ЦТ Biology exam-day guide
ЦТ Biology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and admission documents
Bring the identification document required by the testing center, plus any printed admission confirmation or registration slip. Accepted ID types and whether a printed pass is mandatory vary by provider, so confirm with the provider before exam day.
Black gel or ballpoint pens, several
Bring at least two or three dark-ink pens that you have already tested for smooth flow. Since answer sheets are usually machine-read, avoid light or erasable inks unless the provider explicitly allows them.
Pencils and eraser for rough work
A sharpened pencil and a clean eraser are useful for scratch calculations and crossing out. Confirm whether the center supplies scratch paper or allows your own.
Simple non-programmable watch
A basic analog or non-smart digital watch helps you pace sections if the room clock is hard to see. Smart watches and phones are almost always prohibited at the desk, so confirm the provider's device policy.
No phone or smart device at the desk
Leave phones, smart watches, and earbuds switched off and stored as the center instructs. Bringing a device to the desk can be treated as a conduct violation.
Transparent water bottle
Hydration helps concentration during a long paper. Many centers allow only clear, label-free bottles; confirm the provider's rules on drinks and snacks.
Printed directions and arrival time
Note the exact building, entrance, and reporting time in advance. Arrive early enough to absorb delays; late-entry cutoffs are set by the provider, so confirm them.
Light layers of clothing
Room temperature is unpredictable. Dress in layers you can remove, and avoid clothing with large logos or slogans that might draw scrutiny.
Small snack for before or after
Eat something light before the test and keep a snack for afterward. Whether food is allowed in the hall depends on the provider; confirm in advance.
Rest and sleep plan for the night before
Protect a full night's sleep rather than cramming. Fatigue costs more marks on reasoning tasks than one extra hour of review gains.
Confirm permitted aids and calculator policy
Rules on calculators, rulers, periodic tables, and reference sheets differ between sessions. Ask the provider directly what is supplied and what is forbidden.
Emergency contact and transport backup
Save a contact number and plan a backup route in case of transport disruption. Knowing your fallback reduces morning stress.
Plan the day
Finish new content and switch to consolidation. Review your error log and formula or terminology sheets, and take one full timed practice paper under realistic conditions. Stop studying new topics after this point.
Re-read summaries of your weakest two or three topics and redo a handful of representative questions on each. Check the venue location, reporting time, and document requirements, and confirm any uncertain rules with the provider.
Do a light review only: skim your summary sheets and the error log for 60 to 90 minutes, then stop. Pack your bag with ID, pens, watch, water, and documents. Set two alarms, eat a normal dinner, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid heavy caffeine if you are sensitive to it, and recheck that your ID and pens are in the bag. Leave earlier than the route requires, and plan to arrive well before the reporting time.
Follow staff instructions, store devices as directed, and use the restroom before entering the hall. Once seated, check that your answer sheet is for the correct subject and session.
Read the instructions and check the total number of questions, the time limit, and the marking scheme. Fill in identifying fields carefully, then plan roughly how many minutes each section deserves.
Work in two passes: answer questions you can solve quickly first, mark hard ones, and return to them. Transfer answers to the answer sheet as you go or in scheduled blocks so you never run out of time to transcribe.
Stop new questions and verify that every answer is recorded in the correct position, with no stray marks or misaligned rows. Check that identifying fields are complete before handing in.
Rules to check
Carry the identification document the provider requires and present it on request. Accepted document types and whether a printed confirmation is needed vary, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Entry after the cutoff may be refused and time lost is generally not added back, but the exact cutoff and late-entry policy are set by the provider, so confirm them.
Keep phones, smart watches, and other devices switched off and stored as instructed. Using or even holding an unauthorized device at the desk is typically treated as a serious conduct violation.
Follow all instructions from invigilators, and do not communicate with other candidates, share materials, or look at another person's paper during the test.
Breaks and restroom visits are usually limited and may be escorted. Ask the provider in advance whether any scheduled break exists and whether leaving the hall is permitted.
Answer only in the format the answer sheet requires, such as filling the designated boxes or bubbles. Answers written outside the designated areas may not be scored.
The marking scheme, including whether wrong answers are penalized, is specific to the session. Confirm the scoring rules with the provider and adjust your guessing strategy accordingly.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a disruption occurs, report it to an invigilator immediately rather than after the session, and follow the provider's appeals procedure.