Bac SI (Sciences de l'Ingenieur) exam-day guide
Bac SI (Sciences de l'Ingenieur) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation / convocation number
Print or download the convocation showing your centre, room and timetable. If you have not received it, contact your school or the académie organising the épreuve well before the date; do not assume the venue.
Piece of identification
Bring the identity document accepted by your centre (national ID card or passport are the usual options). Check the exact requirement on your convocation or with the provider, since rules differ between centres and candidates.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (two or three)
Written papers are ink-only; bring spares so a dry pen does not cost you time. Pencil is for diagrams, sketches and rough work unless the subject says otherwise.
Pencil, eraser and a small ruler
Useful for neat free-body diagrams, timing diagrams and block diagrams in the sciences de l'ingénieur paper. Keep rough work clearly separated from final answers.
Scientific calculator you know well
Use the model you have practised with. Before the exam, confirm with the provider which calculator types are permitted, whether memory must be cleared, and whether a spare is allowed. Do not rely on a calculator you have never used.
Watch (non-connected)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch helps you manage the three parts of the paper. Smart watches and connected devices are normally prohibited; confirm with the provider.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many centres require transparent storage for stationery. Confirm the local rule, but a clear pouch is a safe default.
Water bottle with label removed
Staying hydrated helps on a long paper. Check whether drinks are allowed in your room and whether labels must be removed.
No phone or connected device in the room
Leave your phone switched off and stored as instructed, or leave it at home. Even a silent phone in a pocket can be treated as a breach of exam rules.
Revision summary sheets (for before entering)
Bring one or two condensed sheets: unit conversions, common formulas, typical diagram conventions. Read them outside the room only; they must not go to your desk.
Transport plan and backup
Know the route, the travel time and a fallback (earlier train, lift, bike). Aim to arrive well before the start time; late arrival may be refused. Confirm the arrival time with the provider.
Snack and water for after the paper
The paper is long and mentally demanding. Plan a snack and drink for afterwards, especially if you have another épreuve the same day.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Re-read your own summary sheets and redo one full past paper under timed conditions, then mark it honestly against the mark scheme. List the three or four question types where you lose the most marks and rehearse the method for each. Check the convocation details: date, start time, address, room, and the list of authorised materials. Pack your bag early and confirm your calculator works and has fresh batteries.
Do light revision only: formula sheet, unit conversions, diagram conventions, and the structure of the paper. Prepare clothes, ID, convocation, stationery and calculator in one place by the door. Confirm your transport and set two alarms. Eat normally, avoid an all-night session, and go to bed at a reasonable hour; sleep is more valuable than one more exercise.
Eat a proper breakfast and leave with margin for delays. Re-read only your one-page formula sheet, not a full exercise. Arrive at the centre early, find the room, and switch off your phone before entering. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions and fill in the identification fields exactly as required before the start signal.
Read the whole subject before writing: identify the parts, the documents provided, the marks per section and the questions that depend on earlier results. Write a quick time budget on the corner of your sheet. Start with the sections you are confident about to secure marks, but keep the order if later questions build on earlier answers.
Work in blocks with a time limit and check the clock at each transition. Show your reasoning, state the formula before substituting numbers, keep units throughout, and box or underline final answers. Draw diagrams with a ruler and label axes, units and directions. If you are stuck, write down what you know and move on; return later. Reserve the last ten to fifteen minutes to check units, significant figures, forgotten questions and that every page is identified.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document and convocation required by your centre; without them you may be refused entry. Confirm the accepted documents with the provider before the exam day.
Only authorised materials may be on your desk. Calculators, connected watches, phones and any other electronic device are normally restricted; check the exact list on your convocation and confirm with the provider.
Arrive before the stated start time. Candidates arriving after the start may be admitted only under conditions set by the centre, and no extra time is granted; confirm the late-arrival policy with the provider.
Once the paper has started, you generally may not leave the room during the first part of the épreuve, and leaving may end your participation. Ask the invigilator if you need to leave for a genuine reason; confirm the local rule with the provider.
Any communication with another candidate, exchange of material, or use of an unauthorised device is treated as fraud and can lead to cancellation of the épreuve or of the whole examination. Keep your eyes on your own paper.
Write only in the spaces and with the ink specified on the subject. Answers written on rough paper or in pencil where ink is required may not be marked.
Marks are awarded for method and justification as well as for the final value: show the formula, the substitution and the unit. A correct numerical answer without reasoning may lose marks.
Check the scoring and timing conventions stated on the subject (number of questions, marks per part, any choice between exercises). If anything is unclear, raise your hand and ask the invigilator rather than guessing.