GLA 10 exam-day guide
GLA 10 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone. Check that the name matches your registration exactly and that the expiry date has not passed. Accepted ID types vary by provider and by test centre, so confirm the list with the provider before test day rather than assuming a driver's licence is enough.
Appointment confirmation or admission letter
Print one copy and keep a digital copy on your phone in case the printed version is misplaced. It usually carries your candidate number, the test centre address, the reporting time, and any instructions about what is stored where. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Login credentials and candidate number
If GLA 10 is delivered on computer, you may be asked to log in or to type a candidate number at the workstation. Write the details on paper as well as saving them on your phone, since phones are normally switched off and stored during the test. Confirm with the provider whether credentials are issued in advance or at the desk.
Two working pens (and pencils if permitted)
Carry a spare so a dry pen does not cost you time. Whether the test is paper-based or computer-delivered, and whether pencil is required for any answer sheet, is set by the provider; confirm the permitted stationery list in advance.
Approved calculator, if any
Many reasoning and aptitude tests ban calculators entirely, while others allow only a basic non-programmable model. Do not assume. Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is permitted for GLA 10 and, if so, which models are accepted, then check the device has fresh batteries.
Clear water bottle and a small snack
Remove or cover labels if the venue requires it. Bring a snack only if a scheduled break is offered; food and drink are frequently barred from the testing room itself and must be left in a locker. Confirm the venue's policy on drinks and on access to personal items during breaks.
Transparent pouch or bag for personal items
Some centres require belongings to be carried in a clear bag and stored in a locker or at the back of the room. If you are unsure, pack light: keys, wallet, phone, and nothing you would not want to leave unattended.
A warm layer
Test rooms are often air-conditioned to a temperature that suits nobody. A jumper or light jacket you can remove is more useful than trying to adjust the room.
Route plan and arrival time
Work out the journey in advance, including a backup route, and aim to be at the centre well before the reporting time so that a delayed train does not become a missed test. Confirm the reporting time and the late-admission cut-off with the provider, because candidates arriving after the cut-off are commonly refused entry.
Provider contact number
Save the test centre or customer service number in your phone and write it on paper. If something goes wrong on the morning, a phone call before the start is far better than an unexplained absence.
Nothing that beeps, vibrates, or connects
Smart watches, fitness bands, earbuds, and phones are almost always prohibited in the testing room. Leave them at home or plan to store them; a device that sounds during the test can lead to removal from the room.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material and switch to consolidation. Re-read your own summary notes, redo a small number of timed practice sets under realistic conditions, and review the instructions for the question types so that the format holds no surprises. Reconfirm the reporting time, the centre address, and the ID requirement on the provider's website, since details occasionally change. Sort out travel and, if needed, accommodation, then set the exam-day outfit and bag aside so the morning is purely mechanical. Protect your sleep schedule now rather than trying to fix it the night before.
Do one light review pass in the morning and then stop. Pack the bag against the checklist: ID, confirmation, pens, permitted calculator, water, snack, warm layer, printed contact details. Charge your phone and set two alarms plus a backup. Check the weather and the travel status of your route. Eat a normal meal at a normal time, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual hour rather than much earlier, which often backfires. Do not start a new topic or attempt a full mock test today; a late low score damages confidence without improving performance.
Eat a proper breakfast with slow-release energy and moderate caffeine, keeping to your normal intake rather than doubling it. Arrive early enough that queueing, ID checks, and locker allocation are unhurried. Use the waiting time for a few easy warm-up items or a glance at your summary sheet, not for cramming new content. Follow the proctor's instructions exactly during the check-in process, and use the washroom before you are seated even if you do not feel you need to.
Read the instructions on the first screen or page carefully, then do a fast first pass, answering everything you can resolve quickly and flagging items that need more thought. Never leave an item blank unless the scoring rules penalise wrong answers; confirm that point with the provider beforehand. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints so you know your pace, and keep a hard reserve of time at the end for flagged items and for checking that every response has been recorded. If a screen freezes, a pen fails, or another candidate distracts you, raise your hand immediately and tell the proctor rather than losing minutes in silence.
Write down anything the provider told you about results timing, score reporting, or retake rules while it is fresh. Resist the urge to compare answers in detail with other candidates; recollection-based post-mortems are unreliable and only add noise. Note which sections felt weak in case you need to sit the test again.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID that matches your registration and present it when asked. Candidates who cannot produce acceptable identification are normally refused admission, and the accepted document types are set by the provider, so confirm them in advance rather than on the day.
Phones, smart watches, and any other connected or recording device must be switched off and stored as instructed before you enter the testing room. Keeping one on your person, even switched off, is usually treated as a serious breach, and the exact rule should be confirmed with the provider.
Follow the proctor's directions on timing, starting, and stopping. Continue writing or typing after the instruction to stop, or begin before it, and you risk having your paper or session voided regardless of how well you performed.
Whether breaks are offered, how long they last, and what you may access during them varies by provider and by test delivery mode. Confirm the break policy before test day, and if you need to leave the room for any reason, ask the proctor rather than leaving unannounced.
Do not bring in unauthorised materials: notes, textbooks, dictionaries, or a calculator if one is not permitted. Rules on scratch paper, on annotating the question booklet, and on permitted stationery differ between venues, so confirm what is allowed with the provider.
All work must be your own. Talking to other candidates during the test, attempting to view another candidate's screen or paper, or sharing questions afterwards can lead to invalidation of your result and further sanction under the provider's misconduct policy.
Understand the scoring rules before you sit the test, in particular whether unanswered or incorrect answers are penalised. This determines whether you should guess on items you cannot resolve, and it is the single most useful thing to confirm with the provider in advance.
If anything goes wrong, a faulty workstation, a misprinted page, a disturbance, or an illness, report it to the proctor at the time and ask for it to be recorded. Complaints raised only after you have left the centre are much harder to resolve.