NB G4 Scientific Literacy exam-day guide
NB G4 Scientific Literacy · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission or registration confirmation
Bring whatever confirmation the provider issues (printed or on a permitted device). Confirm with the provider whether a separate admission ticket is required for this assessment and whether a digital copy is accepted.
Identification
Ask the provider in advance which identification, if any, a Grade 4 candidate must present. Young candidates are often registered by the school rather than by photo ID, so do not assume a passport or photo card is needed.
Two HB pencils, eraser, sharpener
Pack at least two sharpened pencils and a good eraser so a broken point does not cost time. A small manual sharpener is useful if the provider permits it at the desk.
Ruler marked in centimetres and millimetres
Science questions often ask for measurements or for reading a scale. Check with the provider that a plain ruler is allowed on the desk and that it carries no notes or conversions.
Calculator
Do not bring a calculator unless the provider confirms it is permitted for this grade level. If it is allowed, ask which types are accepted and whether one is supplied.
Analog watch
A simple non-smart watch helps with pacing if the room clock is hard to see. Confirm the provider's policy on watches, since smartwatches are commonly banned.
Water bottle and a small snack
Bring a labelled water bottle and a quiet snack in case a supervised break is offered. Confirm the provider's rules on food and drink in the testing room.
Glasses or hearing aids if used
Pack any corrective lenses or assistive devices the candidate uses daily, plus spare batteries if relevant, so nothing unfamiliar disrupts the session.
Directions and arrival time
Write down the exact building, room, and arrival time, and do a practice run of the route. Arrival cut-offs vary, so confirm the latest permitted arrival time with the provider in advance.
Approved accommodations
If extra time, a separate room, a scribe, or a reader has been granted, confirm in writing that the room staff know about it. Accommodations are usually arranged before test day, not on the day.
Practice with the question format
Work through a few sample items so the candidate recognises multiple-choice, short-answer, and data-table questions. Confirm with the provider what formats appear on this paper.
Phone off and stored
Decide before leaving home where the phone will go. It should be switched off and out of reach during the test, not kept in a pocket.
Plan the day
Confirm the test date, start time, building, and room with the provider, and check whether any admission document or identification is required. Resolve open questions now rather than on the morning.
Review the format: how many sections, whether there is a break, and whether calculators, rulers, or dictionaries are allowed. Confirm anything unclear with the provider.
Do short, light practice: read a data table, describe a simple experiment, and explain a result using the word 'because'. Stop if the candidate becomes tired or anxious.
Pack the bag: pencils, eraser, sharpener, ruler, water, snack, glasses, and any approved materials. Lay out clothes and confirm the transport plan.
Keep the evening calm. No new content, no late-night cramming, and a normal bedtime. A well-rested candidate performs better than a tired one who reviewed one more topic.
Eat a normal breakfast, use the washroom before leaving, and arrive with a buffer. Confirm the recommended arrival time with the provider rather than guessing.
Check in, find the room, and switch the phone off and store it as directed. Listen to the invigilator's instructions before touching any materials.
Read the directions carefully, note the total time and any section limits, and skim the paper so the candidate knows what is coming.
Answer the straightforward items first and mark anything skipped so it can be returned to. Do not let one difficult question consume a large share of the time.
Use science vocabulary, refer to the data or diagram in the question, and give a reason. A short, complete explanation earns more than a single word.
Check for blank items, stray marks, and units on measurements. Confirm whether unanswered questions are marked wrong before deciding to guess.
Follow dismissal instructions and leave quietly so others still working are not disturbed. Discuss the paper only after leaving the room.
Rules to check
Follow the invigilator's directions at all times. Ask about procedure - timing, materials, washroom - but not about the content of a question.
Bring only the identification the provider requires. If unsure what counts as acceptable ID for a Grade 4 candidate, confirm with the provider before test day.
Phones, smartwatches, and any other connected devices must be switched off and stored out of reach for the whole session.
All work must be the candidate's own. No talking, signalling, or sharing of materials during the test, including during supervised breaks.
Breaks, if any, are supervised: leaving the room is normally permitted only with an escort, and the timing rules for breaks vary by provider - confirm them in advance.
Extra time and other accommodations are arranged before the test date and are not granted at the desk. Confirm any approved arrangement in writing with the provider.
Scoring conventions differ between assessments. Ask the provider whether unanswered items score zero and whether wrong answers are penalised, then plan guessing accordingly.
Write legibly and within the marked spaces. Responses outside the designated answer areas may not be marked.