MSI Concours d'Admission exam-day guide
MSI Concours d'Admission · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation / convocatoria and official ID
Bring the exam convocation (or invitation email) you received from the organizing institution plus a valid photo ID (DNI, passport, or equivalent). The exact ID types accepted and whether a printed copy of the convocation is required should be confirmed with the provider.
Confirm exact date, time, and venue
Re-check the date, reporting time, and address on your convocation, and confirm whether you must arrive a set margin before the start. Reporting-time rules vary by site, so confirm with the provider.
Plan and test your route
Do a trial run or map the trip with a buffer for traffic and access control. Note the nearest public transport stop and whether parking is available near the venue.
Know which materials are permitted
Rules on pens, pencils, erasers, rulers, calculators, and rough paper differ by test section. Bring only what the convocation explicitly allows, and confirm any doubt with the provider.
Watch and phone policy
Most competitive exams require phones to be switched off and stored away. Assume phones, smartwatches, and connected devices are not allowed at your desk unless stated otherwise; verify the exact rule with the provider.
Food, water, and medication
Bring a small water bottle and any necessary medication, but check whether food and drink are allowed at the desk. If you have a medical need for special arrangements, that must normally be requested in advance; confirm the procedure with the provider.
Read the full instructions and scoring rules
Understand the number of questions, time limit, whether wrong answers are penalized, and how sections are weighted. This information should come from the official notice; if it is not in your documents, ask the provider.
Sleep and light review the night before
Prioritize sleep over last-minute cramming. A short review of formulas, definitions, and your own error notes is enough; do not start new topics.
Prepare clothes and bag the night before
Lay out ID, convocation, permitted materials, water, and a layer of clothing in case the room is cold. Pack the bag so nothing needs to be found in the morning.
Set two alarms
Set a primary and a backup alarm, and arrange a backup way to reach the venue in case of transport disruption.
Arrive early and locate your room
Arrive with margin to spare, find the correct building and room, and use the restroom before entering. Late-arrival rules are strict on many exams; confirm the cutoff with the provider.
Know the break policy in advance
Some tests are sat in one continuous block, others have scheduled breaks. Check the format in your convocation and confirm with the provider if it is unclear.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: date, time, venue, ID requirements, and permitted materials. Re-read the official notice and note anything you still need to clarify with the provider. Do a final full-length or half-length practice under timed conditions, then stop taking new mock tests.
Review your error log and formula sheet rather than re-reading everything. Check that your ID is valid and not expired, print anything the convocation requires, and confirm your transport plan. Keep the evening light.
Do a short, calm review of high-yield points. Pack your bag: ID, convocation, permitted writing materials, water, medication, and a watch if allowed. Set alarms, tell someone your schedule, and go to bed at a normal hour. Avoid intense study and alcohol.
Eat a normal breakfast, leave earlier than you think necessary, and arrive at the venue with buffer. Keep conversation with other candidates light and avoid last-minute group panic. Use the restroom before entering the room.
Read the instructions on the cover page, check the number of pages and questions, and fill in your identifying details exactly as instructed. Note the start and end times and plan how to divide time across sections.
Work in passes: answer questions you can solve quickly first, mark difficult ones, and return to them. Watch the clock against your section plan. If wrong answers are penalized, decide in advance how confident you must be before guessing.
Reserve time to transfer or verify answers, check that no question is left blank unintentionally, and confirm your name and candidate number are correct. Stop writing immediately when instructed.
Note which topics felt weak while memory is fresh. Do not linger on specific questions with other candidates if it will affect later sections or your composure. Check the official channel for results timing; do not rely on rumors.
Rules to check
Bring the identification document specified in your convocation and keep it on the desk if instructed. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Follow the instructions of invigilators at all times. Talking, passing materials, or looking at another candidate's paper is normally treated as misconduct and can lead to disqualification.
Do not bring unauthorized electronic devices to your desk. Phones and smartwatches should be switched off and stored as instructed; the exact storage rule should be confirmed with the provider.
Do not start writing before the signal to begin and stop immediately when time is called. Continuing to write after the end signal can invalidate your paper.
Raise your hand and ask an invigilator if you need to leave the room for the restroom or feel unwell. Do not leave without permission, and expect that leaving may not extend your time.
Use only permitted materials. Borrowing pens, calculators, or paper from another candidate is generally not allowed; bring spares of whatever the convocation permits.
The scoring rules, including whether incorrect answers are penalized and how ties are handled, are set by the organizing institution. Read the official notice and confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Results, appeals, and any request for special arrangements follow the provider's published procedure and deadlines. Keep your convocation and candidate number until results are released.