GCE O/L Information & Communication Technology exam-day guide
GCE O/L Information & Communication Technology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission card / index number confirmation
Carry the official admission card issued for your school or private-candidate registration. Your index number must match the number printed on your admission card and on your answer scripts. If your card is lost or the details are wrong, contact your school ICT teacher or the examining body immediately; do not assume a replacement can be issued on the day - confirm with the provider.
National identity document or school ID
Bring a valid photo ID (National Identity Card, student ID, or the document your school specifies). Invigilators may check identity against the admission card. Accepted ID types vary by centre - confirm with the provider or your school before the exam.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Paper I (the MCQ paper) is answered on a printed answer sheet, so you need a dark pen that marks clearly. Bring spares. Avoid gel pens that smudge or bleed through the sheet.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Use a pencil for any shading, diagram labelling or rough work the paper allows. A clean eraser matters because stray marks on MCQ answer sheets can be misread.
Clear pencil case or transparent pouch
Many centres require stationery to be visible in a transparent container. Keep only permitted items inside; leave notes, formula sheets and loose paper at home.
Non-programmable calculator
ICT papers involve number-system conversion, storage-size and bandwidth calculations. A basic non-programmable calculator is normally allowed, but programmable or graphing calculators and calculators with stored text are usually prohibited. Check the permitted-models rule with the provider.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Wall clocks may be behind you or missing. A plain analogue or digital watch helps you pace the MCQ paper. Smart watches and any device with communication capability are not permitted.
Water bottle and light snack
A clear, label-free water bottle is usually acceptable. Whether snacks are allowed in the hall varies by centre - confirm with the provider. Eat properly before a long paper rather than relying on food during it.
Know your centre location and travel plan
Visit or map the centre in advance and plan to arrive well before the reporting time. Traffic, weather and security checks at the gate are common causes of lateness. Reporting times are set by the provider, so confirm yours.
Revise the practical-style topics, not just definitions
Be ready to convert between binary, decimal, octal and hexadecimal; compute storage and transmission sizes; read simple logic-gate expressions; and interpret spreadsheet formulas and database field types. These are the areas where candidates lose easy marks.
Check the exam timetable and paper structure
Confirm which day and session your Paper I and Paper II fall on and how long each lasts. The structure and duration are set by the examining body - verify against your official timetable rather than memory.
Sleep and a normal breakfast
Do not study new material late the night before. A rested candidate makes fewer careless errors on binary conversion and multiple-choice elimination than a tired one who crammed until 2 a.m.
Plan the day
Switch from reading to active recall. Work through past-paper-style questions under timed conditions, then mark them honestly and list your error types: careless conversion errors, misread questions, or genuine knowledge gaps. Spend the remaining time only on the gap list. Rehearse number-system conversion and storage-size calculations daily, since these are quick marks that reward practice. Prepare your stationery and documents early so the last day is calm.
Do a light review of your own summary notes, key definitions and the topics you got wrong in practice. Pack your bag: admission card, ID, pens, pencil, eraser, calculator, watch, water. Confirm the centre location, reporting time and travel route. Set two alarms. Stop studying by early evening and sleep at your normal time - do not attempt to learn a new topic overnight.
Eat a proper breakfast and dress according to your school's instructions. Arrive at the centre with time to spare rather than rushing. Keep your admission card and ID accessible for checking at the gate. Avoid last-minute group discussions about answers, which raise anxiety without adding knowledge. Use the waiting time to breathe steadily and remind yourself of your pacing plan.
Read the instructions on the cover page before writing. For Paper I, answer the questions you are sure of first, mark uncertain ones, and return to them; never leave a blank if there is no penalty for guessing (confirm the marking scheme with the provider). Watch the clock at the halfway point and adjust pace. For structured or practical-style questions, show working for calculations, use correct technical terminology, and match the number of points to the marks available. If a question seems unfamiliar, break it into the concepts it is testing. Stop writing immediately when time is called and hand over your scripts as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring only permitted items into the hall. Mobile phones, smart watches, and any communication or storage devices must be switched off and left outside or handed in as the centre directs. Possession of a phone during the paper is commonly treated as a serious violation - confirm the exact rule with the provider.
Carry your admission card and accepted photo ID at all times in the hall and place them on the desk for inspection. Candidates without proper identification may be referred to the supervisor; the procedure varies, so confirm with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper has begun - no talking, passing items, or looking at another candidate's work. Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need something.
Write only within the spaces provided on the answer script and answer sheet. Do not write identifying details outside the designated boxes, and do not write notes to the examiner. Extra or loose sheets are not accepted unless officially issued.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on timing, seating, toilet breaks and leaving the hall. Toilet breaks are usually escorted and may not be allowed in the final minutes of the paper - confirm the centre's practice with the provider.
Use only a non-programmable calculator and show your working for numerical questions. Programmable calculators, stored formulas, and unauthorised reference material are prohibited.
Stop writing the moment the invigilator announces the end of the paper. Continuing to write after time is called can lead to a penalty or invalidation of your script.
Marks are awarded for correct answers and, in structured papers, for method and terminology. There is no credit for extra writing beyond what the question asks, so be precise rather than lengthy. The exact marking and grading scheme is set by the examining body - refer to the official syllabus and past-paper mark schemes for guidance.