KASNEB CICT exam-day guide
KASNEB CICT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed admission document / exam notification
Print the confirmation or admission document issued through the KASNEB student portal and read it line by line for your candidate number, paper code, centre name and reporting time. Do not rely on a screenshot on your phone. If the document does not state a reporting time or venue detail you expected, confirm with KASNEB or your examination centre before travelling.
National ID or passport (original, not a copy)
Bring the original identification document whose number you used during registration. A photocopy, a phone photo or an expired document is normally not accepted. If your ID was lost or is being replaced, contact KASNEB in advance to ask what alternative proof they will accept rather than arriving without it.
KASNEB student registration number memorised
You will write or key this in on scripts and answer booklets. Know it by heart and also note it on a small card kept with your documents. Mixing up the registration number with the candidate/index number is a common and avoidable error.
Blue or black ballpoint pens (at least two) plus a pencil, sharpener and eraser
Most written papers require ink; pencils are typically needed for multiple-choice answer sheets and rough work. Carry spares because borrowing from a neighbour during an examination is not permitted. Confirm the permitted writing instruments on your admission document.
Non-programmable calculator
Quantitative papers such as Accounting, Finance, Taxation, Auditing and Management Information Systems often need arithmetic. Use a basic non-programmable, non-graphing, non-wireless calculator. Programmable or internet-capable devices are commonly prohibited, but confirm the exact rule with the provider for your paper.
Clear pencil case or transparent pouch
Keeping pens, pencil and calculator in one transparent container speeds up any inspection at the door and prevents items being scattered on the desk. Avoid opaque pencil cases, which may be refused.
Small clear water bottle and a light snack for after the paper
Hydration helps concentration on long papers. Keep the bottle label-free and clear in case the centre restricts what may sit on the desk. Eat the snack after the session, not during it, unless invigilators permit it.
Watch (non-smart) if the hall clock is not visible
Smart watches are almost always banned. A simple analogue or basic digital watch lets you pace yourself across sections. Confirm whether any watch is allowed at your centre.
Plan your route and arrival time to the centre
Travel the route in advance or check it on a map, allowing extra time for traffic and for finding the specific room. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time so that document checks and seating do not eat into your writing time.
Read the examination instructions and rules sent with your admission materials
These cover permitted items, lateness, leaving the hall, and mobile phone rules. Rules differ between centres and sessions, so rely on the current written instructions rather than on what a colleague experienced in a previous sitting.
Leave prohibited items at home or with a companion
Mobile phones, smart watches, earphones, notes, textbooks and unauthorised electronic devices should not enter the examination room. Even a switched-off phone found on you can be treated as misconduct, so plan where it will stay before you leave.
Rest and a proper meal the night before
A full night of sleep improves recall more than a last-minute cram. Eat a normal meal and avoid heavy caffeine late in the evening so you are alert for the first question, not just the last.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Re-read your own summaries and formula sheets for each section of the syllabus, and work through the questions you previously got wrong. Do one timed practice paper under exam conditions, then mark it honestly and list the two or three areas that cost you the most marks. Spend the remaining study time only on those areas. Check that your admission document, ID and calculator are all in one place, and confirm the centre location and reporting time.
Do a light review of key definitions, formats and formulas, not a full new topic. Prepare your bag with the checklist items: admission document, original ID, two pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener, approved calculator, clear pouch and watch. Lay out clothes and plan transport, including a backup route. Set two alarms. Eat well, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at a normal hour. If anything on your admission document is unclear, contact the provider now rather than on the morning.
Eat breakfast and drink water. Re-check the bag against the checklist before leaving. Arrive at the centre earlier than the stated reporting time and expect queues for identity checks and seating. Keep your phone switched off and stored away before you enter the building. Once seated, read the front of the question paper and the instructions carefully, fill in your candidate details exactly as registered, and check that you have every page and any answer sheet or booklet you need.
Read the instructions and the whole paper structure before writing: how many questions, whether sections are compulsory, and how marks are allocated. Budget your time per question or section and write the finish time for each next to it. Answer the questions you know best first if the paper allows it, and leave space to return to weaker ones. For multiple-choice papers, answer every question, since there is usually no penalty for a guess, but confirm the marking rule from the instructions.
Pace yourself against your written timings and check the clock at each section boundary rather than every few minutes. Show workings in quantitative questions, because method marks are often available even when the final figure is wrong. Keep answers legible and number them exactly as the question paper does. If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; do not simply walk out. In the last ten minutes, check that your candidate details are on every sheet, that all answers are transferred to the answer sheet or booklet, and that no loose pages are left inside.
Hand in all scripts, answer sheets and rough work as instructed, and do not remove any examination stationery. Leave quietly without discussing answers in the corridor, which can unsettle you before a later paper. Note any question or incident you may need to raise with the provider while it is fresh, and confirm the date and time of your next paper.
Rules to check
Bring the original identification document that matches your registration. Copies, expired documents and photographs on a phone are normally not accepted; if your ID is unavailable, confirm with the provider in advance what alternative evidence is permitted.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Latecomers are commonly refused entry or given no extra time, and the exact cut-off is set by the centre, so confirm it with the provider rather than assuming you will be let in.
Do not bring mobile phones, smart watches, earphones or unauthorised notes into the examination room. Keep them switched off and stored away before entry, because possession of a prohibited device can be treated as misconduct even if it is unused.
Write only your candidate number and the details the paper asks for. Do not write your name or any identifying mark where anonymity is required, and do not communicate with other candidates during the paper.
Follow invigilator instructions on breaks and leaving the hall. If you must leave temporarily, raise your hand and wait to be accompanied or directed; do not take question papers or answer booklets out of the room.
Do not attempt to copy from another candidate or allow your work to be copied. Sharing a calculator, borrowing stationery or passing anything during the examination is generally treated as an irregularity, so carry your own spares.
Scoring follows the published marking scheme for your paper, including any requirement to pass each section or the paper as a whole. Check the current syllabus and marking rules with the provider, since pass marks and section requirements can change between sittings.
If something goes wrong during the paper, such as a missing page, a faulty clock or a disturbance, report it to the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded. Raising it afterwards without a record is much harder to resolve, so confirm the provider's incident procedure in advance.