A2 Key for Schools exam-day guide
A2 Key for Schools · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring your identification document
Carry the same ID you used when you registered (usually a passport or a national ID card for a school candidate). The document must be valid on the test day. Exact accepted ID types vary by centre, so confirm with the provider which documents they accept and whether a photocopy is allowed.
Bring your Statement of Entry or registration confirmation
Your centre normally sends a confirmation showing your candidate number, the test date, the start time and the room. Print it or save it on your phone, and check that your name is spelled exactly as on your ID. If you have not received it, contact the centre in advance.
Bring pens, pencils and an eraser
For Paper 1 (Reading and Writing) and Paper 2 (Listening) you need a black or blue pen and a pencil with an eraser. Answers on the answer sheet must be clear and easy to read. Confirm with the provider whether the centre supplies stationery, since some centres do.
Bring a clear water bottle and a small snack
If your centre allows food and drink in the room, keep it simple and quiet (water in a clear bottle, a snack for after the test). Rules on food and drink in the exam room differ between centres, so confirm with the provider.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or hand them in
Mobile phones, smart watches and any device that can store or transmit information must be switched off and handed in or left outside the exam room as the centre instructs. Keeping a phone on you during the test can lead to your paper being cancelled.
Know the exact start time and arrival time
Arrive well before the time on your Statement of Entry; centres usually ask candidates to be there 15 to 30 minutes early for check-in. Check your centre's own arrival rule with the provider, and plan for traffic or public transport delays.
Check the location and route in advance
Find out the exact building and room, not just the school address, and note how long the journey takes. A practice run the day before removes most of the stress on the morning.
Prepare for the separate Speaking test slot
The Speaking test is taken face to face with an examiner, usually on the same day or on a nearby date, and your slot time is set by the centre. Confirm your Speaking time and room with the provider, because it may not match the written papers.
Get a good night's sleep and eat breakfast
A2 Key for Schools has several parts in one day, so energy matters. Sleep, water and a normal breakfast help more than last-minute cramming.
Do a short final review the day before, not the morning of
Look over your notes on question types, common spelling and the instructions for each part. Stop early enough to relax; the morning of the test is for getting there calmly, not for new material.
Check what the centre provides and what you must bring
Listening is played through the centre's equipment, and answer sheets are supplied. Ask the provider in advance about anything you normally rely on, such as a watch, and whether the room has a clock.
Tell the centre in advance about access needs
If you need extra time, a separate room or other access arrangements, these must normally be requested well before the test date with supporting evidence. Contact the provider as early as possible; arrangements are rarely possible on the day.
Plan the day
Re-read your Statement of Entry and check the date, start time, room and candidate number. Confirm the journey and, if possible, visit the centre or check the route on a map. Gather your ID, confirmation and stationery in one bag. Do one or two short practice sessions on the parts you find hardest, especially Listening and the Writing tasks, but keep them short. Confirm with the provider how your Speaking slot is scheduled if you have not been told.
Pack your bag: ID, Statement of Entry, pens, pencils, eraser, water bottle. Charge nothing you are not allowed to bring, and decide now to leave your phone at home or hand it in. Check the weather and transport for the morning. Do a light review of question instructions and common spelling, then stop. Go to bed at a normal time; do not study late.
Eat breakfast and drink water. Leave with plenty of time to arrive early for check-in. At the centre, follow staff instructions, hand in or switch off devices, and find your seat. Keep calm and read the instructions on the front of each paper carefully before you start.
Read each instruction and the example before answering. Watch the clock and give the Writing tasks enough time; do not spend too long on one reading question. Write clearly on the answer sheet and check spelling, because answers must be readable to be marked.
You hear each recording twice, so use the first listening to get the general idea and the second to check details. Read the questions before each recording starts. Write your answers as you listen and copy them clearly onto the answer sheet in the time given.
Greet the examiner, listen carefully to each question and answer in full where you can. If you do not understand, ask the examiner to repeat. Speak clearly and use the preparation time you are given; the examiner is assessing your communication, not trying to trick you.
Hand in all papers and materials as instructed and leave quietly so other candidates are not disturbed. Note anything the centre tells you about results dates, then confirm with the provider how and when results and certificates will be issued.
Rules to check
Bring the ID document the centre requires and keep it with you at check-in; if you arrive without acceptable ID, the centre may not let you sit the test. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted.
Arrive by the time stated on your Statement of Entry. Centres set their own late-arrival rules, and a candidate who arrives after the test has started may not be admitted; confirm the provider's policy in advance.
Switch off and hand in or leave outside the room all phones, smart watches and other electronic devices. Do not keep any device on your person during the test.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times. Do not talk to other candidates, look at their work or pass anything during the test; raise your hand if you need help.
Do not take any paper, answer sheet or notes out of the exam room, and do not try to copy or share test content afterwards.
If you need the toilet or feel unwell, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Breaks and supervised toilet visits are managed by the centre, so confirm the provider's rules on leaving the room.
Results are based on the papers you sit, and each paper is marked separately before the overall grade is decided. If you miss a paper, ask the centre what happens; do not assume you can retake it on the same day. Confirm the provider's rules on absence and retakes.
Tell the centre before the test date about any access needs or special circumstances, with supporting evidence. Arrangements requested on the day may not be possible.