Tawjihi Science, Technology & Engineering Field exam-day guide
Tawjihi Science, Technology & Engineering Field · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID (national ID or passport)
Bring the original document, not a photocopy. Confirm with the provider which IDs are accepted for your exam centre and that the name matches your registration exactly; if your ID is expired or being renewed, ask the provider about alternative proof before exam day.
Printed admission card / registration slip
Print the card from the official registration portal and check that your name, field (Science, Technology & Engineering) and exam centre are correct. Report any error to the provider immediately; do not attempt to alter the printout yourself.
Several blue or black ballpoint pens plus 2 pencils and an eraser
Pens for written answers, pencils for any machine-read answer sheet. Pack at least two of each so a failed pen does not cost you time. Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid, gel pens or highlighters are permitted, since rules vary by centre.
Transparent pencil case or clear plastic bag
Many centres require all stationery to be visible. Keep only exam items inside; leave notes, phone and smartwatch out of the bag entirely.
Simple scientific calculator (if your subject allows one)
Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted and whether programmable or graphing models are banned. Clear the memory, remove the cover, and check the battery the night before; carry a spare battery if the model uses one.
Geometric instruments: ruler, set square, protractor, compass
Relevant for physics, engineering drawing and mathematics items. Check that the compass holds its setting and that markings on the ruler are legible.
Watch (non-smart, non-connected)
Exam halls do not always display a clock. A plain analogue or digital wristwatch lets you pace yourself; smartwatches and fitness bands are normally prohibited, so leave them at home.
Water bottle with no label, and a light snack for after the exam
Hydration helps concentration. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk; if not, drink before entering and keep the bottle in your bag.
Exam centre location, route and arrival time confirmed
Visit or map the route in advance and plan to arrive well before the stated start time. Confirm the exact building and gate with the provider, since large centres often use separate entrances for different fields.
Layered clothing and nothing that beeps
Halls can be cold or warm. Wear layers you can remove quietly. Empty pockets of keys, coins and any device that could sound an alarm during the exam.
Leave phone and smart devices at home or with a companion
Possession of a phone in the hall, even switched off, is commonly treated as a violation. Do not rely on a centre storage facility; confirm with the provider whether one exists.
Read the full instructions on the admission card and exam regulations
Rules on start times, permitted items and late entry differ between centres and sessions. Confirm with the provider rather than relying on what other candidates say.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Work through your own summary sheets for each subject in the Science, Technology & Engineering field, focusing on formulas, units, diagrams and standard procedures you will need to apply rather than recall. Do one timed practice paper under realistic conditions, then mark it and list only the errors worth fixing. Prepare your stationery and ID in one bag and leave it by the door.
Review the error list from your practice paper and redo those items. Check the exact exam timetable, session start times and centre address on your admission card, and confirm any uncertain rule (calculator model, permitted stationery, late-entry cut-off) with the provider now, not on the morning. Plan transport, including a backup route, and tell someone your schedule.
Do a light review of formula sheets and key definitions only, no new topics and no full mock. Pack the bag against the checklist, lay out clothes, charge nothing that needs charging (leave devices behind), and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at your usual time; a late cramming session costs more in concentration than it gains in marks.
Confirm the centre is open and the session time is unchanged, using the official channel. Prepare your ID, admission card, pens, pencils, eraser, instruments and calculator in the bag and place it at the door. Avoid intensive study after early evening. If anxiety keeps you awake, write down the three things you most want to remember and set the paper aside; you will read it in the morning.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Re-check the bag against the checklist: ID, admission card, stationery, calculator, watch, water. Leave earlier than the map suggests to absorb delays. Once at the centre, stay away from last-minute discussions with other candidates, which often create doubt. Use the washroom before entering the hall.
Fill in your name, seat number and any coding fields exactly as instructed, then read the front-page instructions and check the paper for missing pages or misprints; report problems to the invigilator immediately. Scan the whole paper to see the mark allocation before writing anything.
Answer in an order that banks marks: start with questions you can do confidently, then return to harder ones. For calculation items, write the formula, substitute values with units, and state the final answer clearly, since method marks are often awarded separately from the answer. For diagrams and graphs, label axes and units. Keep an eye on the clock and allocate time roughly in proportion to marks.
Stop starting new long questions. Check that every question number has an answer or an attempt, that units and significant figures are consistent, and that multiple-choice entries are unambiguous. Confirm your name and seat number are on every sheet you hand in. Hand materials to the invigilator as instructed and leave quietly without discussing answers in the corridor.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID and admission card and place them on the desk if asked. If you arrive without them, the centre may refuse entry; confirm with the provider in advance what alternatives are accepted.
Devices are normally prohibited in the hall: phones, smartwatches, earbuds and any connected device must be left outside. Possession can lead to disqualification even if the device is switched off, so confirm with the provider where items can be stored.
Enter only with permitted items. Bags, notes and outerwear usually go to a designated area. Confirm with the provider whether calculators, rulers or water bottles are allowed at the desk for your specific subject.
Late arrival and early departure cut-offs are set by the provider and are not negotiable at the door. Confirm the exact times for your session and plan to arrive well before the start.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the exam. Use the washroom before entering; if you need to leave the hall, an invigilator will normally accompany you, and lost time is not added back. Confirm the centre's policy with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper is distributed, and do not look at another candidate's work. Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need help, for example with a misprint or a broken pen.
Scoring and marking schemes are set by the examining authority. Answer every required question, show working where marks may be awarded for method, and follow the stated format for multiple-choice and written sections. Confirm with the provider how marks are allocated if the instructions are unclear.
Follow all invigilator instructions, including when to start, stop and hand in. If you believe a rule was applied unfairly, note the details afterwards and raise it through the provider's official appeals channel rather than during the exam.