Concours SESAME exam-day guide
Concours SESAME · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation and exam details
Print or save the convocation you received after registering, and re-read the practical instructions it contains: date, reporting time, centre address, and any materials allowed. Do not assume the format from another candidate; if anything is unclear, confirm with the provider.
Valid photo ID
Bring the identity document required by the convocation (typically a national ID card or passport). Check that it is the accepted type, is not expired, and that the name matches your registration. If your ID is being renewed or your name differs, confirm with the provider what alternative proof is accepted before exam day.
Several black/blue ballpoint pens and a pencil
Bring at least two pens that write cleanly plus a pencil and eraser. Multiple-choice answer sheets are usually filled with a pen or pencil as specified in the instructions; verify the required writing tool on the convocation and follow it exactly.
Simple watch
A basic analogue or digital watch lets you pace yourself if the room clock is not visible. Smart watches and connected devices are generally prohibited; leave them at home rather than risk confiscation.
Water and a light snack
Bring a small bottle of water and something easy to eat between papers if breaks are scheduled. Avoid heavy or unfamiliar food that could make you sluggish during a long session.
Confirmed route and arrival time
Plan the journey to arrive well before the reporting time, allowing for transport delays. Locate the exact building and entrance in advance, since large campuses can be confusing on the day.
Phone switched off and stored
Phones must usually be switched off and placed where invigilators instruct, not kept on your desk or in a pocket. An audible phone can lead to disqualification; check the centre's specific rule.
Read the paper instructions first
Before starting, read the cover page for timing, number of questions, scoring rules such as penalties for wrong answers, and how to fill the answer sheet.
Answer-sheet technique prepared
Know in advance how you will mark answers, check question numbering alignment, and leave time to transfer answers if you work on the question booklet first.
Plan the day
Re-read the convocation and confirm the centre location, reporting time, and allowed materials. Gather ID, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, water, and snack in one bag. Do one final light review of your weakest topics rather than starting new material, and check the transport route and any strikes or disruptions announced for exam day.
Stop intensive revision in the evening. Pack the bag completely, charge nothing you cannot bring (leave smart devices out), set two alarms, and go to bed at a normal hour. Eat familiar food and avoid cramming late, since fatigue costs more marks than one extra fact.
Eat a normal breakfast, leave with generous margin, and arrive early. Keep conversation with other candidates light; last-minute panic comparisons rarely help. Switch off your phone before entering the room and follow invigilator instructions for placing belongings.
Read the instructions and note the total time and number of questions. Do a first pass answering questions you know, skip and mark hard ones, then return to them. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints, keep the answer sheet aligned with the question numbers, and reserve the final minutes to check that no answer is missing or misaligned. If a penalty for wrong answers applies, guess only when you can eliminate options.
Rules to check
Bring the exact identity document named on your convocation; without acceptable ID you may be refused entry, and the accepted alternatives must be confirmed with the provider in advance.
Arrive by the reporting time. Late admission is at the centre's discretion and may not be possible once the paper has started; confirm the provider's late-arrival policy.
Phones, smart watches, and connected devices must be switched off and stored as instructed. Any device found on you during the test can be treated as cheating.
Follow invigilator instructions on seating, materials, and timing. Do not communicate with other candidates once the test has begun, and do not look at others' papers.
Do not open the booklet or start writing before the signal, and stop writing immediately when time is called; continuing after the signal can invalidate your paper.
Use only the writing tools specified for the answer sheet, and keep answers within the marked zones; answers outside the correct area may not be read by the scanner.
Breaks, if any, are announced by the invigilators. Unless told otherwise, remain in the room and do not take materials with you; confirm the centre's break policy on the day.
Scoring rules, including whether wrong answers carry a penalty, vary by section and year. Read the paper's own instructions rather than relying on what other candidates say.