Pancyprian Economics exam-day guide
Pancyprian Economics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid ID (ταυτότητα or passport)
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you registered with. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a school ID is sufficient; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy will be accepted.
Exam admission slip / confirmation
If the provider issues an admission card, candidate number, or confirmation email, print it and bring it. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital version is acceptable.
Candidate/registration number
Write your candidate number and any centre code on a small card and keep it with your ID, so you can fill in answer-sheet headers quickly and correctly under pressure.
Two or three blue or black ballpoint pens
Use dark ink for handwritten answers. Bring spares; a pen that fails mid-essay costs time. Confirm with the provider whether pencil is permitted for diagrams or multiple-choice answer sheets.
Pencil, eraser and a small ruler
Graphs are central to economics answers. A ruler helps you draw labelled axes, curves and shifts cleanly; a pencil lets you sketch before committing to ink. Confirm any restrictions on pencil cases.
Silent, non-programmable calculator
You may need elasticity, percentage-change, multiplier or index-number calculations. Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted and whether programmable or graphing calculators are banned.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many centres require transparent storage for stationery. Confirm with the provider what is allowed on the desk.
Analogue watch (optional)
A simple watch helps you pace sections if the hall clock is hard to see. Confirm with the provider whether smartwatches and phones must be switched off and placed away from the desk.
Water in a clear bottle, label removed
Hydration helps in a long written paper. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk and whether the label must be removed.
Know your centre location and arrival time
Check the address, transport route and reporting time the day before. Arrive early; confirm with the provider what happens if you are late and whether a grace period applies.
No notes or revision sheets at the desk
Leave revision notes outside the exam room or in a bag away from your desk. Possession of unauthorised material at the desk can lead to disqualification.
Plan for phones and smart devices
Switch off and stow your phone as instructed before entering. Confirm with the provider the exact rule, since some centres treat a phone on your person as misconduct even if switched off.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating. Re-read your own summary sheets on the core topics: scarcity and opportunity cost, demand and supply, elasticity, market failure, national income, inflation and unemployment, fiscal and monetary policy, and international trade. For each topic, redraw the key diagram from memory (PPC, supply and demand shifts, externality diagram, AD/AS, money-market or multiplier diagram) and label every axis and curve. Practise past-paper-style questions under timed conditions, at least one full paper if available. Build a one-page 'diagram sheet' and a one-page 'definitions and formulas' sheet. Identify your two weakest topics and do targeted practice on them rather than re-reading everything. Confirm your centre address, reporting time and permitted equipment with the provider. Prepare your stationery and ID the night before, not at the last minute.
Do a light review only: definitions, formulas (price elasticity of demand and supply, income and cross elasticity, multiplier, real vs nominal values, GDP deflator, unemployment rate), and the structure of your essay plans. Do not start a new topic. Pack your bag: ID, admission slip, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, calculator, clear case, water, watch. Check the calculator works and has fresh batteries. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid late-night cramming, and aim for a full night's sleep. Re-check the journey: route, travel time, and a backup option if transport fails.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the centre with time to spare. Do a final 15-20 minute skim of your diagram sheet and definitions sheet only, then put them away. Keep conversation with other candidates light; last-minute panic comparisons raise anxiety without adding marks. Follow all instructions on ID checks, seating and prohibited items. Once seated, read the front of the paper carefully: number of sections, compulsory questions, choice rules, and the marks per question. Note the total time and write a quick time budget on your rough work: allocate minutes roughly in proportion to marks, and reserve 5-10 minutes at the end for checking.
Read the whole paper briefly before writing so you know what is coming. Start with the questions you can answer confidently to build momentum, but do not overrun your time budget on any one question. For each answer, define terms, use a diagram where it earns marks, explain the mechanism step by step, and finish with an evaluative judgement where the question asks for it. Label diagrams fully: axes, curves, equilibrium points, and the direction of any shift. Show working for calculations so partial credit is possible. If a question blocks you, leave space, move on, and return. Watch the clock at the halfway point and adjust. Use the final minutes to check that every required question is attempted, answer-sheet headers are complete, and units and labels are correct.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID and your admission documentation if issued. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and what to do if you have lost your ID before exam day.
Arrive at the reporting time set by the provider. Confirm with the provider the late-arrival policy, since entry may be refused after a stated cut-off.
Do not bring unauthorised material to the desk: no notes, textbooks, or formula sheets unless the provider states the paper is open-book. Possession of such material can be treated as misconduct.
Switch off phones, smartwatches and other devices and stow them as instructed. Confirm with the provider whether devices must be handed in or left in a bag outside the room.
Use only permitted calculators and equipment. Confirm with the provider the list of allowed models before the exam; do not assume a calculator you used at school is permitted.
Follow invigilator instructions at all times and do not communicate with other candidates during the paper. Any suspected misconduct is handled under the provider's regulations.
Breaks: confirm with the provider whether supervised toilet breaks are allowed during the paper and whether you are given extra time for them; do not assume you will be compensated.
Scoring: confirm with the provider the marking scheme, whether sections are weighted equally, whether there is negative marking for multiple-choice items, and the grade boundaries, since these vary between sessions and should not be assumed.