instructions for each section even if they look familiar. Keep to your per-question time limit, flag anything uncertain, and move on rather than sinking minutes into one item. Watch the clock at the halfway point of each section so that the final questions are not left blank purely through poor pacing.
If equipment fails, the room is disrupted, or another candidate disturbs you, raise your hand immediately and ask the invigilator to record the incident before the section ends. Report problems at the time rather than afterwards, because centres log incidents during the session and that log is what supports any later enquiry.
Use the last few minutes of each section to check that every question has an answer recorded and that no response has been mis-marked. Do not change answers on a hunch if your first reasoning was sound. After the test, write down anything that went wrong while it is fresh, in case you need to contact the provider.
Rules to check
Bring the ID specified in your confirmation and nothing else as identification. The name must match your registration exactly, and the photograph must be current. If your documents are not accepted at check-in, you may be refused entry and your fee may not be refunded, so resolve any mismatch with the provider before test day.
Electronic devices are almost always prohibited in the testing room, including phones, smart watches, fitness trackers, and earbuds. Switch devices off and store them where instructed. Possession of a device at your desk, even switched off, can lead to your result being voided rather than a warning.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on timing, starting and stopping work, and handling of scratch paper. Do not open a section before you are told to start and stop writing immediately when time is called, since a few extra seconds of writing is treated as a conduct breach at many centres.
Breaks are normally taken only at scheduled times, and unscheduled breaks may not stop your clock or may not be allowed at all. Raise your hand if you need to leave the room and expect to be escorted or supervised. Confirm the break policy and whether the timer pauses with the provider before test day.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, including by gesture, and do not copy, photograph, or reconstruct questions afterwards. Many providers require you to agree to a confidentiality condition at registration, and breaching it can result in cancellation of your score even after results are released.
Scoring rules, including whether wrong answers carry any penalty, differ between providers and between test versions. Do not assume that guessing is free or that it is penalised. Check the official candidate handbook or confirm directly with the provider before deciding how to handle questions you cannot solve.
If you believe a test-day problem affected your performance, ask the invigilator to log it during the session and then contact the provider in writing as soon as possible afterwards. Keep your confirmation number and a short factual account of what happened, and ask the provider what the deadline is for submitting an enquiry about your result.