COSHEM exam-day guide
COSHEM · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID (not a photocopy) you used when registering. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether the name must match your registration exactly.
Exam appointment confirmation
Have your booking confirmation or candidate number accessible, either printed or on your phone. The provider's check-in process determines whether a printed copy is required - confirm with the provider.
Know your test format and timing
Confirm in advance whether your sitting is computer-based or paper-based, how many questions and sections there are, and the total seat time. This drives your pacing plan more than any other single fact.
Allowed reference materials
Check the current candidate handbook for whether any formula sheet, calculator, or reference table is provided on-screen or in print. Do not assume; confirm with the provider and do not bring prohibited materials.
Calculator policy
If a calculator is permitted, confirm the exact model restrictions and whether one is supplied at the workstation. If it is not permitted, practice all arithmetic by hand before exam day.
Personal items plan
Most testing centres require phones, watches, bags, and notes to be stored in a locker or left outside the room. Plan to travel light and confirm the specific storage rules with the provider.
Travel and arrival buffer
Arrive with a buffer of at least 30 minutes. Confirm the reporting time, which is usually earlier than the start time, and the exact venue or remote-proctoring link with the provider.
Remote-proctoring setup (if applicable)
If sitting online, confirm the platform, system check, webcam and microphone requirements, and room-scan procedure in advance. Run the technical check at least 24 hours before the exam.
Break and refreshment policy
Confirm whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are allowed, whether they are timed, and whether water or snacks are permitted at the desk. Policies vary by sitting type - confirm with the provider.
Scratch paper and writing implements
Find out whether the centre supplies an erasable booklet, blank paper, or pens and pencils, or whether you must bring your own approved items. Confirm with the provider before relying on either.
Review the candidate handbook
Read the current handbook for scoring, pass standard, rescheduling, and misconduct rules. The handbook is the authoritative source; this guide is only a planning aid.
Rest and logistics the night before
Protect sleep, set two alarms, and lay out ID, confirmation, and clothing the night before. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material; consolidate what you already know.
Plan the day
Do a full timed mock under exam conditions: same question count, same time limit, no pauses. Mark every uncertain answer and tag it by topic. Spend the remaining days only on those tagged topics, not on re-reading everything.
Re-confirm logistics: venue address or remote-proctoring link, reporting time, ID requirements, and what is allowed in the room. Resolve any ambiguity with the provider now, not on the morning of the exam.
Build a one-page formula and definition sheet in your own words for the highest-yield topics. Review only this sheet in the final 24 hours; it is faster and less anxiety-inducing than reopening full notes.
Stop learning new material. Do a light pass over your one-page sheet and a small set of previously missed questions. Aim to finish studying by early evening.
Prepare the physical kit: ID, confirmation, approved calculator or implements, water if allowed, and a plan for storing your phone. Check travel time and backup routes.
If sitting remotely, run the full system and equipment check, close background applications, and confirm your room meets the proctor's requirements. Charge devices and have a backup internet option such as a phone hotspot.
Eat a normal meal and avoid heavy caffeine if you are sensitive to it. Arrive at the reporting time with your buffer intact; do not use the buffer to cram new topics.
At check-in, follow staff or proctor instructions exactly. If something is unclear - break rules, scratch paper, calculator use - ask before the clock starts.
In the first two minutes, write down your time-per-question budget and note the section boundaries. Answer every question you can in one pass and flag the rest rather than stalling on any single item.
Use a two-pass strategy: first pass for confident answers, second pass for flagged items. If there is no penalty for wrong answers, never leave a blank - make an educated choice before time expires.
Watch the clock at the halfway point and adjust pace. If a question is consuming more than roughly twice your average time, flag it and move on; return only after the rest of the section is complete.
If you take an allowed break, note the time, stay within the stated limit, and re-orient with your one-page sheet only if materials are permitted at that point. Confirm break rules with the provider beforehand.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID used at registration; the name must match your booking. Confirm accepted ID types and any secondary ID requirement with the provider before exam day.
Arrive at the reporting time, which is typically earlier than the start time. Candidates arriving after the stated cutoff may be refused entry or have time deducted; confirm the exact late-arrival policy with the provider.
Store phones, smart watches, notes, and bags as instructed. Unauthorized materials at the desk, even switched off, are commonly treated as misconduct; confirm what counts as prohibited with the provider.
Follow all proctor and staff instructions, including room scans for remote sittings. Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not screenshot or copy questions - doing so can void your result.
Breaks, if any, are governed by the provider's rules and may be timed. Confirm in advance whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether the clock stops; do not assume.
Use only approved calculators, writing implements, and reference materials. If a model or feature is not explicitly permitted, treat it as prohibited and confirm with the provider.
Scoring and the pass standard are set by the provider and stated in the candidate handbook. Do not rely on third-party claims about cut scores or question weighting; check the official handbook.
If equipment fails or you experience a disturbance during a remote sitting, note the time and contact the proctor immediately through the approved channel. Confirm the incident-reporting procedure with the provider before exam day.