ORT Biology exam-day guide
ORT Biology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID document in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required; do not rely on a photocopy or a digital copy.
Admission ticket or confirmation email
Print or download the confirmation showing your test centre, date, and candidate number. Some centres check it at the door, so keep it accessible rather than buried in a bag.
Test centre address, route, and arrival time
Re-check the address on your confirmation, not an old email. Plan to arrive with margin for transport delays. Confirm with the provider the exact arrival time and what happens if you are late.
Permitted calculator and spare batteries
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is allowed, which models are permitted, and whether the centre supplies one. If you bring your own, carry spare batteries and know how to clear its memory.
Stationery allowed by the centre
Many centres provide pencils and paper and prohibit your own. Confirm with the provider before packing pens, highlighters, or correction fluid; unauthorised items may be removed.
Watch (non-smart, silent)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace sections if the room clock is hard to see. Smart watches and any device with communication capability are almost always prohibited; confirm with the provider.
Clear water bottle and a light snack
Confirm with the provider whether drinks and snacks are allowed at your desk or only during breaks. Avoid noisy packaging and strong-smelling food in the test room.
Layers of clothing
Test rooms vary in temperature. Wear layers you can remove, and avoid clothing with large logos or text that a invigilator might ask you to cover.
Review the format and section timings
Know in advance the number of questions, the time per section, and whether sections are separately timed or whether you can move back and forth. Confirm these details with the provider, as they can change between sessions.
Check prohibited-item list
Phones, smart watches, notes, and bags are typically banned from the testing room. Confirm with the provider where bags and phones must be stored and whether lockers are available.
Medical or access arrangements
If you have approved extra time, a separate room, or a medical exemption, bring the approval letter. Confirm with the provider in advance that the centre has your arrangements on file.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, charge your phone, and prepare your bag the night before. Prioritise sleep over last-minute cramming; fatigue costs more marks than one extra hour of revision.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Review your summary sheets, formula list, and flagged weak areas only. Do one timed section under exam conditions to check your pacing, then mark it and note only the errors you can fix quickly.
Confirm logistics: test centre address, transport route, arrival time, and what you are allowed to bring. Re-read the provider's candidate rules so nothing on the prohibited list surprises you at the door.
Do a final pass over high-yield material: key definitions, diagrams you must be able to label, and the command words used in questions. Practise reading each question stem carefully and identifying what is actually being asked.
Light review only, finishing by early evening. Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, permitted stationery, calculator and spare batteries, water, snack, and layers. Check your alarms and travel plan.
Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not start a new topic or attempt a full mock this late.
Eat a proper breakfast, hydrate, and leave earlier than you think necessary. Do a short, calm review of your summary sheet only, not a new practice paper.
Follow centre instructions for ID checks and bag storage. Use the washroom before the test starts. Switch off your phone and store it where instructed, not in your pocket.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions and time allowed. Answer the questions you know first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch the clock at quarter points rather than every few minutes.
For multiple-choice items, eliminate clearly wrong options before choosing. For written or structured answers, use the command words and the mark allocation to judge how much detail is needed, and show working where it earns credit.
Check that every question has an answer, that your name and candidate details are correct, and that you have not left any flagged item blank. Use remaining time to check calculations and units rather than to change settled answers on impulse.
Note which topics felt weak while memory is fresh, but avoid comparing answers in detail with others, which adds stress without changing your result. Confirm with the provider when and how results are released.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID document that matches your registration. If your ID is expired, lost, or in a different name, contact the provider before test day; do not assume a replacement will be accepted at the door.
Electronic devices, including phones and smart watches, are generally prohibited in the testing room. Confirm with the provider the storage arrangements and the consequences of a device being found on you.
Follow all invigilator instructions, including seating, starting and stopping writing, and leaving the room. Speaking to other candidates during the test or attempting to view their work is treated as misconduct.
Confirm with the provider the rules on breaks: whether they are scheduled, whether the clock stops, and whether you may leave the room and return. Do not assume you can take an unscheduled break.
If you need to leave the room for illness or another reason, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator. Confirm with the provider how missed time is handled, as it is often not added back.
Understand the scoring before you sit: confirm with the provider whether wrong answers are penalised, whether sections are weighted, and what the pass mark or grade boundaries are. This affects whether you should guess on unanswered items.
Declare any approved access arrangements in advance and bring the approval documentation. Arrangements are usually not granted on the day, so confirm with the provider well before the test.
If something goes wrong on the day, such as a disruption, equipment failure, or illness, tell the invigilator immediately and follow up in writing with the provider. Confirm with the provider the deadline and process for special consideration claims.