Sri Lanka Notary's Preliminary Exam exam-day guide
Sri Lanka Notary's Preliminary Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission card / hall ticket
Print or download the admission document issued for your sitting and check that your name, NIC number and examination centre are printed correctly. If any detail is wrong, contact the examination authority immediately; do not wait until the morning of the exam.
National Identity Card (original)
Bring the original NIC you used on your application. Photocopies and digital images are usually not accepted for identity verification. If your NIC is lost or being renewed, confirm with the provider in advance what alternative proof of identity is accepted.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (two or more)
Answer scripts for written papers are normally completed in ink. Carry at least two working pens and check they write cleanly before leaving home.
Pencils, sharpener and eraser
Needed if any paper uses a multiple-choice answer sheet that must be marked in pencil. Confirm the required medium (pen or pencil) for each paper with the provider, since marking a sheet in the wrong medium can invalidate answers.
Printed copy of the exam timetable and centre notice
Keep the paper-by-paper schedule and any centre instructions with you so you know reporting times, paper order and permitted items.
Clear water bottle (labels removed)
Hydration matters in a long sitting. Many centres require transparent bottles with labels removed; check the provider's list of permitted items.
Simple analogue wristwatch
Many halls do not guarantee a visible clock. Smart watches and any watch with communication or storage features are almost always prohibited, so bring a plain analogue or basic digital watch only.
No smart devices in the hall
Leave mobile phones, smart watches, earbuds and similar devices at home or hand them in if the centre provides a deposit facility. Carrying a phone into the hall is a common ground for cancellation of candidature. Confirm the centre's exact policy with the provider.
Statutory materials only if permitted
Bare Acts, ordinances or other reference material are allowed only if the provider's instructions expressly permit them. Assume they are prohibited unless the instruction sheet says otherwise, and confirm with the provider.
Confirm the reporting time and centre location the day before
Visit or map the route to the centre, allow extra time for traffic, and note the gate-closing time. Late entry rules vary; confirm with the provider.
Rest, meals and medication
Plan a normal night's sleep and a light meal before a long paper. If you need prescribed medication or a permitted snack for a medical condition, confirm the approval procedure with the provider well before the exam.
Read the instructions on the answer script
Before writing, read the cover instructions on the answer book: candidate index number, paper code, question numbers attempted and any declaration. Fill these in correctly; unmarked or mislabelled scripts can be rejected.
Plan the day
Do a final content sweep rather than new learning: revise the core areas of the notarial syllabus you have already studied, such as the appointment and functions of notaries, attestation and execution of deeds, and the statutory rules on notarial acts. Re-read your own summary notes and any model answers you wrote. Confirm the exact date, reporting time, centre address and permitted-items list from the official admission document. If anything is unclear, contact the provider now, not on exam day.
Assemble everything on the checklist in one place: admission card, NIC, pens, pencils, sharpener, eraser, watch and water bottle. Check the NIC details match your admission card. Decide your travel plan, including an alternative route and a realistic buffer for traffic, and confirm how you will get to the centre if public transport is disrupted.
Stop intensive study in the evening. Do a light review of formats and structures only, for example how to draft or analyse a deed, how to structure an answer on notarial duties, and the layout of the answer script. Set an alarm, prepare clothes and bag, charge nothing that must stay home (phones stay out of the hall), and get a full night's sleep. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material.
Eat a proper breakfast, take the packed bag, and leave with a generous margin so you arrive before the gate-closing time. At the centre, locate the notice board showing your hall and seat, keep your admission card and NIC ready for verification, and switch off and stow any device according to the centre's instructions. Use the waiting time for calm revision of headings, not new topics.
Read the whole question paper first and note the marks and suggested time for each question. Fill in the answer-script cover details before starting. Allocate time in proportion to marks, start with questions you know well to build momentum, and leave space to return to weaker answers. Watch the clock against the halfway and final-ten-minutes marks. For essay or problem questions, state the legal position, apply it to the facts, and reach a clear conclusion. Before handing over, check that every attempted question number is correctly entered on the cover and that no loose sheets are left in the script.
Rules to check
Identity and admission: carry the original NIC and your admission card to every paper and present them when asked. Candidates without acceptable identification may be refused entry; if your documents are incomplete, confirm the accepted alternatives with the provider before exam day.
Prohibited items: mobile phones, smart watches, earbuds and other communication or storage devices must not be brought into the hall. Deposit them if the centre provides a facility, or leave them at home. The precise confiscation and penalty rules are set by the examination authority; confirm with the provider.
Silence and independent work: no talking, signalling, passing materials or looking at another candidate's script once the paper begins. Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need anything.
Breaks and leaving the hall: toilet visits are usually escorted and may be limited, and early departure before the end of the paper is normally restricted. The exact rules differ by centre; confirm with the provider and plan fluid intake accordingly.
Permitted materials: only items expressly allowed by the instruction sheet may be on your desk. Statutory texts, notes and electronic aids are prohibited unless the provider's instructions say otherwise.
Answer-script discipline: write your candidate index number exactly as instructed, attempt only the required number of questions, and do not write identifying marks or notes to the examiner. Scripts that breach these instructions may be rejected or penalised.
Scoring and results: marks are awarded per question according to the scheme published by the examination authority, and passing requirements are set by that authority. Do not rely on hearsay about pass marks or negative marking; confirm the current scheme with the provider.
Malpractice: any attempt to gain or give unfair assistance, or to remove question papers or answer materials from the hall, is treated as an examination offence and can lead to cancellation of candidature. The applicable procedure is governed by the authority's rules; confirm with the provider.