EFP exam-day guide
EFP · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID the provider requires. Most testing centres accept a current passport or national ID card, but the accepted document list is set by the provider and the test centre, so confirm it before test day. The name on the ID must match the name on your registration; if you have recently changed your name, ask the provider how to update your record in advance.
Confirmation of your appointment and test centre address
Save the appointment confirmation offline (screenshot or printout) and check the venue address, building entrance, and arrival time. Large exam centres can have multiple entrances and security checks, so allow extra time to find the right room.
Know the exam format and timing in advance
Be clear on the number of questions, whether items are multiple-choice or include other formats, and whether sections are timed separately. Confirm with the provider whether you can move back and forth between questions or between sections, because this changes how you pace yourself.
Review the provider's rules on personal items
Most centres restrict bags, phones, smart watches, and notes to a locker or a designated area. Confirm what is allowed at your seat (for example, whether water or tissues are permitted) and plan to travel light.
Check the calculator and reference-material policy
If the exam involves calculations, confirm with the provider whether an on-screen calculator, a supplied calculator, or your own approved model is allowed, and whether any formula sheet is provided. Do not assume; policies differ between computer-based and paper-based sittings.
Confirm break policy and expected total time at the centre
Ask the provider whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or counted against your time, and whether you can leave the room during the test. Plan the day so that a longer-than-expected check-in or a scheduled break does not affect your travel plans.
Practise with the official format if available
Use any official sample questions or tutorial the provider publishes to get used to the interface and item style. This is the most reliable way to avoid surprises on the day; third-party material may not match the real format.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
Work out the journey in advance and aim to arrive with a comfortable margin before the reporting time. Confirm with the provider what happens if you arrive late, since late arrival rules vary and can result in refused entry.
Prepare for the check-in process
Expect identity verification, possibly a photograph and a security screening, and a signature on a candidate log. Follow staff instructions and keep your ID on the desk if the centre requires it. Ask the provider in advance if you need any accessibility accommodation, so it can be arranged before the day.
Confirm results and scoring information
Find out from the provider when and how results are released, what the pass mark or scoring scale is, and how to request a review if you believe there is an error. Do not rely on unofficial estimates of the pass mark.
Rest and logistics the day before
Prepare clothes, ID, and confirmation the evening before, set two alarms, and avoid last-minute study that could increase anxiety. A normal night's sleep is more useful than cramming.
Know the resit and cancellation rules
Before test day, confirm with the provider the policy on cancelling, rescheduling, and retaking the exam, including any fees or waiting periods. This information is easier to find now than after a disappointing result.
Plan the day
Confirm the appointment time, venue, and ID requirements with the provider. Check the official exam format and any permitted aids one final time. Do a short, timed practice set in the official format to check your pacing, then stop adding new material and focus on consolidating what you already know.
Review your weakest two or three topics using your own notes and summaries, not new resources. Confirm travel arrangements and, if travelling, check accommodation and parking or public transport options. Keep the evening free of heavy study.
Pack your ID, appointment confirmation, and any permitted items. Check the weather and journey plan. Do a light review of key facts or formulas only if it helps you feel settled, then stop. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Leave with enough buffer to arrive before the reporting time. Re-read the confirmation for the exact entrance and room. Leave notes and phone in your bag or at home as the provider requires; do not plan to review material in the waiting area unless the centre allows it.
Present your ID, follow staff instructions for photographs, security screening, and storing personal items, and note where the toilets and break area are. Ask a staff member if anything about the procedure is unclear before the test begins.
Read the instructions for each section and note the time available. Answer the questions you are confident about first if the format allows navigation, and flag difficult items to return to. Watch the clock at the halfway point and again with about ten minutes left. If you finish early, use the remaining time to check that every question has an answer, since unanswered items usually score zero.
Note how results will be released and when. If the provider allows feedback or a score report, request it, because it will guide any resit preparation. Do not attempt to reconstruct questions to share with others; that breaches most candidate agreements.
Rules to check
Bring the exact identity document the provider specifies. If you cannot produce acceptable ID, the centre may refuse entry and you may lose your fee, so confirm the accepted documents with the provider before the day.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and testing staff. They manage seating, timing, and security, and non-compliance can lead to removal from the test.
Do not bring unauthorised materials into the testing room. Phones, smart watches, notes, and similar items are normally prohibited at your seat; confirm with the provider where they must be stored.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not copy, photograph, or share exam content. Most providers treat this as misconduct with serious consequences, including cancellation of results.
Ask the provider in advance about breaks, since the rules differ between exams. If breaks are permitted, expect to be monitored and to have your identity rechecked when you return.
Confirm the scoring and pass-mark policy with the provider rather than relying on rumour. Understand in advance how results are reported and what the process is for querying a result.
If you need an accessibility accommodation, request it well before test day through the provider's official process. Arrangements are usually easier to make in advance than on the day.
If you are unwell or cannot attend, contact the provider as early as possible and ask about the rescheduling or cancellation policy. Do not simply fail to appear, as that may forfeit your fee.