SLE Reading exam-day guide
SLE Reading · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID matching your registration name
Bring the exact ID type your test provider accepts. The name on the ID must match the name you registered with; if you have recently changed your name, confirm with the provider how to handle it before test day. Do not assume a student ID or expired document will be accepted - confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Confirmation email or admission ticket
Print or save your appointment confirmation showing date, time, and test center or online-proctoring link. Some centers ask to see it at check-in. If you never received one, contact the provider before test day rather than arriving without it.
Know your test center location and travel plan
Do a route check in advance, including parking or transit, and note that centers may require arrival well before your start time for check-in and security screening. The exact arrival window is set by the provider - confirm it on your confirmation notice.
Review the provider's current test-day rules page
Rules on personal items, electronics, watches, notes, food, and breaks vary by provider and can change. Read the current published rules for your specific test rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Confirm what is provided versus what you may bring
Some tests supply scratch paper and a pencil; others allow none. Confirm with the provider whether you may bring your own writing materials, calculator, or reference sheet, and whether any provided materials must be returned.
Plan for permitted breaks and snacks
If the test allows breaks, confirm whether food, drink, and medication may be accessed and where. If you have a medical need (medication timing, dietary need), contact the provider in advance about accommodations rather than improvising on the day.
Request accommodations early if needed
Extended time, separate room, or other accommodations usually require advance approval and documentation. If you have not already applied, contact the provider immediately - approval is generally not possible on test day.
Confirm the test format and timing
Know whether you are taking a computer-delivered or paper test, the total appointment length, and whether sections are timed separately. Section timing and the ability to move between sections are provider-specific - verify before test day.
Prepare for the online-proctoring setup if testing remotely
If your test is remote, confirm the required browser, camera, microphone, room requirements, and system check deadline with the provider. Run any required equipment check in advance, not on the morning of the test.
Sleep and logistics buffer
Arrange to arrive with time to spare and to avoid last-minute stress. A late arrival may result in being turned away, but the exact cutoff is set by the provider - confirm it and build in a buffer.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's test-day rules and your confirmation notice; verify ID name match, appointment time, and location or remote-testing link. Confirm break and personal-item policies. Do a light review of format and directions rather than cramming new material, and protect sleep in the two nights before the test.
Pack your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items in one place. Confirm your travel plan and, for remote testing, complete the equipment and room check. Avoid intensive last-minute study; review test directions and section timing so you are not reading them for the first time during the test. Set an alarm with margin.
Eat a normal meal, take only medication you normally take (follow your own medical advice), and leave with buffer time. Leave unneeded valuables at home. At check-in, follow staff or proctor instructions exactly, including any security screening and item storage.
Read directions carefully before starting each section, note the time available, and pace yourself. If a question is taking too long, mark it and move on where the format permits returning. Use breaks only as permitted, and raise your hand or contact the proctor if you have a technical problem rather than troubleshooting alone.
Rules to check
Bring only the ID and items the provider explicitly permits; personal electronics, watches, and notes are commonly restricted, but confirm the exact list with the provider.
The name on your ID must match your registration; if it does not, contact the provider before test day to correct it.
Arrive within the provider's stated check-in window. Late arrival may mean you are not admitted and fees are not refunded - confirm the cutoff and refund policy with the provider.
Breaks are permitted only as the provider specifies, including whether the clock stops during breaks. Confirm the break policy for your test.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not attempt to record, copy, or share test content; misconduct can lead to score cancellation.
If you experience a technical or equipment failure during a remote test, notify the proctor immediately and follow their instructions; do not attempt fixes that take you off camera.
Scoring and score-reporting timelines are set by the provider; confirm how and when results are released and how long they remain valid.
If you need accommodations, apply in advance; approval is generally not available on test day. Confirm requirements and deadlines with the provider.