Gente de Mar exam-day guide
Gente de Mar · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID (passport or national ID)
Bring the same identity document you used at registration. Name and spelling must match your booking exactly. If your ID is expired or the name differs, contact the provider before exam day - confirm with the provider which documents they accept.
Admission or appointment confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, date, time and test centre address. Some centres ask to see it at reception; keep it accessible on paper as well as on your phone.
Know your test centre route and arrival time
Rehearse the journey at the same time of day if possible. Arrive with a buffer for traffic and security checks. The exact reporting time and late-admission cut-off are set by the provider - confirm with the provider.
Pencils, eraser and sharpener (if paper-based)
Bring several HB pencils and a good eraser. Confirm with the provider whether the centre supplies stationery or whether you must bring your own; for computer-based tests you normally receive everything on site.
Permitted calculator or plotting tools
Only bring calculation aids the provider explicitly allows for this exam. The list of permitted models and whether they are provided or must be brought is set by the provider - confirm with the provider.
Watch (non-smart, silent)
A simple analogue watch helps you pace yourself if the room clock is hard to see. Smart watches and any device with connectivity will be refused. Confirm with the provider whether wristwatches are allowed in your room.
Water and a light snack for the break
Stay hydrated and avoid heavy food before the test. Check the provider's rules on bringing drinks and food into the test room; some centres require them to stay in a locker.
Leave valuables and phones at home or in a locker
Phones, smart watches, notes and bags are normally stored outside the room. Do not plan to access study notes during the test; the storage and access rules are set by the provider - confirm with the provider.
Review the official exam structure and timing
Know the number of sections, question types and time per section from the official syllabus or candidate guide. This is the single most useful preparation for pacing on the day.
Medical or access arrangements confirmed in advance
If you need extra time, a separate room or other adjustments, these must be approved before the test date. Bring any approval letter. The deadline and evidence required are set by the provider - confirm with the provider.
A plan for the break
Decide in advance whether you will eat, drink or rest during the scheduled break. Know how long the break is and where you are allowed to go; ask the invigilator at the start if it is unclear.
Backup transport plan
Identify a second route or a taxi fallback in case of delays. Keep the test centre phone number saved in case of an emergency, and note that the provider's policy on late arrivals must be confirmed in advance.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summary sheets, formula lists and error log. Do two or three timed mini-sections under exam conditions to check pacing, then stop. Confirm the test centre address, reporting time and what you are allowed to bring by checking the provider's candidate guide or contacting them.
Prepare your ID, confirmation and permitted stationery in one bag. Plan the journey and set two alarms. Protect sleep: shift bedtime gradually so you are alert at the test's start time. Avoid all-night study, which reliably costs more marks than it gains.
Skim your summary sheets for 60–90 minutes maximum, focusing on frequently confused terms and units. Do not attempt new practice tests. Eat a normal meal, avoid excess caffeine and alcohol, and go to bed at a sensible hour.
Eat a normal breakfast, check your bag against the checklist, and leave earlier than the journey requires. Arrive at the centre with time for ID checks and seating. Once seated, read the instructions carefully, note the time available and how many questions there are, and set your pacing target before starting.
Answer the questions you can do confidently first, marking uncertain ones for review. Do not let a single hard question consume disproportionate time. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints rather than continuously.
Return to marked questions, eliminate clearly wrong options and commit to an answer. If there is no penalty for wrong answers, never leave a question blank - confirm the scoring rule with the provider beforehand.
Check that every question has an answer and that your answer sheet or on-screen selections match your intended answers, especially if you changed any. Use the full time unless the rules require you to submit early; leaving early gains nothing.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document required by the provider and present it on request. If your ID does not match your registration, you may be refused entry; confirm acceptable documents with the provider in advance.
Follow all instructions from invigilators. Do not communicate with other candidates once the test has begun, and do not attempt to view another candidate's screen or paper.
Do not bring unauthorised materials into the test room. Notes, phones, smart watches and similar devices must be stored as directed; possession in the room may lead to cancellation of your result.
Attempt every question unless the provider states otherwise. Whether incorrect answers are penalised, and how sections are weighted, are set by the provider - confirm with the provider before the test.
Breaks are taken only at the times and places the invigilator specifies. You may normally not leave the room during a timed section except with permission and escort; ask before the test starts.
If you believe there is a problem - a faulty computer, disruptive noise, missing pages - raise your hand and inform the invigilator immediately and note the time. Report issues before you leave the centre.
Do not share, record or reproduce exam content afterwards. Candidate agreements normally prohibit disclosing questions; the exact terms are set by the provider - confirm with the provider.
If you are unwell or cannot attend, contact the provider as early as possible to ask about withdrawal, transfer or aegrotat arrangements. Deadlines and fees for these are set by the provider - confirm with the provider.