EXETAT Math-Physique exam-day guide
EXETAT Math-Physique · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation / inscription proof
Bring the convocation or registration slip issued for the session, plus any receipt of payment of the registration fee. The exact document name and whether a printed copy is mandatory vary by province and by the school or centre that registers you, so confirm with the provider (your school direction or the provincial inspection) which document is required and in what form.
Valid identity document
Bring the original national identity card or passport used at registration; a photocopy is usually not accepted. Confirm with the provider whether a school-issued identity card is accepted for candidates who do not yet have a national ID, since this varies by centre.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written papers are handwritten; bring two or three pens of the same ink colour and test them beforehand. Some centres require a single ink colour for the whole copy, so check the instructions printed on the cover of the question booklet on the day.
Pencils, eraser and sharpener
Useful for rough work and for any multiple-choice answer sheet that must be filled in pencil. Confirm with the provider whether the answer sheet for the objective part must be filled in pencil or in ink.
Geometrical instruments
Ruler, set square, protractor and compass for Mathematics papers. A non-programmable calculator may be allowed for some sections and forbidden for others; confirm with the provider what is permitted for each subject, and never assume a graphing or programmable calculator is allowed.
Watch (non-connected)
Exam halls do not always have a visible clock. A simple wristwatch helps you manage the time. Smart watches and any connected device are normally prohibited; leave them at home.
No phone, no connected device
A mobile phone, even switched off, is typically treated as a serious irregularity if found on you during the test. Leave it outside the hall or hand it in as instructed by the invigilators.
Know your centre and the reporting time
Locate the examination centre in advance and plan the route. Reporting times and the opening of the doors are set by the organising authority; confirm with the provider the exact reporting time and the late-arrival rule for your centre.
Know the paper schedule for your option
The number and order of papers depends on your section (scientific, literary, technical). Confirm with the provider the exact timetable for your option, including which day carries the Mathematics and Physics papers.
Small water bottle and a light snack
Long sessions are tiring. Bring water and a snack for the break between papers. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed inside the hall, as some centres forbid them at the desk.
Sleep and travel plan
Organise transport and, if you live far from the centre, accommodation for the exam days. Do not plan to arrive at the last minute; traffic and queuing at the entrance are common.
Formula review sheet written by you
A one- or two-page handwritten summary of the Mathematics and Physics formulas you most often get wrong. Review it, then leave it outside the hall: written notes are not allowed at the desk.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Rework past papers under timed conditions, one Mathematics paper and one Physics paper per day, and correct them immediately. For each mistake, write down whether it was a knowledge gap, a calculation slip, or a misreading of the question; the last two are the ones you can fix in three days. Re-read the formula sheet you wrote yourself and redo two or three standard exercises per chapter rather than rereading the whole course. Check that your convocation, identity document and registration are in order, and settle the travel plan to the centre.
Pack the bag: convocation, identity document, pens, pencils, eraser, instruments, watch, water. Visit the centre so you know the entrance, the room and the travel time. Do a light review of formulas only, no full paper. Eat normally, avoid staying up late, and set two alarms. Confirm with the provider the reporting time if you have any doubt.
Eat a real breakfast. Arrive at the centre well before the reporting time, with the documents in hand rather than at the bottom of the bag. Once seated, read the instructions printed on the question booklet before writing anything: number of exercises, whether all are compulsory, and whether there is a choice. Write your name and candidate number exactly as instructed, and check the number of pages of the booklet.
Read the whole paper once, then allocate time per exercise according to the marks, keeping ten minutes at the end to check. Start with the exercises you can do, not necessarily the first one. For Mathematics, write the hypotheses, the method and the intermediate steps: a correct final answer without justification loses marks, and a wrong final answer with a correct method keeps some. For Physics, state the law used, write the literal expression before substituting numbers, and keep units at every step. If you are blocked on a question, leave a clear gap, move on, and come back. Write legibly and number your answers as the questions are numbered.
Do not compare answers with other candidates during the break; it raises doubt and costs concentration. Eat, drink, and glance at formulas for the next subject only.
Rules to check
Identity and admission: you are normally admitted to the hall only on presentation of the required identity document and the convocation. The exact list of accepted documents and the rule for a candidate who has lost an identity document are set by the organising authority, so confirm with the provider in advance rather than on the day.
Punctuality: doors usually close at a fixed time after the start of the paper, and late candidates may be refused or admitted without extra time. Confirm with the provider the late-arrival rule and the reporting time for your centre.
Prohibited items: phones, connected watches, earphones and any unauthorised document are normally forbidden at the desk. Hand in or leave outside anything not explicitly allowed; possession can be treated as fraud regardless of intent.
Silence and independence: no communication between candidates, no borrowing of instruments or paper, and no exchange of answer sheets. Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need something.
Leaving the hall: candidates are generally not allowed to leave during the first part of the session, and a candidate who leaves may not be readmitted. Confirm with the provider the exact rule for your centre, including access to the toilets during the paper.
Scoring: marks are awarded for method as well as for the final result, so justify every step. A result given without units in Physics, or without the reasoning in Mathematics, is normally penalised. Read the mark allocation printed on the paper to decide how much detail each question deserves.
Fraud: any attempt to copy, to use unauthorised material or to impersonate another candidate is sanctioned, up to cancellation of the session. The applicable procedure is defined by the organising authority; confirm the details with the provider.
After the paper: answer sheets are collected at the end of the time allowed, and no paper may be taken out. Do not rely on unofficial answer keys published online after the exam; they frequently contain errors and only serve to increase anxiety before the next paper.