Authorized Gas Tester (AGT) exam-day guide
Authorized Gas Tester (AGT) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID document in the name used for your booking. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID they accept and whether a second piece is required; do not rely on a photocopy or a photo on your phone.
Booking confirmation and candidate number
Print or save the confirmation email showing your test date, time, venue, and candidate/reference number. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy is accepted.
Admission ticket or entry paperwork
If your provider issues a separate admission voucher or site entry form, complete it in advance. Confirm with the provider exactly which documents are checked at the gate.
Approved calculator
Check the provider's calculator policy before the test. Many gas-testing calculations (e.g. purge volume, lower explosive limit conversions, cylinder duration) need only a basic calculator, but programmable or graphing models are commonly restricted. Confirm the permitted model list with the provider.
Pens and pencils plus spares
Bring at least two black or blue pens and a pencil with an eraser. Confirm with the provider whether answer sheets are machine-read and whether only a specific pen type is allowed.
Personal protective equipment for any practical element
If your assessment includes a practical or workshop session, bring the PPE stated in your joining instructions (safety footwear, coveralls, eye protection, hearing protection). Confirm the exact list with the provider; do not assume site-supplied PPE will be available.
Knowledge of the venue and travel plan
Check the venue address, transport links, parking, and security/induction requirements the day before. Industrial training centres often require a site induction before you can enter the test room.
Review of key formulas and limits, not new topics
In the final days, revise the calculation methods and safety limits you already know (e.g. oxygen deficiency/ enrichment thresholds, flammable range concepts, purge and leak-test principles) rather than starting unfamiliar material.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Plan a normal night's sleep and a proper meal before the test. Test centres generally do not allow food or drink at the desk; confirm with the provider whether water is permitted and where breaks can be taken.
Arrival time confirmed with the provider
Ask the provider how early candidates should arrive for registration, ID checks, and any site induction. Arrival cut-off and late-entry rules vary, so confirm rather than guess.
Any reasonable-adjustment approval
If you have an approved adjustment (extra time, separate room, enlarged print), bring the written approval. Confirm with the provider how and when adjustments must be requested, as lead times can be several weeks.
Empty pockets and secure storage plan
Expect a rule that phones, smart watches, and bags are stored away from the desk. Confirm with the provider what storage is available and whether any items are banned from the building entirely.
Plan the day
Re-read your joining instructions and confirm the venue, start time, ID requirements, and any practical PPE list with the provider. Check travel and parking arrangements, and resolve any open questions now rather than on the day.
Do a final revision pass focused on the calculation types and safety limits you will be tested on. Work through practice calculations by hand so you are fluent with the method, not just the answer.
Check that your approved calculator works and has fresh batteries, and that any permitted reference material (if the provider allows it) is in the exact form specified.
Pack your bag: ID, booking confirmation, pens and pencils, approved calculator, and any required PPE. Lay out clothes and put everything by the door.
Confirm the journey plan and set two alarms. Avoid last-minute cramming of new topics; a short review of formulas and key definitions is more useful than starting unfamiliar material.
Eat normally, limit caffeine and alcohol, and aim for a full night's sleep. Fatigue is a common cause of careless errors in calculation questions.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive at the venue at the time the provider specified, and allow extra margin for traffic, security checks, and site induction.
At registration, present your ID and booking confirmation, store bags and devices as instructed, and listen carefully to the invigilator's briefing on timing, answer-sheet completion, and rules.
Read the instructions and question wording carefully, note the marks available, and pace yourself against the total time. Answer the questions you are confident about first, then return to harder ones.
For calculation questions, write down the formula, substitute units consistently, and sanity-check the result against what is physically reasonable. Show working if the provider awards method marks.
Watch the clock for the final portion of the test and reserve time to transfer answers and check that every question has been attempted, unless the provider applies a penalty for wrong answers.
Follow the provider's instructions on leaving the room and returning materials. Ask when and how results will be issued, and keep your candidate number for any follow-up.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID specified by the provider and ensure the name matches your booking. If your ID is expired, damaged, or in a different name, contact the provider before the test date; do not assume an alternative document will be accepted.
Arrive by the time stated in your joining instructions. Late-entry and admission cut-off rules differ between providers, so confirm them in advance rather than assuming you will be admitted after the start time.
Store phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices as instructed, and keep them away from the desk for the whole session. Confirm with the provider whether devices must be switched off or handed in.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not take notes, question papers, or answer materials out of the room unless the invigilator explicitly permits it. Follow all invigilator instructions.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Confirm with the provider whether comfort breaks are allowed, whether the clock stops, and whether you are supervised while out of the room.
Ask the invigilator if a question paper is defective or an instruction is unclear; they can clarify procedure but will not explain technical content. Do not expect or request help with the answers.
Understand how your result is scored before you sit the test: confirm with the provider the pass mark, whether wrong answers are penalised, and when and how results are issued.
If you are unwell or unable to attend, contact the provider as early as possible to ask about deferral, transfer, or refund options. Do not attend if you are unfit, and do not assume a resit is automatic.