Tawjihi Business Field exam-day guide
Tawjihi Business Field · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID document
Bring the identity document the Ministry of Education or your school directorate requires for the Tawjihi sitting. The exact accepted document (national ID card, passport, or school-issued card) varies by year and branch, so confirm the accepted form with your school or the exam administration before exam day.
Exam entry card / seat notification
Many students receive a card or printout showing their exam center and seat number. If your school issues one, keep it with your ID. If you are unsure whether one is required, confirm with your school administration.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (two or more)
Answer booklets are handwritten. Bring at least two working pens of the same color plus a spare; a leaking pen mid-exam wastes time you cannot recover.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for multiple-choice sections, diagrams, and rough work. Keep them in a clear pouch so nothing rolls off the desk.
Approved calculator (business/math papers)
For accounting, mathematics, and statistics papers, bring a non-programmable calculator if your branch's instructions allow one. Confirm the permitted model and whether programmable or graphing calculators are banned with your teacher or the exam administration.
Geometric tools if your paper needs them
Ruler, and for quantitative papers a protractor or compass where the syllabus calls for drawing. Check your branch's stationery list rather than assuming.
Water bottle and a light snack
A clear bottle of water and something small to eat between papers helps on days with two sittings. Avoid heavy or sugary food right before a paper.
Printed exam timetable with center address
Write down each paper's date, start time, and your exam center, and plan the route. Arrive early; late entry rules are set by the administration, so confirm the cut-off time with your school.
Watch (non-smart)
Many exam halls have no visible clock, and phones are not allowed at the desk. A simple analog or digital watch lets you pace sections.
Leave the phone at home or with a companion
Bringing a mobile phone into the hall can be treated as a violation even if it is switched off. If you must carry one, confirm the center's storage policy in advance.
Review the day before: formulas, formats, and key definitions
For business papers, revise the layouts you must reproduce from memory: journal and ledger formats, income statement and balance sheet headings, and core definitions. Practise writing them once by hand.
Sleep and logistics check
Set two alarms, prepare clothes and stationery the night before, and confirm your transport. Do not plan to study new material in the last hours before a paper.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Work through one full past-style paper per subject under timed conditions, then mark it strictly and list your three weakest topics. Spend the remaining days on those topics only, using short written summaries rather than rereading. Confirm your exam center location, transport, and the exact start time for each paper with your school.
Do a second timed practice paper, focusing on the sections where you lost the most marks. For business subjects, handwrite the standard statement and account formats until you can produce them without prompts. Check your stationery: pens that write, a calculator with working batteries, and any permitted tools.
Light review only: formula sheets, definitions, and format templates. Pack your bag with ID, entry card if issued, pens, pencil, eraser, calculator, water, and timetable. Set alarms, tell someone your schedule, and go to bed at a normal hour. Do not stay up late cramming; fatigue costs more marks than one extra topic gains.
Eat a normal breakfast, dress comfortably in layers, and leave earlier than you think necessary. Arrive at the center with time to spare, keep your ID accessible, and stay away from last-minute group discussions that can raise anxiety. Use the waiting time to skim your own summary sheet, not to learn new material.
Read the instructions on the paper and answer booklet carefully, check the number of pages and questions, and note the total marks. Write your details exactly as instructed. Scan all questions before starting so you can allocate time by mark weight.
Answer the questions you are most confident about first, then return to harder ones. Watch the clock against your plan and leave time to check. For numerical business questions, show your working so partial credit can be awarded, and keep units and currency consistent. For essay or discussion questions, plan two or three points before writing and use clear headings. If you run out of time, write brief outline points rather than leaving a question blank.
Eat something light, drink water, and avoid comparing answers with classmates, which only creates doubt. Spend the gap reviewing only the format sheet for the next paper, not re-studying the whole subject.
Do not rework the paper in your head. Note anything you genuinely did not know, then set it aside and prepare for the next sitting. Keep your stationery and ID in the same place so nothing is lost between days.
Rules to check
Carry the identity document required by the exam administration at all times in the center. The accepted document type is set by the authorities, so confirm it with your school or the exam administration before exam day.
Follow the center's rules on what may be brought to the desk. Phones, smart watches, and unauthorized notes are typically treated as violations; confirm the exact banned-items list and the consequences with your school rather than assuming.
Enter and leave only when permitted. Late arrival and early departure cut-off times are set by the administration; confirm them in advance and plan to arrive well before the start.
Write answers in the official answer booklet with the permitted pen color, and do not write identifying marks or notes intended for the marker outside the designated spaces.
Use only the calculator and stationery permitted for your branch and paper. If you are unsure whether a model is allowed, ask your teacher or the exam administration before the exam, not during it.
Breaks and movement inside the hall are at the invigilator's discretion. Raise your hand and wait; do not leave your seat without permission.
Scoring and grading are handled centrally by the Ministry of Education. Mark allocation, pass requirements, and any appeals or re-check procedures are set by official rules; confirm the current process with your school or the Ministry rather than relying on rumour.
Treat invigilators' instructions as final. If a problem arises, such as a misprinted page or a faulty pen, report it immediately and calmly rather than trying to fix it silently.