Ellinomatheia A1 exam-day guide
Ellinomatheia A1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID (passport or national ID card)
Bring the same identity document used at registration. If you registered with a passport, bring that passport, not a different document. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a photocopy is ever allowed - do not assume.
Admission confirmation / registration printout
Print or save the confirmation email showing your candidate number, exam level (A1), date, time and venue. Some centres ask to see it at the door; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Exact venue address and travel plan
Ellinomatheia exams are held at authorised examination centres, which may be schools or cultural institutes rather than the address you first think of. Check the venue on your confirmation, plan the route, and allow buffer time for delays. Confirm with the provider if the venue is unclear.
Arrival time, earlier than the stated start
Aim to arrive well before the reporting time so there is time for ID checks and seating. The exact reporting time and any late-entry cut-off are set by the centre - confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written answers must be legible. Bring spare pens of the same type; confirm with the provider whether pencil is permitted for any section (for example multiple-choice answer sheets) or whether all answers must be in pen.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace the reading, writing and listening sections. Smart watches and phones are normally not allowed at the desk; confirm with the provider what is permitted.
Water in a clear bottle
A small clear bottle is usually acceptable, but rules vary by centre. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed in the exam room.
No phones, smart devices or notes at the desk
Switch off and stow your phone and any smart watch as instructed before entering. Possession at the desk can be treated as misconduct; confirm with the provider where devices must be left.
Know the paper structure and section order
The A1 examination normally tests listening, reading, writing and speaking, but the exact sections, their order and timings for your session are set by the provider. Confirm the structure with the provider or your centre so nothing surprises you on the day.
Review the A1 syllabus topics and vocabulary
Re-read the official A1 syllabus areas (greetings, personal information, family, daily routine, shopping, directions, simple past and present forms) and your own notes. Use only official or centre-provided materials for the syllabus scope.
Prepare for the speaking section
Practise short self-introductions, simple questions and answers, and describing a picture or everyday situation aloud. Confirm with the provider how the oral part is conducted (examiner format, timing, whether pairs are used).
Medical or access arrangements, if needed
If you need extra time, a separate room or other access arrangements, these must normally be requested and approved in advance. Confirm with the provider well before the exam; they cannot usually be arranged on the day.
Plan the day
Re-read your confirmation email line by line: level A1, date, reporting time, venue address, candidate number and any instructions about ID or permitted items. If anything is unclear, contact the provider or your centre now, not on the morning.
Do a final syllabus sweep using the official A1 topic list. Spend time on your weakest skill - often listening or the oral part - with short timed practice rather than long unfocused reading.
Plan your journey: check transport timetables, strikes or roadworks, and identify a backup route. Note the door-to-door time and add a generous buffer.
Prepare your ID and confirmation document in one place, and check the ID is valid and matches your registration details.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, two pens, non-smart watch, clear water bottle. Leave phone chargers and study notes out of the bag you will take into the room.
Do light revision only: review vocabulary lists, common phrases and your own error notes. Avoid starting new material or cramming late into the night.
Set an alarm (and a backup alarm), eat a normal meal, and get a full night's sleep. Confirm your reporting time once more so you do not rely on memory in the morning.
Eat breakfast, dress comfortably in layers, and leave with more time than you think you need. Arrive at the reporting time stated by the centre.
Switch off your phone and smart watch before entering the building or as instructed, and follow the centre's instructions for where to leave belongings.
Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions, check that your name and candidate number on the answer documents are correct, and ask immediately if something is wrong.
Read the questions before each recording where the format allows, note key words, and answer as you listen. Do not stop to agonise over one item; move on and return if time permits.
Budget your time per section and keep an eye on the clock. Answer every item - a blank scores nothing - and write legibly in the language of the exam, keeping to the word limits stated in the tasks.
Speak clearly and at a steady pace, use simple complete sentences you are confident in, and ask the examiner to repeat a question if you did not catch it. Politeness formulas and basic greetings are part of the A1 syllabus - use them.
Stop writing immediately when told, check your candidate details once more, hand in all materials as instructed, and leave quietly without discussing content with other candidates.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document used at registration. If your ID is lost, expired or does not match your registration details, contact the provider or centre immediately; entry rules in that situation are set by the provider, so confirm with them rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Arrive by the reporting time on your confirmation. Whether late candidates are admitted, and up to what point, is decided by the examination centre - confirm with the provider in advance if you are worried about delays.
Phones, smart watches and unauthorised notes must not be at your desk. Follow the centre's instructions for switching off and storing devices; unauthorised material can lead to your paper being cancelled.
Follow invigilator instructions at all times, including when to start and stop writing. Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not take question papers or answer materials out of the room.
If you need to leave the room (for example for the toilet), raise your hand and wait to be accompanied or instructed. Whether breaks are permitted, and how they are supervised, is set by the centre - confirm with the provider if you have a medical need.
Ask the invigilator if you are unsure about instructions or if a page is missing or illegible. Do not ask for help with the language content of a question; invigilators cannot explain or translate items.
Scoring and grading are determined by the examining body, not by your centre or school. The pass mark, weighting of sections and issue of results are set officially - confirm the current scoring and results policy with the provider.
Access arrangements such as extra time or a separate room must normally be requested and approved before the exam. Confirm the deadline and evidence requirements with the provider; they generally cannot be granted on the day.