GTLE Subject Specialism Integrated Science exam-day guide
GTLE Subject Specialism Integrated Science · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission ticket / appointment confirmation
Print or download the confirmation the test provider issues for your appointment, and check that the name, test name and date match your ID. If you are unsure whether a printed copy is required, confirm with the provider before test day.
Valid photo ID that matches your registration
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the exact name you registered under. Check the provider's accepted-ID list in advance; photocopies, expired documents and digital copies are commonly refused, but the precise list varies, so confirm with the provider.
Approved calculator (if permitted)
Integrated science items can involve calculation, but calculator policy differs between computer-delivered and paper tests. Check the provider's rules on model, memory capability and whether an on-screen calculator is supplied. If the policy is not clearly stated, confirm with the provider and prepare to work without one.
Knowing what is provided versus what you must bring
Find out in advance whether the test centre supplies scratch paper, a pen or pencil, a periodic table, a formula sheet or a data booklet. Do not assume; confirm with the provider, and do not bring your own reference sheets unless explicitly allowed.
Personal items plan
Assume bags, phones, notes and smart watches must be stored away from the desk. Plan where they will go (locker, car, or left at home) and check the provider's rules on storage and on items that are prohibited entirely.
Travel and timing plan
Note the reporting time, not just the start time, and arrive with margin for security checks and ID verification. Confirm the exact venue entrance and transport route; test centres in shared buildings can be hard to find.
Rest and logistics the night before
Protect sleep, eat a normal breakfast, and avoid last-minute cramming of new content. Bring water if the provider allows it; confirm their policy on drinks and snacks at the desk.
A revision sheet of your own weak spots
Prepare a one-page summary of the science content and question types you personally get wrong (for example unit conversions, interpreting graphs, experimental design, or balancing equations) and review only that in the final 24 hours.
Strategy for unfamiliar contexts
Integrated science questions often place basic physics, chemistry and biology in unfamiliar applied settings. Practise extracting the underlying principle from the stem and identifying which variables are given and which are asked for.
Access arrangements confirmation (if applicable)
If you have approved accommodations such as extra time or a separate room, bring the approval documentation if the provider requires it and confirm the arrangements in advance. Requirements vary; confirm with the provider.
Provider contact details saved
Save the test provider's contact number and your appointment reference in your phone and on paper, so you can report a delay or problem on the day.
Medical or emergency essentials
If you need medication, an inhaler or similar, check the provider's policy on bringing it into the test room; this is usually allowed with notification, but confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Work through one or two full practice sets under timed conditions, then review every wrong answer by writing the underlying principle and the reason for the error. Build your one-page weak-spot sheet. Check the appointment confirmation, ID validity, venue address and reporting time. Confirm calculator and materials policy with the provider if anything is unclear.
Prioritise high-frequency integrated science skills: reading data tables and graphs, identifying variables and controls in an experiment, unit conversion and significant figures, energy and forces, chemical reactions and the mole concept at an introductory level, cell biology and ecosystems, and interpreting simple genetics or health data. Practise explaining conclusions in one or two precise sentences, since written-response items reward clear causal reasoning.
Light review only: read your weak-spot sheet and a short list of formulas and definitions. Do not start new topics. Prepare everything you will take (ID, confirmation, calculator, water) in one place by the door. Check transport times and any planned engineering works. Set two alarms and aim for a normal night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the venue with time to spare for ID checks and storage of personal items. Do not cram new material; skim your weak-spot sheet once. Use the toilet before entering the room. Switch your phone off and store it as instructed before you sit down.
Read the instructions and note the total time and the number of items. Scan the whole paper or section if permitted, and plan your pace (for example, allow roughly a minute per multiple-choice item and reserve time for longer responses). Note whether there is a penalty for wrong answers; if not, ensure every item is answered.
Answer the items you can do confidently first, and mark anything that needs more thought rather than stalling on it. For data-based items, read the axis labels and units before reading the question. For experimental-design items, identify the independent, dependent and controlled variables explicitly.
Return to marked items and any long written responses. Show working for calculations, state units, and make reasoning explicit: claim, evidence from the data, and conclusion. If time is short, write the key points in bullet form rather than leaving a response blank.
Check that every item has an answer and that your name and any required details are on the answer sheet. Use remaining time to re-check unit conversions and signs. After the test, note which topics felt weak while it is fresh, but avoid comparing answers in detail with others.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID in your registered name and present it on request; if your ID has changed or your name differs from the registration, contact the provider before test day to correct it.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and the provider's test-day regulations. Prohibited items typically include phones, smart watches, notes and unauthorised calculators; the exact list varies, so confirm with the provider and comply strictly.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not attempt to copy, photograph or remove test materials. Suspected misconduct is handled under the provider's rules and can lead to cancellation of results.
Break policy depends on the test length and format: some tests have no scheduled break, and unscheduled breaks may be allowed only under supervision. Confirm the policy with the provider in advance rather than assuming you can leave the room.
Scoring rules, including whether wrong answers are penalised and how written responses are marked, are set by the provider. Check the published test specification; if penalty rules are not stated, answer every item.
If you are delayed, ill or unable to attend, contact the provider as soon as possible and ask about rescheduling, refund or special-consideration procedures; these are governed by the provider's policy, so confirm the details directly.
Access arrangements and medical needs must be requested and approved in advance; do not assume they can be arranged on the day. Confirm with the provider what documentation and notice they require.
Keep to the time limits announced for each section, and stop writing or typing immediately when instructed. Continuing after time is called can be treated as a breach of test regulations.