CAPA Avocat CI exam-day guide
CAPA Avocat CI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation / admission letter
Print or download the convocation showing your name, exam session, date, time and venue. The CAPA Avocat CI exam is organised by the profession; confirm with the provider (CAPA / Ordre des avocats de Côte d'Ivoire) which document is required and whether a printed copy is mandatory.
National identity document
Bring the original piece of ID used in your registration (national ID card or passport). Check that it is valid and not expired. Confirm with the provider which IDs are accepted; a driving licence is often refused.
Candidate card / registration confirmation
If a candidate number or registration receipt was issued, bring it. If you did not receive one, confirm with the provider whether it is needed.
Several black or blue ballpoint pens
Bring at least two pens of the same colour. Confirm with the provider which ink colour is required for answer sheets; pencil is usually reserved for machine-readable grids only.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener (if machine-readable answer sheet)
Needed only if the paper uses a multiple-choice answer grid. Confirm with the provider whether the exam includes an MCQ grid and what stationery is allowed.
Clear water bottle (label removed)
A transparent bottle with no label is commonly accepted. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed in the room.
Watch (non-connected)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you manage time if the room clock is not visible. Smartwatches are almost always prohibited; confirm with the provider.
Venue reconnaissance
Locate the exact building and room the day before. Check transport time at the same hour as the exam. Confirm the address with the provider, as invitations sometimes list a campus rather than a specific hall.
Travel and timing plan
Plan to arrive at least 45–60 minutes before the start. Confirm with the provider the exact opening time of the doors and the latest admission time; late candidates may be refused.
Leave prohibited items at home or in a bag
Phones, smartwatches, connected earphones, notes and course materials must not be in the exam room. Confirm with the provider whether a supervised bag deposit exists.
Check the language and format of the paper
The exam is delivered in French. Confirm with the provider whether any documents (e.g. codes, statutes) are provided or allowed, and whether the paper is written, oral or mixed.
Medical or special-needs arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room or medication, request it well in advance. Confirm with the provider the deadline and the supporting documents required; arrangements are rarely granted on the day.
Plan the day
Re-read your own summary sheets and the procedural rules you tend to confuse. Do not start new topics. Practise one full timed paper under exam conditions to calibrate your speed. Prepare your documents: check the ID expiry date, print the convocation, and confirm the venue address and room with the provider. Pack your bag the night before the 72-hour window ends so nothing is left to the last minute.
Stop intensive revision after early afternoon. Review only short summaries and mnemonics. Prepare clothes and stationery. Charge nothing connected: leave the phone and smartwatch at home or plan to deposit them. Eat normally, avoid alcohol and screens late at night, and sleep a full night. Re-confirm transport times and set two alarms.
Eat a real breakfast and take water. Leave with the ID, convocation and pens only. Arrive at the venue 45–60 minutes early. Find the room and the toilets before the doors open. Switch off and store your phone before entering; do not keep it in a pocket. Listen to the invigilator's instructions and check that your name and candidate number on the answer sheet are correct.
Read the whole paper first and note the mark allocation. Allocate time per section and keep 10 minutes at the end to check names, numbering and that every page is completed. Answer the easiest questions first if the paper allows it. For essay or case questions, structure your answer: facts, issue, rule, application, conclusion. Write legibly. If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and follow the invigilator; confirm with the provider whether toilet breaks are allowed and whether they are escorted.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID document used at registration; a copy or an expired document is normally refused. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted.
Arrive before the admission deadline stated on your convocation. Candidates arriving after the doors close may be refused entry; confirm with the provider the exact cut-off time.
Phones, smartwatches, connected earphones and any notes must be switched off and left outside the room or in the deposit if one is provided. Possession in the room is treated as cheating.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, do not look at another candidate's paper and do not pass anything between desks.
Raise your hand and wait for the invigilator if you need to leave the room, need paper, or have a problem with your paper. Confirm with the provider whether toilet breaks are permitted and how they are supervised.
Write only in the space provided and in the required ink. Do not write your name on the answer sheet if it is anonymised; use only your candidate number as instructed.
Stop writing immediately when the invigilator announces the end. Hand your answer sheet to the invigilator personally; do not leave it on the desk.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the exam provider. Confirm with the provider the marking scheme, the pass threshold and the resit rules; do not rely on hearsay from other candidates.