Concours EMPT exam-day guide
Concours EMPT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation and photo ID
Bring the convocation notice (or your registration confirmation) and a valid photo ID. The exact ID types accepted are set by the organizing institution, so confirm the accepted list with the provider and check that your ID is unexpired and matches the name on your registration.
Know the venue, room and access route
Reconfirm the address, building entrance and room assignment a few days before. Do a dry run or check the transport route and expected travel time. If the venue is on a campus, identify which gate is open early on exam day; confirm access details with the provider if the notice is unclear.
Arrival time and late-entry rule
Plan to arrive well before the stated reporting time. The cutoff after which entry is refused, and whether any grace period exists, are provider policies: confirm them with the provider and never assume you will be admitted late.
Permitted writing materials
Bring several pens/pencils of the type the notice specifies, an eraser and a sharpener if relevant. Whether pens, pencils or both are allowed for the answer sheet, and which ink colour, is set by the provider: confirm before the day.
Documents for special arrangements
If you requested extra time, a separate room or other accommodation, bring the approval document you received. Confirm with the provider how the accommodation is applied on the day and who to identify yourself to on arrival.
Prohibited electronic devices
Phones, smartwatches, connected earbuds and similar devices are almost always banned at the desk. Assume they must be switched off and stored as instructed. The exact storage rule is a provider policy, so confirm it and plan accordingly.
Calculator and reference materials
Do not assume a calculator, formula sheet or dictionary is allowed. Check the current notice for your section and, if it is silent, confirm with the provider. Bring only what is explicitly authorised.
Water, snack and medication
Bring water in a clear container if the venue permits it, and any medication you may need, telling the invigilator if required. Whether food and drink are allowed at the desk varies by venue: confirm with the provider.
Watch and timekeeping
A simple analogue watch is often the safest way to track time if clocks in the room are not visible. Smartwatches are normally prohibited. Confirm whether any watch is allowed before relying on one.
Scratch paper and answer-sheet format
Do not bring your own paper unless the notice authorises it; scratch paper is usually supplied and collected. Check the instructions for how answers must be recorded, including any multiple-choice grid or coding, so you do not lose marks on formatting.
Read the standing instructions the day before
Reread the candidate instructions for conduct, timing and scoring. Note the total duration, the number of questions, whether there are penalties for wrong answers, and how sections are weighted, so you can plan your pace.
Backup plan for the morning
Set two alarms, arrange your transport in advance and have a contact number for the venue or organising body in case of delay. Keep your documents in one folder the night before.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material and consolidate. Review your own summary sheets, formula lists and error log, focusing on recurring mistakes rather than obscure topics. Do one timed rehearsal under realistic conditions, then correct it the same day. Check the convocation for venue, reporting time, permitted materials and ID requirements, and confirm anything ambiguous with the provider now rather than on the day. Prepare your documents folder and lay out clothing and transport plans.
Do light revision only: skim summaries, key definitions and method checklists. Visit or mentally rehearse the route to the venue and confirm travel times, including any expected disruption. Pack your bag with documents, permitted writing materials, water and medication, and remove prohibited devices from it. Set alarms, eat a normal meal, avoid late-night cramming and aim for a full night's sleep. Decide your time allocation per section in advance.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the venue ahead of the reporting time, allowing a buffer for transport delays. Keep your documents in hand for check-in. Once seated, follow the invigilator's instructions, check that your paper is complete and correctly identified, and write your candidate details exactly as instructed. Use the reading time, if any, to scan the whole paper and note which questions look quick versus long.
Start with a realistic pace based on the number of questions and the total duration, and note the time by which each section should be finished. Answer the questions you can do confidently first, flagging harder ones to return to; do not let one question consume a disproportionate share of the time. Read each question fully, watching for negative wording and units. Record answers directly on the answer sheet as instructed, keep the sheet clean, and reserve the last few minutes to check that every answer is transferred, correctly coded and that your details are complete. If you finish early, review flagged questions rather than leaving.
Rules to check
Bring the required photo ID and convocation; you may be refused entry without them. The accepted ID types and any exceptions are set by the organising institution, so confirm them with the provider in advance.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. The late-entry cutoff and whether any grace period applies are provider policies; confirm them with the provider and do not assume late admission.
Electronic devices, including phones and smartwatches, are normally prohibited at the desk. Follow the invigilator's instructions for switching off and storing them; confirm the exact rule with the provider.
Follow all instructions from the invigilator. Do not communicate with other candidates, exchange materials, or look at others' papers during the test; suspected misconduct is handled under the provider's procedures.
Breaks and leaving the room are usually restricted and may require an escort. Whether toilet breaks are allowed and how they are supervised is a provider and venue policy, so confirm it with the provider.
Use only permitted materials. Unauthorised notes, calculators or reference documents may lead to invalidation of your paper under the provider's rules.
Scoring rules, including any penalty for incorrect answers, section weighting and pass thresholds, are set by the provider. Read the current notice and confirm any point you are unsure of rather than relying on hearsay.
If you have an approved accommodation, identify yourself to the staff as instructed so it is applied. Confirm the procedure with the provider beforehand.