TGSRTC TST/MST exam-day guide
TGSRTC TST/MST · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed or downloaded hall ticket / admit card
Carry more than one copy if the instructions allow it. Check that your name, photograph, roll/hall-ticket number, exam date, reporting time and venue match your application. If any detail is wrong, contact the recruiting authority immediately rather than correcting it by hand. Confirm with the provider whether a digital copy on a phone is accepted; if unsure, treat a printed copy as mandatory.
Original photo ID as specified in the notification
The TGSRTC recruitment notification normally names the acceptable IDs (for example Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN, driving licence, passport). Carry the original, not a photocopy, plus one photocopy if the instructions ask for it. Confirm with the provider which IDs are accepted and whether a photocopy alone is ever allowed.
Passport-size photographs matching the application
Bring two or three recent photographs in the same specification as the one pasted on your application. Some centres use them for attendance sheets or verification. Carry them in a small envelope so they are not bent or smudged.
Self-attested copies of required certificates
Keep a folder with educational qualification certificates, marks memos, caste/EWS certificate if applicable, disability certificate if applicable, experience certificates, and any no-objection certificate your current employer requires. Bring originals for verification and photocopies for submission. Confirm with the provider the exact list and attestation format for the TST/MST post.
Blue or black ballpoint pens
Carry two or three working pens of the type the instructions permit. Do not rely on a single pen. Check whether the paper is OMR-based (usually blue or black ballpoint only) or online; confirm with the provider which ink colour is allowed.
Transparent water bottle and simple permitted items
Many centres allow only a transparent water bottle and nothing else. Keep your belongings minimal: no books, notes, smart watch, Bluetooth device or phone inside the hall. Confirm with the provider the list of permitted and prohibited items for your centre.
Rehearse the route and reporting time
Visit or map the venue a day earlier, estimate travel time, and add at least an hour of buffer for traffic and security checks. Note the reporting time on the hall ticket; arriving after the gate closes generally means disqualification regardless of reason. Confirm the gate-closing rule with the provider.
Read the instructions printed on the hall ticket and question paper
Before the exam, read every instruction on the admit card and on the cover of the paper. They override general assumptions about marking, negative marking, rough work and leaving the hall early. If anything is unclear, ask the invigilator before the exam starts, not after.
Plan for biometric/photo verification
Some recruitment exams capture a photograph or fingerprint at the centre. Reach early, keep fingers clean, and carry the ID used in the application. Confirm with the provider whether biometric capture is part of the process for this exam.
Prepare for the paper pattern you have practised
Know the sections, number of questions, total marks and duration before you enter the hall. Decide your section order and time split in advance so you do not spend the first ten minutes reading the cover page. Confirm the current pattern from the official notification, since it can change between notifications.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Revise your own short notes, formula sheet and previous mistakes. Take one or two full-length timed mock tests at the same time of day as the real exam, then spend more time analysing errors than attempting new questions. Re-read the official notification for the paper pattern, marking scheme and prohibited items. Print the hall ticket and assemble the document folder. Check the venue location and travel plan. Sleep on a regular schedule; do not trade sleep for last-minute cramming.
Do a light revision of high-yield facts only, then stop by early evening. Lay out clothes, hall ticket, ID, photographs, certificates, pens and water bottle in one place. Confirm your alarm and transport, including a backup option. Avoid heavy meals, alcohol and long screen time. If you feel anxious, write down your exam plan (section order, time per section, when to guess and when to skip) on one page and read it once before sleeping. Confirm with the provider any last-minute venue or timing change on the official website.
Eat a normal breakfast and drink water, but not so much that you need repeated toilet breaks. Leave earlier than your estimate. Carry only permitted items; leave the phone with a companion or in the vehicle if the centre does not allow it. At the centre, locate the notice board for your roll number and room, complete any verification, and sit down early. Use the waiting time for calm review of your one-page plan, not for new topics.
Fill in roll number, booklet number and other details exactly as instructed, and check them twice. Read the full instructions on the cover before starting. Do a first pass answering questions you are confident about, marking uncertain ones for a second pass. Watch the clock against your planned split and keep at least ten minutes for transferring answers or final checking. If there is negative marking, guess only when you can eliminate options. If you get stuck, move on; one hard question must not cost five easy ones. Stop writing immediately when told.
Rules to check
Carry only the identification document named in the notification, in original, together with the hall ticket. If the names or photographs do not match, you may be refused entry; confirm with the provider how to handle a mismatch before exam day.
Electronic devices, smart watches, Bluetooth earpieces, calculators and study material are normally banned inside the hall. Do not assume a device is allowed because it is silent; ask the invigilator or confirm with the provider in advance.
Follow every instruction from the invigilator and on the question paper. Arguing, talking, exchanging material or looking at another candidate's paper can lead to expulsion and possible debarment from future recruitment.
Do not leave the hall during the exam unless the instructions permit it. Toilet breaks are usually allowed only with escort and may not extend your time; confirm the centre's policy with the invigilator before the paper begins.
Mark answers only in the manner specified, for example by darkening the correct oval fully or by selecting the option on screen. Multiple marks, stray marks or unclear marking may be treated as wrong answers by the scanner.
Scoring follows the official scheme, which may include negative marking for wrong answers. Read the scheme on the paper and plan your attempts accordingly; do not rely on memory of a previous notification. Confirm the current scheme with the provider.
Keep rough work only in the space provided in the booklet or sheet. Rough work on the hall ticket, admit card or answer sheet may be treated as malpractice.
Report any problem with the question paper, answer sheet, computer or seating immediately to the invigilator. A complaint raised after you leave the hall is difficult to act on.