CA Sri Lanka Corporate Level Exam exam-day guide
CA Sri Lanka Corporate Level Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission notice / exam docket
Print or download the admission document issued for your sitting and check the date, time, venue, and index number. If you have not received one or are unsure what document is accepted, confirm with the provider (CA Sri Lanka student services) before exam day.
National identity card or valid passport
Bring the original photo ID in the name used on your registration. Do not rely on a photocopy or a student card alone; confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted for your sitting.
Student registration card
Carry your CA Sri Lanka student card if one has been issued to you. If it is lost or expired, ask the provider in advance about a replacement or alternative proof of registration rather than turning up without it.
Non-programmable calculator
Corporate Level papers involve computation (financial reporting, management accounting, tax, finance). Use a silent, non-programmable calculator with no communication capability, and confirm with the provider whether specific models are banned.
Spare pens, pencils, eraser and sharpener
Bring at least two blue or black ballpoint pens plus pencils for any multiple-choice answer sheet. Check the provider's instructions on pen colour and whether correction fluid is permitted.
Clear pencil case or transparent pouch
Keep stationery in a see-through case so invigilators can inspect it quickly. Opaque pencil cases are commonly refused; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Wristwatch (no smart features)
Exam halls may not have a visible clock. A simple analogue or non-smart digital watch helps you pace the four sections; smartwatches and phones are normally prohibited at the desk.
Printed revision summary / formula sheet
Prepare a one- or two-page condensed sheet of standards, formulas and tax rates for last-minute review outside the hall. Leave it outside the exam room; it must not enter the desk area.
Water and a light snack
Bring water in a clear bottle if permitted and a snack for before or after the paper. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk.
Venue reconnaissance
Check the exact hall and travel time the day before, and plan to arrive well before the reporting time. If the venue is unfamiliar, do a trial journey or map the route in advance.
Phone switched off and stored
Plan to switch off your phone and leave it in the designated area or bag outside the desk. Do not keep it in a pocket during the paper.
Confirm sitting-specific rules with the provider
Before the exam, verify with CA Sri Lanka: reporting time, late-entry cut-off, permitted calculator models, whether breaks occur between sections, and the current pass/fail or mark-weighting rules for your Corporate Level subjects.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Work through one full past paper or mock under timed conditions for each subject you are sitting, then mark it and list your three weakest areas. Spend remaining time on those areas only, using your condensed summary sheet.
Re-read the exam format and mark allocation for each paper (number of sections, compulsory versus optional questions, marks per section). Decide your question-selection strategy in advance so you do not waste reading time in the hall.
Check logistics: confirm venue, reporting time and travel plan; assemble stationery, ID and admission documents in one bag; confirm any uncertain rules with the provider while offices are still open.
Do a light review of your summary sheet and formula list only. No new past papers. Sleep at a normal hour; fatigue costs more marks than one extra hour of revision.
Pack the bag completely: admission document, ID, student card, calculator with working batteries, pens, pencils, clear pouch, watch, water. Set two alarms and check the route and departure time.
Eat a proper meal, arrive at the venue early with time to spare, and avoid group discussions about difficult topics that can raise anxiety. Review only your summary sheet outside the hall.
Read the instructions and the required number of questions carefully, note the total time and marks, and allocate minutes per mark. Skim all questions and mark which optional questions you will attempt before writing.
Start with your strongest question to build momentum, but keep to your time allocation. Show workings for computational questions because method marks are commonly awarded, and use headings and short paragraphs for written answers.
Stop new work, check that all answer booklets and answer sheets carry your index number, confirm you attempted the required number of questions, and tidy any loose sheets as instructed by the invigilator.
Do not dissect answers with others immediately; move on and prepare for your next paper. Note any rule or timing issue you hit and confirm it with the provider before your next sitting.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID and admission document in the name used on your registration. If either is missing or the accepted ID types are unclear, confirm with the provider before exam day; entry may be refused without valid identification.
Arrive before the reporting time stated on your admission document. Late-entry cut-offs and whether extra time is granted are set by the provider - confirm the exact rule for your sitting rather than assuming.
Phones, smartwatches and any communication or storage devices must be switched off and kept away from your desk. Possession at the desk is typically treated as misconduct regardless of whether it was used.
Only permitted calculators and stationery may be on the desk. Confirm with the provider which calculator models are allowed and whether correction fluid, highlighters or rough paper are provided or prohibited.
Follow invigilator instructions on seating, answer booklet completion, index numbering and collection of scripts. Do not start writing before the instruction to begin or continue after the instruction to stop.
All work must be your own. Copying, unauthorised collaboration, bringing in notes, or impersonating another candidate are misconduct and can lead to cancellation of results and further sanctions.
Breaks and permission to leave the hall (for example, to use the washroom) are at the invigilator's discretion and usually accompanied. Confirm with the provider whether any supervised break exists between sections of your paper.
Scoring and pass requirements for Corporate Level subjects, including mark weightings and any sectional minimums, are set by CA Sri Lanka. Confirm the current rules with the provider rather than relying on second-hand accounts.