BTS Analyses de Biologie Médicale exam-day guide
BTS Analyses de Biologie Médicale · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation / convocation letter
Bring the exam convocation (convocation) issued for the session. It normally states the centre address, the reporting time and the session details. If you have not received it, contact the organising body well before the exam date.
Valid identity document
Bring an official photo ID (national ID card or passport). Check with the exam provider which documents are accepted and whether the document must be the original - do not assume a photocopy or an expired document will be accepted.
Black ballpoint pens (several)
Written papers are usually completed in black ink. Bring at least two or three working pens plus a spare, and check them the night before.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Useful for rough work, diagrams or any machine-readable answer sheet. Confirm with the provider whether pencil use is restricted to scratch paper.
Simple non-programmable calculator
Biology and biochemistry calculations (dilutions, concentrations, unit conversions) often require a calculator. Programmable or graphing calculators are commonly prohibited; confirm the exact rule with the provider.
Watch (non-connected)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you manage time if the room clock is not visible. Smartwatches and connected devices are typically banned from the desk.
Nothing written on hands or forearms
Check yourself before entering the room. Invigilators may ask you to remove any writing, and unexplained annotations can be treated as a breach of rules.
Transparent pencil case or bag
Many centres require transparent containers so contents are visible at a glance. Confirm the accepted format with the provider.
Water and a small snack for after the test
Sessions can be long. Check whether drinks are allowed at the desk during the test; if not, leave water in your bag for the break or the end.
Route and transport plan
Locate the exact building and entrance in advance. Aim to arrive with a comfortable margin before the reporting time; late arrival rules vary and are set by the provider.
Review of practical techniques and calculations
Revise the core laboratory operations likely to be tested: pipetting, dilution series, unit conversions, reading a calibration curve, and interpreting a quality-control chart. Bring only your own summary notes for the final review before entering.
Provider's rules notice
Read the candidate rules sent with the convocation (allowed materials, phone policy, break policy). If anything is unclear, confirm with the provider rather than guessing. needs_review
Plan the day
Re-read the convocation and the provider's rules: reporting time, address, accepted ID, allowed materials. Print the convocation if a paper copy is required. Confirm transport and, if needed, accommodation.
Do a final structured revision pass rather than new topics: dilution and concentration calculations, unit conversions, reference intervals, quality control (Westgard-type rules), and the main analytical techniques (spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, immunoassays, haematology counters). Write a one-page formula sheet for yourself.
Prepare and check your materials: pens, calculator (with fresh batteries), watch, transparent case. Set aside the ID document in a place you will not forget.
Stop heavy revision in the evening. Re-check the route and the reporting time, charge your phone, and prepare clothes and bag. Sleep at your usual time; avoid last-minute cramming that shortens sleep.
Pack the bag completely: convocation, ID, pens, pencil, eraser, calculator, watch, water. Leave anything not permitted (notes, smartwatch, phone) out of the pencil case.
Eat a normal breakfast, leave early, and arrive ahead of the reporting time. Switch your phone off and store it as instructed before entering the room. Go to the toilet before the session starts.
Read the instructions on the paper carefully: number of questions, marking scheme, whether penalties apply for wrong answers, and where to write your candidate number. Check that all pages are present and legible; report any defect to an invigilator immediately.
Do a first pass answering questions you know, then return to harder ones. For calculations, write the formula, substitute units explicitly, and sanity-check the order of magnitude. For interpretation questions, state the observation, then the interpretation, then the conclusion.
Check that every answer is recorded in the required place (answer sheet vs. booklet), that your candidate details are filled in, and that no question has been accidentally skipped. Do not change answers on impulse at the last moment.
Hand in all materials as instructed and keep your convocation. Note anything you found difficult while it is fresh; it helps if a retake is needed.
Rules to check
Bring the convocation and an accepted original photo ID. Candidates without the required documents may be refused entry; the exact list of accepted documents must be confirmed with the provider.
Follow the invigilators' instructions at all times. Do not start writing before the signal and stop immediately when time is called; continuing to write after the end signal can lead to sanctions.
Electronic devices: phones must be switched off and stored out of reach as instructed. Smartwatches, connected watches and any communication device are generally prohibited at the desk. Confirm the provider's exact policy.
Only materials explicitly permitted may be on the desk. Programmable calculators, personal notes and textbooks are typically banned; check the authorised materials list with the provider.
Any form of cheating, including looking at another candidate's paper, passing materials or using concealed notes, is grounds for exclusion from the session. The precise sanctions are set by the provider.
Breaks: check with the provider whether toilet breaks are allowed during the session and whether you are escorted or the time is not compensated. Do not assume you can leave and return freely.
Scoring: check the paper instructions for the marking scheme - number of points per question, whether multiple-choice items carry penalties for wrong answers, and how partial credit is awarded for calculations or interpretations.
If you believe there is an error in a question (missing data, ambiguous wording), raise your hand and ask the invigilator rather than guessing silently; they will record the issue according to the provider's procedure.