IAI SA7 exam-day guide
IAI SA7 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission permit / exam entry confirmation
Download, check the spelling of your name, candidate number, date, time and centre address, then print two copies and store one in your bag and one in your notes. If any detail is wrong, contact the provider immediately rather than waiting until the morning. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy on your phone is accepted.
Photo ID in the registered name
Bring the original document, not a photocopy, and make sure it matches your registration name exactly. Passport and driving licence are the common accepted forms, but check the provider's list before the day. If your ID is expired or your name differs, arrange an alternative or written confirmation from the provider in advance.
Candidate/registration number written down
Write it on your answer booklet exactly as registered. Keep it on a small card so you are not squinting at a phone at the desk. If the paper requires it on every page or booklet, note that in your plan and check at the end that nothing was missed.
Approved calculator
SA-level papers usually allow a non-programmable calculator without symbolic algebra or text storage. Confirm the permitted models with the provider and test your battery beforehand. Bring the make and model you have practised with, because a borrowed calculator slows you down on unfamiliar keys under pressure.
Stationery kit
Two or three dark pens, a pencil, eraser, sharpener, short ruler and a highlighter for marking command words in the question. If the paper is handwritten, pens matter more than anything else. Keep them in a clear pouch if the centre restricts pencil cases.
Simple wristwatch
A non-smart analogue or basic digital watch lets you pace yourself when the hall clock is behind you or out of sight. Check the provider's rules on watches; smart watches are almost always banned. Practise your timing with the same watch so the pacing feels automatic.
Printed exam instructions and any permitted material
Some providers allow a formula sheet, notation guide or specified tables. Confirm exactly what is allowed and whether it must be unannotated. If nothing is permitted, leave it at home rather than risk a misconduct issue at the desk.
Water, snack and a warm layer
A clear bottle and a quiet snack for the break help you stay sharp on a long paper. Halls vary in temperature, so a jumper you can remove is safer than one you cannot add. Check whether food and drink are allowed at the desk or only outside the room.
Travel plan and backup route
Plan to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the start, with a second route and a backup transport option. Save the centre address and a phone number offline. If the centre is unfamiliar, do a dry run in the final week so the morning holds no surprises.
One timed full paper completed
In the last week, sit at least one full paper under real time conditions, including reading time, and mark it yourself against the examiner-style guidance. The point is to prove your minutes-per-mark budget and to know which question types eat your time.
A one-page recall sheet you can rebuild from memory
Summarise the risk-management frameworks, key definitions and standard answer structures you rely on. Rebuilding the sheet from blank paper is the test; the sheet itself stays outside the exam room unless the provider permits notes.
Practical health logistics
Glasses, medication, a charged phone for the journey only, and a good night's sleep two nights before rather than one. Decide in advance how you will handle a cold, headache or nerves so it does not become a decision inside the hall.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Rework your weakest two syllabus areas using your own summaries, then rehearse answer structure for the command words used at specialist level: explain, discuss, evaluate, recommend. Confirm your centre, arrival time and ID requirements with the provider now, so a problem still has time to be fixed.
Sit or re-sit one full paper under timed conditions, ideally at the same time of day as the real exam. Mark it strictly and write down three concrete problems: pacing, question selection, or depth of explanation. Fix only those three, not everything.
Pack the bag from the checklist, lay out clothes and ID, and print your permit and any permitted material. Do a light review of your one-page recall sheet only. Confirm the journey, set two alarms and aim to be in bed at a normal hour; late-night cramming on a specialist paper costs more in concentration than it gains in marks.
Eat properly, avoid heavy caffeine if you are already anxious, and arrive 30 to 45 minutes early. Do not discuss content with other candidates outside the hall; it raises anxiety and can create a misconduct question. Once seated, read the front cover and instructions carefully, including any instructions on how many questions to answer and how to number booklets.
Read the whole paper before writing. Mark each question as core, possible or avoid, and choose the set that maximises total marks rather than the set that looks most familiar. Write your time allocation next to each chosen question and stick to it.
Answer in the command-word structure: define or identify, apply to the scenario, evaluate trade-offs, recommend with justification. Use headings and short paragraphs so the examiner can find marks. Start each question on a new page, number clearly, and leave a line between points. If you run out of time on a question, write bullet notes of the remaining points before moving on; partial credit beats a blank page.
Stop writing new content. Check that every chosen question has been attempted, that question and booklet numbers are correct, that your candidate number is on everything required, and that no answer is stranded on the wrong page. A quiet final check is usually worth a mark or two.
Note down what surprised you while it is fresh, for a resit decision later. Then stop; do not attempt to reconstruct answers with other candidates, as it only damages confidence and cannot change the result.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID in your registered name and place your admission permit where the invigilator can see it. If you arrive without acceptable ID, the centre may refuse entry, so confirm the accepted documents with the provider beforehand.
Only permitted materials may be at your desk. Phones, smart watches and any wearable with storage or connectivity must be switched off and stored as instructed, not kept in a pocket. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, leave it outside or ask the provider in advance.
You may not leave the room during the exam except in an emergency, and you will normally be escorted and may not be allowed extra time. Confirm the provider's supervised-break policy rather than assuming you can step out between questions.
Raise your hand for an invigilator if you need more paper, have a problem with your booklet or feel unwell. Do not ask another candidate for anything; even borrowed stationery can be treated as a conduct issue.
Marks are awarded for what is written on the script, not for what you meant. Show your working, justify recommendations and answer every part of the question, including the parts you find routine. Read the provider's scoring guidance and any penalty policy carefully before the day.
If you believe illness or another serious event affected your performance, ask the provider about mitigation or special consideration and note the deadline for doing so. Rules vary, so confirm the process and evidence requirements with them rather than relying on second-hand advice.