ON Solicitor Exam exam-day guide
ON Solicitor Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID document in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a second piece of ID is required; do not rely on a photocopy or a digital image.
Confirmation of registration / admission details
Have the provider's confirmation email or letter with your candidate number, test centre address, reporting time, and any instructions about permitted items. Re-read it the night before in case of a room or time change.
Exam permit / admission ticket if issued
If the provider issues a separate permit or ticket, print it or store it offline on your phone. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Approved writing instruments
Bring several pens or pencils of the type the provider permits. Confirm with the provider whether the test is written on paper, computer-delivered, or a hybrid, since this determines what you may carry to the desk.
Clear water bottle and small snack
Bring water in a clear, label-free bottle and a quiet snack for the break. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at the desk or only in the break area.
Layers of clothing
Test rooms are often cold and you cannot control the thermostat. Wear or bring a removable layer; check whether the provider restricts hats, scarves, or outerwear at the desk.
Leave valuables and smart devices at home or in storage
Phones, smart watches, and fitness bands are almost always prohibited at the desk. Confirm with the provider what secure storage, if any, is available, and be prepared to surrender devices.
Know the route and travel time
Do a route check the day before and plan to arrive with a buffer. Identify the building entrance, since large venues often have multiple doors and security screening.
Review logistics for accommodations
If you have an approved accommodation (extra time, separate room, stop-the-clock breaks), confirm with the provider in advance how and when to identify yourself on the day so the arrangement is applied.
Plan your break strategy
Decide in advance whether you will take the scheduled break, and what you will do in it. Confirm with the provider how breaks are timed and whether the clock stops.
Sleep and fuel plan
Protect sleep in the final two nights and eat a normal breakfast. Avoid new caffeine doses on the day if you are not used to them.
Confirm current rules with the provider
Exam-day policies on ID, permitted items, breaks, and late arrival change. Verify the specifics on the provider's official site or with its candidate services before the exam; nothing in this guide overrides those instructions.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to consolidation. Review your own condensed notes on the highest-weight subjects and the areas you have repeatedly got wrong; do not start new topics or new question banks. Re-read the provider's candidate guide and exam format description, including question count, time, and whether questions are weighted. Do one timed mixed set under exam conditions, then spend more time analysing errors than answering. Confirm your travel plan, reporting time, and ID. Protect sleep: two full nights before the exam matter more than a late-night cram.
Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, permitted writing instruments, water, snack, and layers. Charge your phone but plan to store it. Check the test centre location and any transit disruptions. Do a light review of frameworks and checklists only, such as how you structure a client-facing answer or a problem analysis. Stop studying by early evening. Set two alarms, eat a normal dinner, and go to bed at your usual time. If you feel underprepared, remember that a calm, rested candidate outperforms a tired one who read one more chapter.
Eat a normal breakfast and avoid heavy caffeine if you are not accustomed to it. Arrive at the venue with a buffer, allowing for security screening and finding the room. Use the waiting time for a short, calm review of a one-page summary, not for new material. Follow all instructions from invigilators, place prohibited items in storage, and check that your workstation or desk and any materials are as they should be before the clock starts. If something is wrong, such as a missing paper or a malfunctioning computer, raise your hand immediately rather than losing time.
Read the instructions and note the total time and number of questions, then set a rough pace per question and stick to it. Answer the questions you know first and flag the rest; do not let one hard question consume the time of three easy ones. Watch for the halfway and ten-minutes-remaining signals and adjust. Read call words carefully, such as which of the following is least likely, or select all that apply. If you take a break, follow the invigilator's process exactly. If you finish early, use the remaining time to check that every question is answered and that flagged items are resolved; only change an answer if you have a concrete reason.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name used at registration; a candidate whose identity cannot be verified may be refused entry. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted.
Arrive by the reporting time stated in your confirmation. Late arrival rules and whether any time can be made up are set by the provider; confirm them in advance and do not assume you will be admitted after the doors close.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, or other electronic devices to the desk. Follow the provider's storage instructions and switch devices off; possession of a prohibited device during the test can lead to removal or a misconduct finding.
Follow invigilator directions at all times, including on talking, leaving the room, and accessing personal items. Breaks are usually only at scheduled times; confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are permitted and whether the clock stops.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not copy, share, or attempt to obtain questions. Suspected misconduct is handled under the provider's candidate conduct policy, which can result in score cancellation.
Scoring rules, including whether questions are weighted, whether there is a penalty for wrong answers, and what the pass standard is, are set by the provider. Confirm the current standard rather than relying on secondhand accounts, and answer every question unless you have confirmed a penalty applies.
If you have an approved accommodation, use it only as authorised and identify yourself to staff as instructed. Do not request adjustments at the desk that were not approved in advance.
If you believe something affected your performance, such as a room disturbance or a technical fault, report it to the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's procedure for recording an incident; confirm the deadline and method for any later submission.