KASNEB CPA Foundation exam-day guide
KASNEB CPA Foundation · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed examination/admission card
Download it from the KASNEB portal once it is released and print a copy. Check that your name, registration number, paper codes, dates, times and examination centre are correct. Confirm with KASNEB whether a printed copy, rather than a phone screenshot, is required at your centre.
Original national ID or valid passport
Bring the original document, not a copy or photo. The name on it should match your KASNEB registration. If you have changed your name or your ID is being replaced, contact KASNEB well before the exam date to confirm what alternative evidence is accepted.
Personal examination timetable
Keep a printed copy showing every paper you are sitting, with its date, reporting time and venue. Double-check the session times on it, because centres sometimes run more than one session in a day.
Two or more black or blue ballpoint pens
Bring spares, plus a pencil, eraser and sharpener if you use them for workings. Pack them in a clear, transparent pencil case or pouch so that they can be checked quickly at the door.
Non-programmable calculator
Check KASNEB's current instructions for your specific papers before relying on one; some papers restrict or prohibit calculators. Bring a simple non-programmable, non-scientific-memory model and be prepared to hand it in for inspection if asked.
Plain analogue wristwatch
Phones are normally not permitted in the examination room, so a simple watch helps you manage time. Do not bring a smartwatch or any device with communication or storage features.
Confirmed route to the examination centre
Know the exact address, the building entrance and the nearest public transport, and allow extra time for traffic. If possible, travel the route beforehand or on the day before, especially if the centre is outside your home town.
Arrival with time to spare
Aim to be at the centre well before the reporting time shown on your examination card, typically at least 45 to 60 minutes early. Confirm the exact reporting and cut-off times with KASNEB, because candidates arriving after the cut-off may not be admitted.
Water and a light snack for between-paper breaks
Bring these only if the centre permits food and drink in the waiting area, and keep them out of the examination room. Confirm the centre's rules on bringing items into the hall.
Phone and smart devices left at home or handed in
Do not carry a phone, smartwatch, earbuds or any other electronic device into the examination room, even if it is switched off. If the centre provides a storage arrangement, use it and confirm how it works before the session begins.
Computer-based examination (CBE) preparation, if applicable
If your paper is delivered on computer, confirm the format with KASNEB in advance, practise the sample interface, and check whether you need login credentials or a candidate number to sign in. Also confirm what to do if the system fails during your paper.
Any current health or entry requirements
Check the KASNEB website and your examination centre's notices shortly before the exam for any current requirements about entry, identification checks or health measures. If you are unwell or unable to attend, contact KASNEB immediately to ask about the options available.
Plan the day
Download and print your examination card and personal timetable. Verify the centre, dates, times and paper codes, and contact KASNEB straight away if anything is wrong. Check that your ID is valid and available, and settle your travel and accommodation arrangements.
Finish your substantive revision. Spend the remaining time on summaries, formula sheets and past-paper practice under timed conditions rather than starting new topics. Confirm which calculator, if any, is permitted for each paper.
Start shifting your sleep pattern towards the exam schedule so that you are alert during the actual session times. Avoid all-night study in the final days.
Pack your bag: ID, printed examination card, timetable, pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener, permitted calculator and watch. Lay out your clothes and confirm your transport plan and departure time.
Do light revision only: read your condensed notes, key definitions and formulae. Do not attempt full new past papers or cram unfamiliar material. Eat properly, set two alarms and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Check the KASNEB website and any official channels for last-minute notices about your centre or session, and note the KASNEB contact details in case of an emergency.
Eat breakfast, take your packed bag and leave early enough to arrive well before the reporting time, allowing for traffic and queueing at the entrance. Do not use the journey for last-minute cramming.
At the centre, follow the identification and security checks, switch off and hand in any device as directed, and locate your seat. Read the instructions on the front of the paper or on screen carefully before you begin.
Fill in your candidate details exactly as registered. Read the whole paper first, note the marks per question and allocate your time in proportion to marks, leaving a few minutes at the end to check your work.
Show all workings in numerical papers, because method marks are often available even if the final figure is wrong. If you get stuck, move on and return to the question later rather than losing time.
For computer-based papers, confirm that your answers are being saved, check the clock on screen and make sure you submit before the time expires. If the system fails, raise your hand immediately and follow the invigilator's instructions.
In the final minutes, check that you have attempted every required question, that your numbering is correct and that no answers are left in a rough-work area only.
Rules to check
Carry original photographic identification that matches your KASNEB registration, and keep it on your desk if instructed. If you cannot produce acceptable identification, admission is at the centre's discretion, so confirm the requirements with KASNEB in advance.
Phones, smartwatches, earbuds and any other electronic devices are not permitted in the examination room. Possession of unauthorised material or devices is typically treated as an examination irregularity, so leave them at home or hand them in as directed.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times, including on seating, timing, and when you may leave the room. Confirm with KASNEB or your centre the rules on late admission and on leaving before the end of the session, because these vary by centre and session.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the examination, and do not discuss the paper's content with candidates who have not yet sat it, including during breaks between papers. Talking or exchanging materials in the hall may be treated as malpractice.
Impersonation, copying, smuggling in notes or attempting to obtain advance access to a paper are serious irregularities that can lead to cancellation of results and disqualification from future examinations. Confirm the current sanctions in KASNEB's examination rules and regulations.
Breaks between papers are normally spent within the centre's designated area. Confirm with the centre where you may wait, whether food and drink are permitted there, and whether you may leave the premises and return.
Scoring and progression rules, including the pass mark for each paper, referral or carry-over arrangements and time limits for completing the level, are set out in KASNEB's current rules. Confirm them with KASNEB rather than relying on what other candidates tell you.
Keep your registration details, examination card and results correspondence safe and use only the KASNEB portal and official channels for information, registration and results.