GSL Conveyancing & Drafting exam-day guide
GSL Conveyancing & Drafting · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the exact form of ID the provider specifies (commonly a current passport or photocard driving licence). The name must match your booking. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a second form is required.
Admission or booking confirmation
Print or download the confirmation email showing your candidate number, test centre, and start time. Some centres ask to see it at reception; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is needed.
Candidate number and centre details
Write these down separately from your phone in case devices are collected or stored. Know the room, building entrance, and nearest transport stop.
Permitted stationery
The GSL Conveyancing & Drafting assessment is a practical drafting exam, so check whether you may bring pens, pencils, highlighters, and a ruler. Confirm with the provider whether paper is supplied and whether any stationery is prohibited.
Permitted reference materials
Find out in advance whether the assessment is open-book and, if so, exactly which materials are allowed (for example, unannotated statutes or a specified textbook). Do not assume; confirm with the provider.
Approved calculator and/or watch
If calculations form part of the paper, check the permitted calculator model. A simple analogue watch helps with timing where clocks are not visible. Confirm with the provider.
Clear water bottle and small snack
Bring a transparent bottle and a quiet snack for any scheduled break. Check the centre's rules on food and drink in the exam room.
Travel plan and backup route
Plan to arrive well before the start time, allowing for delays. Identify a fallback route and the centre's contact number in case of disruption.
Phone silenced and stored
Expect to switch off and store your phone and any smart devices as directed. Do not rely on your phone as a clock or for notes.
Rest and logistics the night before
Confirm your alarm, lay out ID and stationery, and check the weather and travel updates. Avoid last-minute cramming that displaces sleep.
Read the candidate instructions
Review the provider's candidate handbook or instructions for conduct, timing, and permitted items. If anything is unclear, ask the provider before test day.
Access arrangements (if applicable)
If you have approved adjustments (extra time, separate room, assistive equipment), confirm they are recorded on your booking and know who to speak to on arrival. Confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to practising under exam conditions. Work through timed drafting tasks: a transfer or lease clause, a report on title, and a short letter of advice. Review your own checklists for structure, parties, definitions, and execution formalities rather than memorising model answers. Confirm your travel arrangements and re-read the provider's candidate instructions. Stop new-topic study 48 hours out and consolidate what you already know.
Do one light review of your drafting frameworks and common pitfalls (for example, inconsistent party names, missing definitions, unclear covenants, and incorrect execution blocks). Pack ID, confirmation, stationery, and permitted materials. Check the centre location and journey time, set two alarms, and aim for a normal night's sleep. Avoid discussing the exam with others if it raises anxiety.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the centre with time to spare. Re-read only your short summary notes, not new material. At the centre, follow staff instructions, store devices, and check that your workstation has the materials you are permitted to use. Use any reading time to scan the whole paper and plan your time allocation before writing.
Read all instructions and note the marks and suggested time for each question. Draft in a logical order: identify the parties and transaction, outline the structure, then write in clear, precise legal English. Watch the clock and leave time to check names, dates, defined terms, cross-references, and execution clauses. If a question is taking too long, move on and return if time allows. Answer the question actually asked and keep within any word limits.
Rules to check
Bring the identification specified by the provider; you may be refused entry without it. Confirm the accepted forms with the provider before test day.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and centre staff, including where to sit, what may be taken into the room, and how to raise a query.
Switch off and store phones, smart watches, and other devices as directed. Unauthorised devices or materials may lead to disqualification; confirm the provider's policy.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test. If you need to leave the room, attract an invigilator's attention and follow their instructions.
Check the provider's rules on breaks, food and drink, and leaving the room early. These vary between centres, so confirm rather than assume.
Write only in the answer materials provided and follow any instructions on word limits, legibility, and identifying your script by candidate number rather than name.
If you believe there is a problem with the paper, equipment, or conditions, tell an invigilator immediately and note it afterwards; do not wait until the end.
Scoring and results handling are set by the provider. Check the published guidance on marking, pass marks, and results dates rather than relying on second-hand information.