Kaoyan English exam-day guide
Kaoyan English · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed admission ticket (准考证)
Download and print from the official graduate admissions portal (研招网) during the window it opens, which is usually in the weeks before the exam. Print more than one copy. Your registration number, exam site, and seat details appear here. Confirm the exact download window and printing requirements with the provider (中国研究生招生信息网 / your exam site), since these can change year to year.
Valid resident ID card (有效居民身份证)
The ID must be the same type and number you used at registration. Check the expiry date now - if it expires before or around exam day, apply for a replacement early. Whether a temporary ID is accepted is not something you should assume; confirm with the exam site or provincial education examination authority.
Black gel pens (2–3)
Most answer sheets require black ink. Bring several working pens plus one spare refill. Do not rely on a single pen.
2B pencils and eraser
For machine-scored multiple-choice sections (e.g., the English cloze and reading sections on the answer card). Bring pre-sharpened pencils or a mechanical 2B pencil and a clean eraser. Confirm on your ticket whether the site provides stationery - some provinces supply it and prohibit bringing your own.
Watch (non-smart, no storage)
Exam rooms may not have a visible clock. A plain analog or basic digital watch helps you pace the reading and writing sections. Smart watches, fitness bands, and anything with communication or storage functions are prohibited.
Clear plastic pencil case / bag
Some sites require transparent stationery bags. Keep your ID and ticket in it so they are easy to show at the door.
Know your exam site and route
Visit or map the route to the building in advance. Sites are often large campuses with multiple buildings; arriving at the wrong gate costs time. Note the reporting time - it is earlier than the paper start time.
Review the answer-card (答题卡) format
Practice transferring answers to the card, including the writing section's lined area and the required name/registration-number fields. Know where each section's answers go on the card.
Prepare a light, familiar breakfast and lunch plan
The English exam is long. Eat something you normally eat, and know where you can eat or rest between sessions if you have another subject the same day.
No electronic devices
Phones, earbuds, smart watches, and any storage or transmission device must be left outside the room or switched off and stored as the site directs. Carrying them into the seat can be treated as a violation. Confirm the site's storage arrangement with the provider.
Check weather and dress in layers
Exam halls may be cold or poorly heated. Dress so you can stay comfortable for the full duration without distracting yourself.
Re-read the instructions on your admission ticket
The ticket and the site's notice carry the binding rules on stationery, entry time, and prohibited items. Treat them as authoritative over any general advice.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Do timed full-length practice of the English paper under exam conditions (180 minutes) at least once, and review your error patterns rather than new vocabulary lists. Re-confirm your exam site, reporting time, and transport plan. Print the admission ticket if you have not already, and check your ID's validity. Prepare your stationery and a transparent bag. Sleep on a normal schedule - do not shift to late-night cramming.
Pack your bag: admission ticket, ID, pens, 2B pencils, eraser, watch, water if permitted. Lay out clothes. Do a short, light review of your writing templates and a few high-frequency phrases, then stop. Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy caffeine after midday, and go to bed at your usual time. Set two alarms. Check the weather and your route once more.
Eat a normal breakfast. Arrive at the site well before the reporting time - aim for at least 30–45 minutes early to absorb queues and ID checks. Leave your phone and smart devices outside the room as directed. Go to the restroom before entering. Once seated, check that your answer card and question paper are the correct subject and version, and fill in your name and registration number carefully.
Read the instructions on the question paper and answer card. Confirm the total mark allocation and section order. Budget your time before you start: for the English paper, a common split is roughly 15–20 minutes for cloze, 60–70 minutes for reading, 15–20 minutes for the new question type (匹配/排序), 15–20 minutes for translation, and 40–50 minutes for the two writing tasks - adjust to your own strengths, but write the plan down.
Work section by section and transfer answers to the answer card as you go, or in blocks - do not leave all transfer to the end. For reading, answer from the passage's evidence, not from background knowledge. If a question stalls you, mark it and move on; return later. Watch the clock at each section boundary.
Protect time for the writing section. Write the short task first, then the long task. Leave 5–10 minutes to check: answer-card alignment (no off-by-one errors), spelling in the writing, and that every question has an answer. Do not leave blanks - there is no penalty for guessing on multiple-choice items in this exam, but confirm the current rule with the provider.
Do not discuss answers in detail with others immediately; it only adds noise. Keep your admission ticket and registration number safe - you will need them to check scores and for the subsequent stages (score release, national line 国家线, re-examination or adjustment 调剂). Confirm the score-release and re-examination timeline with the provider.
Rules to check
Bring the admission ticket and the same valid ID used at registration; both are checked at entry. Without them you may be refused entry - confirm the exact fallback policy with the exam site, not with other candidates.
Electronic devices, including phones, smart watches, earbuds, and any storage or transmission device, are prohibited in the exam room. Follow the site's instruction on where to leave them.
Stationery rules vary by province: some sites provide all stationery and prohibit bringing your own, others require you to bring it. Confirm on your admission ticket and the site notice.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the paper; you normally cannot leave the room and return. Use the restroom before the exam starts. Confirm the site's specific policy with the provider.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on filling in personal information and on when you may start and must stop writing. Writing after the stop signal can be treated as a violation.
Any form of cheating, impersonation, or use of unauthorized materials is handled under national exam regulations and can lead to cancellation of scores and further penalties. The exact sanctions are set by the regulations - confirm details with the provider.
Scoring: the English paper is marked on a fixed total, with the writing section graded by human raters against published criteria. Multiple-choice items are machine-scored from the answer card, so misalignment on the card costs marks even when your answer was right.
Keep your registration number and admission ticket after the exam; you need them for score checking and later stages. Confirm score-release dates and re-examination procedures with the provider.