INRAT exam-day guide
INRAT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid government-issued photo ID
Bring the original physical ID, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone. The name must match your registration record exactly, including middle names. Confirm with the provider which ID types they accept for INRAT before test day, and check the expiry date.
Appointment or registration confirmation
Download and save your confirmation to your phone and also print one copy. It typically carries your candidate number, test centre address, reporting time, and session code. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or whether a digital copy is accepted.
Candidate handbook and test regulations
Read the official handbook at least once before the final week. It defines permitted items, calculator policy, scoring, and misconduct rules. Note anything ambiguous and raise it with the provider by email so you have a written answer.
Knowledge of the test format and section timings
Write down the number of sections, questions per section, and minutes allowed for each. Knowing whether sections are separately timed changes your pacing strategy, because a separately timed section cannot borrow minutes from the next one.
Practice with the official interface or demo
If the provider publishes a tutorial or sample test, complete it once on a desktop and once on a laptop. Familiarity with the flag, review, and navigation buttons removes avoidable hesitation on the day.
Timekeeping device if permitted
Most computer-delivered tests show a countdown clock on screen. Confirm with the provider whether a wristwatch is allowed in the testing room, and whether analogue-only rules apply. Do not plan to rely on a smartwatch.
Permitted stationery and scratch material
Find out in advance whether the centre supplies an erasable booklet and marker or whether you must bring your own pencils. Rough work on your own paper is often prohibited, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Water and a light snack
Bring a small snack and water for before the test and for any scheduled break. Confirm with the provider whether items may be taken into the testing room or must stay in a locker, and whether a break is offered at all.
Leave prohibited electronics behind or plan storage
Phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and fitness bands are almost always banned in the testing room. Many centres provide a locker, but not all do. Confirm storage arrangements with the provider and avoid bringing valuables you cannot secure.
Travel plan with a buffer
Check the route and any planned transport disruptions the day before. Aim to arrive well ahead of your reporting time; a common expectation is 30 minutes early, but confirm the exact figure with the provider. Late arrival can mean refused admission.
A good night's sleep and a normal breakfast
Do not change your routine drastically the night before. Sleep is worth more than one extra hour of practice questions, and a familiar breakfast reduces the risk of discomfort during a long, seated session.
Provider contact details on paper
Write down the test centre phone number and the provider's helpline on paper in case your phone is locked away. You will need it if a transport problem, illness, or documentation issue arises on the morning of the test.
Plan the day
Re-read your registration confirmation line by line: name spelling, ID number, test centre address, reporting time, and session code. Report any error to the provider immediately, because corrections often cannot be made on test day. Check that your ID is valid and unexpired. Do one full timed practice set under exam conditions, then stop adding new material and review only your weak topics and a short formula or definition sheet. Confirm the journey and check service updates for your route.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation copy, permitted stationery, water, snack, and the paper with provider contacts. Lay out clothing in layers, since testing rooms vary in temperature. Set two alarms and check the weather. Do a light review of summary notes only, no new practice tests and no late-night cramming. Eat a normal dinner, avoid excess caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time. Decide how you will travel and which alternative route you will use if the first fails.
Eat a normal breakfast and drink water, but not so much that you are uncomfortable during the session. Arrive at the centre with your buffer intact, allow time for security checks and document verification, and use the restroom before you are seated. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions and read the on-screen tutorial rather than clicking straight through it. If any equipment fails or the room is disruptive, raise your hand immediately and note the time.
Do a quick scan at the start of each section to gauge difficulty. Answer the questions you can solve confidently first, flag the rest, and return to them, because a stuck question can consume minutes that belong to easier marks. Set mental checkpoints, such as knowing where you should be at the halfway point, and adjust pace. If there is no penalty for wrong answers, confirm that rule before the test and never leave a blank on that basis. Track the clock but avoid checking it after every question. Before submitting, confirm you have submitted every section, not just the one on screen.
Keep your confirmation and any incident notes until results are released. If you reported a technical fault or a disruption, follow up in writing with the provider so there is a record. Note which question types felt slow, since that is the most useful input for any future sitting or for a related test.
Rules to check
Bring the original physical ID; photocopies, expired documents, and images on a phone are commonly rejected. The name on the ID must match your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which document types are accepted and what happens if you have recently changed your name.
Arrive by the reporting time stated on your confirmation, not by the scheduled start time. Candidates who arrive after the cut-off may be refused entry and may forfeit the fee. If you are delayed by an emergency, phone the centre immediately rather than simply arriving late.
Do not bring phones, smartwatches, earbuds, notes, or any recording device into the testing room. Even an unused device in a pocket can be treated as misconduct. Confirm with the provider where such items must be stored and whether lockers are available.
Follow every instruction from the invigilator, including rules on talking, leaving your seat, and accessing materials. Any attempt to communicate with another candidate, copy answers, or use unauthorised aids can lead to removal and cancellation of your result, and the provider's decision is usually final.
Breaks are governed by the provider's rules rather than by your own preference. Confirm in advance whether breaks are scheduled, whether the clock stops during a break, and whether you may leave the room unsupervised. Leaving without permission during a timed section can end your test.
Scoring conventions differ between tests. Confirm with the provider whether wrong answers incur a penalty, whether sections are weighted, and when and how results are released. Never assume a guessing strategy is safe until you have a written answer from the provider.
If equipment fails, the screen freezes, or you are disturbed, raise your hand at once and ask the invigilator to log the incident. Report it in writing afterwards as well. Unreported problems are difficult to remedy once the session has ended.
Read the full instructions for each section before the timer starts where the interface allows it. Answering before you understand the task format is a frequent source of lost marks, and format details such as the number of correct options do vary between sections.