CA Sri Lanka Business Level Exam exam-day guide
CA Sri Lanka Business Level Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission notice / exam confirmation
Print or download the admission or exam confirmation issued to you for the Business Level sitting. CA Sri Lanka communicates exam timetables, index numbers, and venue details through the student portal and official notices, so confirm your allotted centre and session times there. If you cannot locate your admission document, contact the CA Sri Lanka examinations division before the exam day rather than arriving without it.
Valid photo ID matching your registration
Bring the original national identity card or passport you used at registration. Photocopies are usually not accepted. Confirm with the provider which ID types are permitted and whether the name and photo must match your student record exactly; a mismatch is a common reason for being turned away.
Student registration / index number
Note your student registration number and exam index number. These typically appear on your admission document and are used to identify your answer scripts. Write them exactly as shown; do not rely on memory alone.
Permitted calculator (non-programmable)
Business Level papers such as Accounting, Business Mathematics, and Economics may require calculation. Bring a non-programmable calculator and confirm with the provider whether specific models are banned and whether spare batteries or a second calculator are allowed. Programmable or graphing calculators are commonly prohibited.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (and spares)
Bring at least two working pens of the colour the provider specifies for answer scripts. Pencil may be needed only for multiple-choice answer sheets; confirm the required medium for each paper with the provider, and bring an eraser and sharpener if a pencil is required.
No smart devices or unauthorised materials
Mobile phones, smart watches, and any notes must not be brought into the exam hall. If phones are permitted at the venue, they are normally switched off and handed in or left outside the hall. Confirm with the provider where devices must be deposited, and do not keep one on your person.
Clear pencil case or pouch
Use a transparent pouch for pens, pencils, calculator, and ID so invigilators can check contents quickly. Opaque pencil cases and bags are frequently required to be left outside the hall; confirm with the provider what may be kept at your desk.
Know your venue, route, and arrival time
Check the exact address and hall number on your admission document, plan your route, and aim to arrive well before the reporting time the provider states. Traffic and security checks can delay entry, and latecomers may not be admitted once the paper has started. Confirm the reporting time with the provider.
Read the current exam instructions and timetable
Review the latest CA Sri Lanka examination instructions for the Business Level session you are sitting, including permitted materials, paper structure, and any changes to format. These are published on the official website and student portal; confirm details there rather than relying on older material.
Water and light refreshment (if permitted)
Check with the provider whether a clear bottle of water or any refreshment is allowed at your desk. Some centres permit water in a transparent bottle without a label; others prohibit all food and drink in the hall.
Rest and logistics plan for the day
Arrange transport, a backup route, and a plan for meals and rest around your session times. Business Level sittings can involve more than one paper on the same day, so confirm your timetable and plan breaks between papers accordingly.
Plan the day
Confirm your venue, session times, and index number against the official admission document, and check the current exam instructions on the CA Sri Lanka website. Assemble your ID, pens, calculator, and clear pouch, and test the calculator. Switch from learning new material to consolidating: review your own summaries, formula sheets, and past mistakes, and practise a timed question or two under exam conditions. Protect sleep and keep the last day light.
Pack your bag with ID, admission document, pens, calculator, and permitted items, and set out clothes and transport details. Recheck the route and travel time, and confirm the reporting time with the provider if anything is unclear. Do a final short review of key formulas and structures rather than a full study session, eat properly, and aim for a full night's sleep. Avoid last-minute cramming that leaves you tired.
Eat a proper meal, take your packed bag and ID, and leave with enough margin to absorb delays. Arrive at the centre before the reporting time, locate your hall, and follow invigilator instructions for depositing devices and bags. Use the minutes before the start to settle, read the front of the paper carefully, and check that you have the correct paper and any answer sheets.
Read the instructions on the paper and allocate time across sections before you begin. Answer the questions you know first and return to harder ones, keeping an eye on the clock. Show workings in calculation questions where marks are awarded for method, and write legibly with your index number on every sheet. Leave time to check that all questions are attempted and that answer sheets are completed correctly. If you need to leave the hall, raise your hand and follow invigilator instructions; confirm the provider's rules on toilet breaks and early departure.
Hand in all materials as instructed and do not discuss the paper with other candidates in or near the hall. If another paper follows on the same day, take a short break, avoid comparing answers, and reset for the next sitting.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID that matches your registration; candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry, so confirm the permitted ID types with the provider.
Do not bring mobile phones, smart watches, or unauthorised notes into the exam hall. Deposit devices where the provider directs and keep nothing prohibited at your desk.
Only use calculators and materials the provider permits. Programmable calculators and unauthorised reference material are normally prohibited; confirm the permitted list with the provider.
Follow all invigilator instructions, including on seating, starting and stopping writing, and leaving the hall. Writing after the instruction to stop or before the start can lead to disciplinary action.
If you need to leave the hall during a paper, raise your hand and follow invigilator directions. Confirm the provider's rules on toilet breaks and whether early departure is allowed.
Write your index number on every answer sheet and follow the required answer medium and format. Scripts that cannot be identified may not be marked.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the paper or discuss its content in or near the hall. Suspected malpractice is handled under the provider's examination disciplinary rules.
Scoring and pass requirements are set by CA Sri Lanka and can change between sessions. Confirm the current mark allocation, pass marks, and any exemptions or carry-forward rules with the provider rather than relying on past sessions.