GIC Re Assistant Manager exam-day guide
GIC Re Assistant Manager · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Print or download the admit card / call letter
GIC Re typically releases the call letter on its official website before the exam. Download it as soon as the link opens, check that your name, roll number, exam centre and reporting time are correct, and carry a printed copy. If the download link or format is unclear, confirm with the provider (GIC Re recruitment portal) rather than relying on memory.
Original photo ID plus a photocopy
Carry the original government photo ID you used in the application (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence or similar) and at least one photocopy. Do not carry only a soft copy on your phone; centres generally require physical originals. Confirm the exact list of accepted IDs with the provider, as this can change between recruitment cycles.
Recent passport-size photographs
Carry two or three recent colour passport photos matching the one pasted on the call letter, in case the centre asks for one for the attendance sheet. Keep them loose, not stapled to the call letter. Confirm the required number with the provider.
Transparent water bottle
Many Indian test centres allow only a clear, label-free water bottle. Avoid opaque bottles, tiffin boxes and packaged snacks unless the provider explicitly permits them. Confirm the centre's allowed-items list in the instructions on the call letter.
Simple blue or black ballpoint pen
Carry two ballpoint pens. Even if the paper is computer-based, some centres still require a pen for the attendance sheet and signature. Do not carry gel pens or correction fluid, which are commonly prohibited.
Know the reporting time and centre route
Note the reporting time printed on the call letter, which is usually well before the exam start. Do a route check the day before, including local transport and parking. Plan to arrive at least 30-45 minutes before the reporting time to absorb queues and security checks.
Read the instruction sheet on the call letter
Call letters usually carry a page of instructions on prohibited items, biometric capture, and the exact ID requirement. Read it fully and follow it over any general advice. If any instruction is ambiguous, confirm with the provider's helpdesk before exam day.
Leave prohibited items at home or with an escort
Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth earbuds, calculators, notes, books and bags are typically banned inside the hall. Many centres provide no safe storage, so leave valuables at home or with a companion. Confirm the centre's storage policy with the provider.
Check the exam mode and pattern
Confirm whether the paper is computer-based or pen-and-paper and review the section structure and timing. GIC Re Assistant Manager papers have historically combined objective and descriptive components, but the exact pattern can change by cycle, so verify it against the current notification rather than older papers.
Plan for biometric and security checks
Expect photograph capture, signature and possibly fingerprint or iris capture. Keep fingers clean and free of heavy ink or henna, and arrive early because these queues move slowly. Follow centre staff instructions on the sequence of checks.
Carry a simple analog watch only if permitted
Some centres ban all watches; others allow analog watches without smart features. Check the instruction sheet. If in doubt, rely on the on-screen or hall clock rather than risk a conduct violation.
Medical or accessibility needs
If you need a scribe, extra time, or a medical allowance, carry the supporting certificate and confirm the approval process with the provider well before exam day. Do not assume the centre will arrange it on the spot.
Plan the day
Re-download and print the call letter, verify the centre address and reporting time, and book travel and stay if the centre is outside your city. Recheck the provider's website for any notice about centre changes, exam postponement or revised instructions. Assemble the ID, photos and pens in one pouch so nothing is left to the last morning.
Spend the time on high-yield revision: insurance and reinsurance fundamentals, the regulatory framework around IRDAI, general awareness relevant to insurance, quantitative aptitude formulas, and English usage. Do one full timed mock to rehearse pacing and section order. For the descriptive component, practise writing short structured answers with an introduction, points and a conclusion under a time limit.
Shift your sleep schedule so you are alert at the exam start time, which may be an early morning slot. Avoid all-nighters, heavy late meals or new caffeine routines. Fatigue costs more marks than one extra revision hour.
Do a light pass over your own summary notes and formula sheet, then stop. Pack the pouch with the call letter, original ID and photocopy, photos, pens and transparent water bottle. Set two alarms and check the weather and transport strike news for the route.
Re-read the call letter for the reporting time, gate-closing time and allowed-items list. Note that gates usually close before the exam start and late entry is generally refused. If the call letter gives no clear gate-closing time, confirm with the provider.
Eat a normal breakfast, carry only the permitted items, and reach the centre 30-45 minutes before the reporting time. Complete document verification, biometric capture and seating without rushing. Use the washroom before entering the hall, since breaks are usually not allowed during the test.
Once seated, read the on-screen or printed instructions, confirm your roll number and question paper set, and test the keyboard or mouse if computer-based. Report any hardware problem to the invigilator immediately rather than trying to fix it yourself.
Scan the paper or sections, note the marks weightage, and decide your order. In objective sections, attempt sure-shot questions first and mark uncertain ones for a second pass. In descriptive sections, outline your answer for a minute before writing so the structure stays clean.
Set checkpoints, for example completing the first section by a fixed fraction of the time. Do not let one calculation or one essay consume the budget for the rest. Leave time to review marked questions and to check that all answers are saved or shaded correctly.
Confirm every attempted answer is recorded, especially on computer-based tests where an answer must be saved. Check that you have not left a section unanswered by accident, and use remaining time for flagged questions rather than starting a fresh long one.
Rules to check
Carry the printed call letter and the original photo ID used in the application; entry is normally refused without both. Confirm the accepted ID list with the provider before exam day.
Follow the reporting and gate-closing times on the call letter. Late candidates are generally not admitted once the gate closes, and no extra time is given for late arrival.
Do not carry mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, books, notes or bags into the hall. Possession of a prohibited device can lead to debarment from the recruitment process, not just cancellation of that paper.
Follow all invigilator and biometric instructions. Impersonation, sharing answers, or communicating with other candidates is treated as unfair means and can disqualify you from the entire recruitment.
Breaks are usually not permitted during the test. Use the washroom before entry, and if you need a medical accommodation, arrange approval with the provider in advance.
Marking and negative marking: check the current notification for whether wrong answers attract a penalty in objective sections. Do not assume a scheme from an earlier cycle; confirm with the provider.
Descriptive answers, where applicable, are usually assessed on structure, relevance and clarity rather than length alone. Write legibly and stay within any word limit stated in the paper.
Keep the call letter and a copy of your application details until the recruitment process ends, as you may need the roll number for result and further-stage checks.