ICAR JRF/SRF (AIEEA-PG) exam-day guide
ICAR JRF/SRF (AIEEA-PG) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Download and read the current AIEEA-PG admit card / hall ticket
The admit card carries your roll number, registration number, exam centre address, reporting time and shift. NTA normally releases it on its official exam portal a few days before the test. Download it yourself, check every field against your application, and print at least two copies. If any detail is wrong, contact the exam conducting body immediately. Confirm the exact release date and download steps with the provider, since these change from cycle to cycle.
Carry the photo ID that matches your application
NTA exams typically require the original (not photocopy) of an ID such as Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, passport, voter ID or a school/college ID with photograph, and the ID number must match the one entered on the application form. Rules on which IDs are accepted and whether a photocopy is allowed vary, so confirm the accepted ID list with the provider and carry the same document you declared.
Print a passport-size photograph for the attendance sheet
Many NTA centres paste or staple a photograph on the attendance sheet, and the photo should match the one uploaded in the application. Carry two or three spare copies in case one is damaged. Confirm the exact photo specification and number required with the provider.
Bring a simple black or blue ballpoint pen
Some computer-based tests require you to sign attendance sheets and the rough-sheet declaration in pen. Pens are small, cheap insurance. Confirm whether the exam is computer-based or pen-and-paper for your subject and shift with the provider before relying on this.
Carry the required documents in a transparent folder or bag
Most centres restrict what you can bring inside, and a transparent folder speeds up the security check. Keep the admit card, ID, photographs and any provider-mandated documents together in one place the night before.
Leave prohibited items at home or with a companion
Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, study material, wallets and metal jewellery are usually not allowed inside the exam hall, and there is often no secure storage. Plan to travel with the minimum. The exact prohibited-items list should be confirmed with the provider.
Rehearse the route to the centre and the reporting time
Visit or map the centre in advance, note travel time plus a buffer, and plan to reach at least 60-90 minutes before the reporting time, as gates usually close well before the exam starts. Candidates arriving after gate closure are commonly refused entry. Confirm the reporting time and gate-closing time on your admit card.
Check the exam pattern and marking scheme for your subject
AIEEA-PG is typically a computer-based test of multiple-choice questions with a penalty for wrong answers, and the paper you get depends on the subject you applied for. Confirm the number of questions, duration, total marks and negative-marking rule for your specific subject with the provider, and read the on-screen instructions carefully on the day.
Practise the on-screen interface and calculator
Familiarise yourself with the NTA-style CBT interface: question palette, mark-for-review, save-and-next, and the on-screen calculator if one is provided. A free mock test is normally published on the exam portal. Confirm whether a mock link is available for this cycle with the provider.
Plan food, water and medication sensibly
Eat a normal breakfast, carry water only if the centre permits it, and if you take prescription medicine, check the centre's rules in advance. Long reporting-to-finish windows can run several hours, so plan for that.
Keep a backup plan for connectivity and documents
Save the admit card as a PDF on your phone and email it to yourself, even though the phone stays outside the hall. If printing fails, most cyber cafés near exam centres can print from email. This is a practical backup, not a substitute for the printed copy.
Read the instructions page on the computer before starting
The CBT instructions screen explains navigation, marking and submission. Read it fully, then begin. If the screen freezes or the system misbehaves, raise your hand immediately and inform the invigilator rather than waiting.
Plan the day
Stop starting new topics. Revise your own short notes, formula sheets and previous mistakes. Take one or two full-length timed mock tests in the exact exam pattern and review every wrong answer. Download and print the admit card if released, verify centre address and reporting time, and plan the route. Prepare the document folder and keep the ID ready. Sleep on a regular schedule from this point onward.
Do a light revision of high-yield facts only. Pack the transparent folder with admit card, original ID, photographs and pen. Lay out clothes. Check the weather and travel plan. Set two alarms. Avoid heavy new material and avoid discussing the exam with anxious peers. Aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, re-check the folder, and leave with a large buffer for traffic. Reach the centre well before the reporting time. Follow security and biometric/photo verification, locate your assigned computer or seat, and use the waiting time for calm breathing rather than last-minute cramming.
Read the instructions screen fully. Attempt questions in rounds: first the ones you know, then the ones needing thought, and leave guesses for the end only if negative marking makes them worthwhile. Watch the on-screen timer, keep an eye on the question palette, and reserve the last few minutes to review marked questions and submit. If the system fails, inform the invigilator immediately and stay calm.
Note your rough score range against the expected cutoff, keep the admit card and roll number safe for result and counselling stages, and check the official portal for answer keys, response sheets and result dates. Confirm all post-exam dates with the provider.
Rules to check
Carry the printed admit card and the original photo ID declared in your application; entry is normally refused without them, and the exact accepted-ID list should be confirmed with the provider.
Reach the centre before the gate-closing time printed on the admit card; late candidates are generally not allowed in, and no extra time is given.
Do not carry phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, calculators or study material into the exam hall; possession can lead to disqualification, so confirm the prohibited-items list with the provider.
Follow all invigilator and security instructions, including biometric or photograph verification, and do not communicate with other candidates during the test.
Attempt questions according to the marking scheme for your subject; if negative marking applies, confirm the exact penalty with the provider and avoid blind guessing.
Do not leave the hall during the test unless a break or emergency exit is permitted; confirm the break policy with the provider before the exam.
Any technical problem with your computer should be reported to the invigilator at once; do not attempt to fix it yourself or restart the system.
Keep your admit card and roll number after the exam; you will need them for the answer key, response-sheet challenge and counselling stages, and all such dates should be confirmed with the provider.