Cambridge IAL Mathematics exam-day guide
Cambridge IAL Mathematics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring the identification document your exam centre requires (commonly a passport or national ID). The exact accepted documents and any signature requirements vary by centre, so confirm with your school or registered exam centre before the exam.
Statement of entry / candidate number
Know your candidate number, centre number, and the exact papers and tiers you are entered for. Your statement of entry shows these; if you do not have one, ask your exams officer. Do not rely on memory for unit codes.
Approved calculator
Cambridge IAL Mathematics allows a calculator for most papers, but check the calculator regulations for your series (certain models with symbolic algebra or communication capability are prohibited). Confirm the permitted list with your centre and check batteries beforehand.
Spare batteries or second approved calculator
A flat calculator mid-paper is avoidable. Carry spare batteries of the correct type, or a second permitted calculator if your centre allows it. Ask your centre whether a backup device is permitted in the room.
Clear pencil case with pens, pencils, sharpener, eraser
Use black or blue ink for written answers and a pencil for diagrams and graphs. Include a sharpener and eraser; graph work is easier with a sharp pencil. Clear cases are the usual requirement, but confirm local rules.
Mathematical instruments
Ruler (for straight-line graphs and construction), protractor, and a pair of compasses are useful across pure mathematics, mechanics, and statistics papers. Do not assume instruments are provided.
No prohibited items on you
Leave phones, smart watches, and any wearable technology switched off and outside the exam room, or hand them in as your centre directs. Possession of unauthorised material, even switched off, can lead to malpractice proceedings.
Know the room, seat, and start time
Check the venue and arrival time the day before. Arrive with margin for traffic and security checks; late arrival may mean you are not admitted or get no extra time.
Plan for timing per mark
Know the length and mark total of each paper you sit and decide your target pace in advance (roughly one minute per mark is a common planning heuristic, but adapt to the paper's structure and your strengths). Write the finish time on your script at the start.
Read the front of the paper
At the start, check the paper code and unit match your entry, read the instructions, and note the total marks and any data or formula sheet provided. Report a mismatch to the invigilator immediately.
Water and a light snack for before/after
Water in a clear container is often allowed; confirm your centre's rule. Eat before long papers; some sessions run close to two hours and concentration drops if you are hungry.
Review formula and method sheet
Prepare a one-page summary of formulas and standard methods you tend to forget (for example differentiation and integration rules, trigonometric identities, kinematics equations, probability distributions). Review it in the final days rather than learning new content.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Work through past papers or practice papers under timed conditions, then mark them honestly against the mark scheme. Build a list of recurring errors (sign slips, lost accuracy marks, misread questions) and target those specifically. Confirm your entry details, venue, and start times with your exams officer.
Do a second timed paper or a set of mixed questions from your weakest topics. Practise showing method clearly, since method marks are awarded even when the final answer is wrong. Check your calculator is in the correct mode (degrees versus radians) for the topics you are revising and that it works.
Light revision only: read your formula sheet and error list, redo a handful of questions you previously got wrong, and stop early. Pack your bag (ID, statement of entry, calculator, spare batteries, instruments, pens). Check travel arrangements and set two alarms. Aim for a full night's sleep; cramming new material the night before rarely helps and harms concentration.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive at the centre with time to spare, and avoid last-minute discussion of topics you have not revised, which only raises anxiety. Hand in or switch off your phone before entering the room. Go to the toilet before the paper starts.
Read the front page, check the paper code, note the total marks and the finish time. Scan the whole paper briefly to see the structure and question weights, then start with questions you can do confidently to build momentum.
Show every step of working; method marks are awarded for correct approach even with an arithmetic slip. Watch units and required accuracy (significant figures or exact forms as instructed). If stuck, leave the question, mark it, and return later. Keep an eye on the clock against your planned pace and reserve the last few minutes to check answers, units, and that no question is blank.
Check you have answered every question or part, that your name and candidate details are correct, and that diagrams are labelled. Do not erase working that might earn method marks. Stop writing immediately when told.
Rules to check
Bring the identification your centre requires and be ready to show it. Accepted documents vary, so confirm with the provider before exam day.
Mobile phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices must be switched off and stored as directed. Unauthorised items in the exam room can be treated as malpractice even if unused.
Use only permitted calculators and equipment. Check the current calculator regulations for your series with your centre; prohibited models may be removed and could lead to a report.
Follow invigilator instructions on seating, timing, and leaving the room. Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper has started, and do not leave without permission.
Breaks and rest breaks are governed by centre policy and access arrangements. If you have an approved arrangement such as extra time or supervised rest breaks, confirm in advance that it is recorded for you.
Marks are awarded for correct method as well as final answers, so write down your working rather than only the result. Answers given to the wrong degree of accuracy or without required units may lose marks.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or a problem with your circumstances, tell the invigilator at the time and ask your centre about special consideration procedures afterwards.
Results, grade boundaries, and resit rules are set by the awarding organisation and vary by series. Confirm the specifics with your centre or the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.