ISRO Scientist/Engineer SC (Electronics) exam-day guide
ISRO Scientist/Engineer SC (Electronics) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed admit card (multiple copies)
Download from the ISRO/recruitment portal once released. Print at least two copies and keep one in your bag and one with your ID. Confirm the exact print requirements (colour vs black-and-white) with the provider.
Original photo ID matching the admit card
Carry the original government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, PAN, etc.) whose number/name matches your application. Photocopies and digital IDs are usually not accepted. Confirm the accepted ID list with the provider.
Passport-size photographs
Carry 2–3 recent photographs matching the one uploaded in the application, in case of attestation or a mismatch. Confirm the required number and specification with the provider.
Transparent water bottle (if permitted)
Carry a clear, label-free bottle. Some centres allow it, others do not. Confirm with the provider and follow the invigilator's instruction on the day.
Simple analogue watch (no smart features)
Many centres do not provide a wall clock within easy view, and smart watches are prohibited. A plain analogue watch helps you pace the paper. Confirm whether watches are allowed at your centre.
Black/blue ballpoint pens
Carry two or three of the same type. Confirm whether the exam is computer-based (no pen needed for answers, but useful for rough work if sheets are provided) or paper-based, and whether rough sheets are supplied.
Know the reporting time and gate-closing time
Note both from your admit card. Arrive well before reporting time; gates typically close before the exam starts and late entry may be refused. Confirm exact cut-off with the provider.
Pre-plan the route and backup transport
Visit or map the centre in advance, account for traffic and security queues, and identify a backup route. Aim to reach the locality at least 60–90 minutes before reporting time.
Re-read the exam instructions and negative-marking scheme
Know the number of questions, total marks, duration, and whether wrong answers carry negative marks. Confirm the current scheme from the official notification/admit card - do not rely on memory.
Leave prohibited items at home
Do not bring phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, books, notes, or any electronic storage device. There is usually no secure storage at the centre. Confirm the prohibited-items list with the provider.
Light meal and hydration before the exam
Eat a normal, light meal and drink water before reporting. Avoid heavy or unfamiliar food. Carry a small snack for after the exam if the centre is far.
Emergency contact and centre details noted
Write the centre address, a family contact number, and the exam helpline (if published) on paper kept in your pocket, since phones are not allowed inside.
Plan the day
Confirm the centre location and travel plan; download and print the admit card; check ID validity and photo match. Do a full-length timed mock under exam conditions, then review only your error log and formula sheet. Stop learning new topics. Sleep on a normal schedule for all three nights.
Pack the bag (admit card, ID, photos, pens, watch, water bottle) and place it by the door. Re-read the admit card instructions and negative-marking rules. Revise a one-page sheet of key formulas and common traps in Electronics (e.g., op-amp configurations, Boolean simplification, BJT/MOSFET regions, communication modulation basics). Set two alarms. Avoid social media and exam-day discussion groups.
Eat a light breakfast, re-check the bag against the checklist, and leave with a large buffer. At the centre, follow security and frisking, keep only permitted items, and locate your seat and washroom early. Use waiting time for calm breathing, not last-minute cramming.
Read the on-screen/paper instructions fully before starting. Do a first pass answering only confident questions, mark uncertain ones, and skip time-sink numericals. Keep a strict per-section time budget and reserve the last 10 minutes to review marked questions and ensure no answer is left unrecorded where negative marking makes guessing risky. Confirm the guessing strategy against the official marking scheme before the exam.
Rules to check
Carry the original admit card and the original photo ID that matches your application; entry can be refused without them. Confirm the exact accepted ID documents with the provider.
Electronic devices - phones, smart watches, Bluetooth earphones, calculators, and storage devices - are prohibited inside the exam hall. Do not rely on the centre providing secure storage.
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, rough sheets, and leaving the hall. Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam; malpractice can lead to disqualification.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the exam; use the washroom before reporting. Confirm the centre's policy on emergencies with the invigilator.
Scoring: confirm from the official notification whether wrong answers attract negative marks and whether multiple correct options are penalised. Do not assume a scheme from a previous year.
Do not tamper with the admit card, ID, or any exam material, and do not carry the question paper or rough sheets out of the hall unless explicitly permitted.
Report any discrepancy in your admit card (name, centre, category, photograph) to the provider before exam day, not at the gate.