gh-gra-customs-aptitude exam-day guide
gh-gra-customs-aptitude · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document (passport, national ID card, or driver's licence) whose name matches your registration exactly. A photocopy or expired document is normally refused. Confirm with the exam provider which forms of ID they accept for this sitting and whether a second piece is required.
Admission permit / confirmation letter
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, test centre, and session time. Some centres check it at the door before ID. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital version is accepted.
Test centre address and travel plan
Verify the exact building and entrance the day before, since large centres have multiple halls. Plan to arrive well before the reporting time; lateness rules vary, so confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled.
Permitted stationery
Bring several HB pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener if the answer sheet is machine-read. Bring black or blue pens if written answers are required. Confirm with the provider which items are allowed into the hall, as some centres supply everything.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Many halls have no visible clock and phones are usually banned at the desk. A plain analogue or digital watch without connectivity is the safest option. Confirm with the provider whether watches are permitted.
Clear water bottle and light snack
Hydration and a small snack for the break help sustained concentration on a long aptitude paper. Check the provider's rules on food and drink in the hall; some centres allow water only in a clear container.
Leave prohibited items at home or in storage
Phones, smart watches, earphones, notes, and bags are almost always banned from the desk. Most centres provide no secure storage, so travel light. Confirm with the provider what storage, if any, is available.
Review the published format and timing
Know the number of sections, question types, and whether sections are timed separately. The customs aptitude paper typically mixes numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and abstract or diagrammatic reasoning; confirm the exact structure with the provider rather than relying on forums.
Practise the answer-sheet mechanics
Rehearse transferring answers accurately under time pressure and check whether wrong answers are penalised. If there is no negative marking, never leave a blank. Confirm the scoring rule with the provider.
Rest and logistics the night before
Sleep, set two alarms, and prepare clothes and documents in one place. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material; a short review of formulas and question strategies is enough.
Medical or access arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other adjustments, these are normally requested well in advance with supporting evidence. Confirm with the provider that your arrangement is confirmed for this sitting.
Backup contact and payment card
Carry a little money or a card for travel delays and keep the centre's contact number saved. This is practical contingency planning, not an exam requirement.
Plan the day
Confirm the centre address, reporting time, and session length against your confirmation letter. Re-read the provider's candidate rules on ID, permitted items, and late arrival. If anything is unclear, contact the provider now rather than on the day.
Take one full timed mock under realistic conditions: no phone, strict timing, answer sheet transferred. Review errors by category (arithmetic slips, misread questions, slow diagrammatic reasoning) and write a short list of fixes.
Do targeted practice on your two weakest question types rather than broad revision. Rehearse fast, reliable methods: approximation for numerical reasoning, keyword scanning for verbal passages, and systematic rule-hunting for abstract sequences.
Stop heavy practice. Review your error list, key formulas, and timing strategy. Prepare documents, stationery, and clothing, and plan the route and departure time with a buffer for delays.
Eat normally, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at a sensible hour. Do not attempt to learn new content; it raises anxiety without improving performance.
Eat a proper breakfast, leave early, and arrive ahead of the reporting time. Keep your phone switched off and packed away before entering the building, and have ID and confirmation letter ready in hand.
Read the instructions and note the time allocation per section. Answer the easiest questions first within each section, flag and return to harder ones, and keep an eye on the clock. Transfer answers as you go rather than saving everything for the end.
If a question stalls you, make a reasoned guess, mark it, and move on. Use any stated break to stand, drink water, and reset; do not discuss questions with other candidates.
Note which question types felt hardest while memory is fresh, in case a retake or later stage is required. Follow the provider's stated timeline for results and do not rely on unofficial score estimates.
Rules to check
Bring original government-issued photo ID matching your registration name. Acceptable document types and any second-ID requirement must be confirmed with the provider in advance.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Late-arrival and admission rules differ between centres, so confirm with the provider what happens if you are delayed.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, earphones, notes, or bags to the desk. Assume no secure storage is provided unless the provider confirms otherwise.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times. Any communication with other candidates during the test, or looking at another candidate's paper, is normally treated as misconduct.
Breaks are usually only at the times the provider schedules; you generally cannot leave and re-enter the hall at will. Confirm the break policy for this sitting.
Scoring rules, including whether incorrect answers are penalised and how sections are weighted, are set by the provider. Check the official candidate information rather than assuming.
If you believe there was a disturbance or technical problem, raise it with the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's procedure for reporting it afterwards.
This guide is general preparation advice and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any examining body. Always rely on the provider's official candidate instructions where they differ.