ITI/NCVT Stenographer Secretarial Assistant (AITT Theory) exam-day guide
ITI/NCVT Stenographer Secretarial Assistant (AITT Theory) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed admit card / hall ticket
Carry at least two printed copies. Download it from the AITT/NCVT portal as soon as it is released and re-check your name, roll number, exam centre address and shift timing. If the admit card has not appeared on the portal, confirm the release date and download process with your training provider or the regional ITI office; treat this as needs_review until you see the card yourself.
Original photo ID plus one photocopy
Bring the original government photo ID that matches the name on your admit card, plus a photocopy. Accepted ID types and whether a photocopy is required vary by centre, so confirm the exact list with the provider. needs_review on the accepted document types.
Passport-size photographs
Carry three to four recent photographs matching the one pasted on your admit card. Some centres ask for a photo for the attendance sheet; the exact number is not fixed, so treat the count as needs_review and bring extras.
Blue or black ballpoint pens
Bring two or three working pens. OMR answer sheets are normally filled with a blue or black ballpoint, not a gel pen or pencil. Confirm the permitted pen colour on the instructions printed on your admit card or answer sheet.
Transparent water bottle and simple snack
Carry a clear, label-free water bottle and a small snack for after the paper. Food inside the exam hall may not be allowed; confirm with the invigilator before entering.
Know the centre location and reporting time
Do a dry run to the centre a day earlier and note the travel time plus a 30-minute buffer. Reporting time is printed on the admit card; arrive well before it because verification queues are long. Do not assume the reporting time equals the paper start time.
Leave prohibited items at home
Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth earbuds, calculators, study notes and bags are normally not allowed inside the hall. Many centres have no secure storage, so leave valuables at home or with a companion.
Revise the answer-sheet filling method
Practise darkening OMR bubbles fully without smudging, and confirm how to correct a wrong answer (usually an eraser or a marked correction box). Read the instructions printed on the answer sheet itself; do not rely on memory of another exam.
Check the shift and paper language
Confirm whether your shift is morning or afternoon and which language version of the paper you will receive. Language options are usually declared during form filling; if you are unsure what you selected, check your application copy or confirm with the provider. needs_review on language-change rules.
Rest and light revision only
Do not start a new topic in the last two days. Revise shorthand outlines, typing speed basics, office-procedure definitions and English grammar rules you already know, then sleep early.
Plan the day
Download and print the admit card, verify every detail, and resolve any mismatch with the provider immediately. Pack the document folder with ID, photos and pens. Do one full-length timed practice paper under exam conditions, then review only the mistakes, not the whole syllabus. Confirm the centre route and expected travel time.
Revise high-yield theory: shorthand terminology and brief forms, typing and transcription norms, office filing and indexing, mail handling, business correspondence formats, and basic English grammar and comprehension. Skim your own short notes rather than textbooks. Stop heavy study by evening.
Re-check the admit card for any centre or timing change on the official portal. Lay out clothes, documents, pens, water bottle and snack the night before. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid late-night cramming, and aim for seven to eight hours of sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, leave home with a large buffer, and reach the centre before the reporting time. Keep only the admit card, ID and pens in hand for verification. Use the waiting time for calm revision of shorthand outlines or grammar rules, not for new topics.
Follow the queue, allow fingerprint or photo capture if asked, sign the attendance sheet, and sit only at your allotted seat. Listen to the invigilator's instructions and read the printed directions on the answer sheet before the bell.
Fill the roll number and booklet details first, then scan the whole paper. Answer easy questions in the first pass, mark doubtful ones, and return to them later. Keep an eye on the clock, transfer answers to the OMR sheet in blocks rather than at the very end, and reserve the last few minutes to check that every bubble is dark and correctly numbered.
Hand over the answer sheet when instructed, collect your belongings, and leave the hall quietly. Do not discuss answers near the centre or attempt to photograph materials. Keep the admit card safe until the result is declared.
Rules to check
Carry only the admit card, original photo ID, photographs and permitted pens into the hall. Phones, smart watches, calculators and notes must stay outside; possession inside can lead to disqualification. Confirm the exact prohibited-items list with the provider.
Reach the centre before the reporting time. Late entry is usually refused once the paper has started, and the cut-off varies by centre, so confirm the late-entry rule with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.
Follow all invigilator instructions, keep your answer sheet visible, and do not communicate with other candidates during the paper. Any suspicion of copying or impersonation is handled under the examining body's unfair-means rules.
Fill the OMR sheet with the permitted pen only, darken bubbles fully, and do not fold or staple the sheet. Answers marked outside the correct bubbles or with multiple options may be treated as wrong.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the paper. If you need water, toilet access or medical help, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator; confirm the centre's policy on toilet breaks beforehand.
Scoring is based on the official answer key; some exams apply negative marking and others do not. Do not guess blindly until you have confirmed the marking scheme for this paper with the provider. needs_review on the exact negative-marking rule.
Do not carry the question booklet, answer sheet, rough sheet or any exam material out of the hall unless the invigilator explicitly permits it.
If there is a discrepancy in your admit card, a change of centre, or a medical emergency, report it to the invigilator or centre superintendent immediately and keep a written record. Official grievance channels and deadlines should be confirmed with the provider.