APTET Paper 2 exam-day guide
APTET Paper 2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed admit card / hall ticket
Download it from the official APTET portal once the link opens and print two clean copies. Check that your name, roll number, photograph, signature, paper (Paper 2), subject stream, centre address and reporting time are correct. If anything is wrong, contact the provider before exam day rather than correcting the printout by hand.
Original photo ID in the accepted format
Carry the original government photo ID you used in the application (commonly Aadhaar, PAN, passport or driving licence). Photocopies and expired IDs are usually not accepted. Confirm the exact list of accepted IDs with the provider (needs_review), because centre staff apply the notification strictly.
Passport-size photographs
Carry a few copies of the same photograph uploaded in the application. Some centres ask for one for the attendance sheet; the required number varies, so confirm with the provider (needs_review). Keep them loose, not stapled to the admit card.
Aadhaar card for biometric verification
APTET centres commonly use biometric or photo capture at entry. Carry your original Aadhaar even if another ID is your primary document, and confirm whether Aadhaar is mandatory at your centre (needs_review). If your biometrics failed during application, ask the provider about the fallback procedure in advance.
Transparent water bottle
A small transparent bottle is often allowed, but rules differ by centre. Confirm with the provider (needs_review) and avoid bottles with labels, tinted plastic or caps that could conceal notes.
Simple clothing and no metal accessories
Wear comfortable clothes without heavy metal buttons, belts with large buckles, jewellery, watches or hair clips that may trigger security checks. Footwear rules vary by centre, so confirm whether sandals or specific footwear are permitted (needs_review).
Centre route and reporting time
Read the reporting time printed on the admit card and plan to arrive ahead of it, allowing for traffic and security queues. Visit the centre a day earlier if you can, note the exact gate, and identify a backup transport option.
Login and registration details memorised
Know your roll number, registration number and date of birth as entered in the application. Do not rely on your phone for these details because phones are not allowed inside the hall.
Pen for signing and rough work
Carry a blue or black ballpoint pen for signatures and attendance. Some CBT centres provide a pen and rough sheets; others ask you to bring your own. Confirm with the provider (needs_review). Pencils, erasers and correction fluid are usually unnecessary for a computer-based test.
PwD or scribe-related documents, if applicable
If you are claiming a scribe, compensatory time or an accessible seat, carry the certificate and prior approval specified in the notification. Confirm the exact documents and deadline with the provider (needs_review); centre staff cannot usually create an entitlement on the spot.
Read the admit card instructions fully
The admit card carries centre-specific prohibitions and the reporting schedule. Read it the day it is downloaded, again 24 hours before the exam, and once at the centre gate before entering.
Leave prohibited items at home
Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, study notes, bags and wallets are typically not allowed inside the hall. There may be no secure storage at the centre, so arrange for someone to keep your belongings or travel light.
Plan the day
Download and print the admit card as soon as it is available; verify every detail. Confirm the centre location and travel plan, and check whether the provider requires Aadhaar, photographs or any special certificate. Take one full-length computer-based mock test in the official interface if a link is provided, so that the question palette, 'Save & Next', 'Mark for Review' and clock feel familiar. Spend the remaining time on high-yield revision: child development and pedagogy concepts, language pedagogy, and the subject stream you chose (Mathematics & Science or Social Studies). Stop starting new topics. Fix your sleep schedule so that you are awake and alert at the exam's start time.
Pack the admit card, original ID, Aadhaar, photographs, pen and any approved certificate in one transparent folder. Lay out clothes without metal accessories. Re-check the reporting time and journey; if travelling, confirm the hotel or host and keep buffer time for delays. Do a light revision of formulas, definitions and pedagogy terms, then stop. Avoid social media rumours about paper leaks or answer keys. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy or unfamiliar food, and sleep early. Do not stay up late revising; alertness on a 150-question paper is worth more than one extra topic.
Eat a light breakfast and drink water, but not so much that you need repeated washroom breaks. Carry only the permitted items; leave the phone and bag with a companion or at home. Reach the centre before the printed reporting time, allowing for security and biometric queues. Use the washroom before entering the hall. At the gate, keep the admit card and ID ready, follow the queue, and cooperate with frisking and biometric capture. Once seated, read the on-screen instructions and confirm that your name, roll number and paper appear correctly before starting.
The paper is 150 questions in 150 minutes, so budget roughly one minute per question and keep an eye on the on-screen clock. Read each question fully and eliminate options before answering. Attempt strong sections first, but do not spend more than two minutes on any single question on the first pass. Use 'Mark for Review' for doubtful questions and return to them later. Use the rough sheet only for calculations and notes; do not write on the admit card or ID. Check the section tabs if your paper has subject sections, and make sure answers are saved before moving on. In the last 10–15 minutes, review marked questions and confirm submission. Do not close the test or leave the hall until the invigilator confirms your submission is recorded.
Rules to check
Carry only the items permitted in the official notification and on the admit card. Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth earpieces, calculators, notes and bags are normally prohibited inside the hall, and possession of such an item can lead to disqualification even if it is switched off. Confirm the exact prohibited-items list with the provider (needs_review).
Carry the original photo ID that matches your application. Entry is through identity and often biometric verification; a mismatch, an expired document or a photocopy can result in refusal of entry. If your name or ID details differ from the application, raise it with the provider before exam day through the grievance channel.
Report by the reporting time printed on the admit card. Late entry is usually restricted once the test begins, and the exact cut-off varies by centre, so confirm the late-entry rule with the provider (needs_review). Plan to arrive early rather than negotiating at the gate.
There is normally no scheduled break during the test. Use the washroom before entering the hall, and if an emergency arises, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator rather than leaving your seat unescorted. Time lost is generally not compensated.
Follow all invigilator instructions and centre signage. Do not talk, gesture, share rough sheets, look at another screen or attempt to access external material. Malpractice can lead to cancellation of the candidature and debarment from future tests, so confirm the penalty provisions in the official notification.
Scoring is one mark per correct answer out of 150. Confirm in the official notification whether negative marking applies (needs_review); if it does not, attempt every question. Qualifying marks and category relaxations are set by the notification and can change, so verify the current thresholds with the provider rather than relying on older cut-offs.
Rough work must be done only on the sheets or space provided by the centre. Do not remove rough sheets, the admit card or any centre material from the hall. Carry your admit card and ID out with you in case of a later verification request.
Confirm the test language options, scribe or compensatory-time entitlements, and any centre-specific dress or footwear rules with the provider before exam day (needs_review). Centre staff apply only what is authorised in the notification; unapproved requests are unlikely to be granted on the spot.