SLTES Open exam-day guide
SLTES Open · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact original document (passport, national ID card, or driving licence) whose name matches your registration. Photocopies and expired documents are routinely refused. Confirm with the provider which ID types it accepts and whether a second form is required; this is needs_review because accepted ID lists vary by test centre and jurisdiction.
Admission confirmation or appointment letter
Print or download the confirmation email showing your candidate number, test date, time, and venue. Some centres check it at the door before ID verification. If you never received one, contact the provider before test day rather than arriving without it.
Exact test-day start time and arrival cut-off
Note both the scheduled start and the latest arrival time the provider allows. Many centres bar entry after a stated cut-off regardless of circumstance. Confirm with the provider whether late arrivals are admitted at all, since this policy is not uniform.
Venue address, entrance, and travel plan
Write down the full street address and the specific building entrance, not just the city. Plan a route with at least one backup option (alternate line, taxi budget) and check for planned transport works or road closures on the day.
Permitted items list from the provider
Ask what you may bring into the test room: tissues, water in a clear bottle, a analogue watch, a jumper. Do not assume; rules on water bottles and watches differ between centres and some ban all personal items from the desk.
Prohibited-items plan
Assume phones, smart watches, fitness trackers, notes, and bags must be stored or left outside the room. Decide now where your phone will go. Do not rely on the centre holding valuables unless the provider confirms it does.
Any approved access arrangements
If you requested extra time, a separate room, a reader, or a scribe, carry the approval confirmation. Arrive early enough to set arrangements up. Confirm with the provider how approved arrangements are verified on the day; needs_review, as evidence requirements differ.
Registration and candidate number memorised or written down
Some centres ask for your candidate number at check-in. Keep it on paper in your bag rather than only in your phone, since phones are usually surrendered.
Scoring and results-timing expectations
Know in advance whether the test is pass/fail against a cut score or scored on a scale, and when results are released. This prevents anxious guesswork during the test. Confirm with the provider if the results date is not in your confirmation email.
Rest, food, and hydration routine
Eat a normal breakfast or meal you tolerate well, and avoid trying new caffeine levels on test morning. Bring a small snack for after the test if the session is long, since you may not be allowed food during it.
Sleep and pre-test logistics
Set two alarms and arrange your transport the night before. Aim for your normal sleep duration rather than a very early night, which can backfire. Lay out ID, confirmation, and clothes before sleeping.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the provider's contact number and note what to do if you are ill or delayed. Confirm with the provider whether illness on the day qualifies for a transfer, refund, or reschedule, and what evidence is needed; needs_review, as policies vary.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's test-day instructions and permitted-items list in full. Check that your ID is the accepted type, unexpired, and that the name matches your registration exactly. If anything is wrong, contact the provider now; name mismatches are much easier to fix three days out than on the morning.
Confirm the venue address, entrance, and arrival cut-off, and check transport for planned disruptions. Work out the journey time door to door and add a buffer of at least 30 to 45 minutes. If the test is early, consider staying near the venue.
Switch from learning new material to consolidating. Review your own summary notes, error log, and the format of each section. Do a timed section or two under exam conditions, then stop heavy practice the day before. Confirm with the provider if you are unsure about the structure or timing of any section.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, candidate number on paper, approved access-arrangement letter, and any permitted items. Leave prohibited items at home or plan where they will be stored. Charge nothing you will need to surrender; keep your phone charged for travel only.
Do a light review of formats and instructions, not new content. Check the start time and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Write your travel plan and departure time on paper.
Eat a normal meal and leave with a generous buffer. Carry your ID in a place you can reach without emptying your bag. Arrive before the stated cut-off, not merely before the start time, and go straight to the check-in desk.
Present your ID and confirmation, follow staff instructions on storing belongings, and note where the toilets and any waiting area are. If you have approved access arrangements, state them at check-in so they are set up before you sit down.
Read the instructions for each section before starting, and note how many questions and how much time you have. Answer every question if there is no penalty for wrong answers; where there is a penalty, confirm the rule with the provider in advance and follow your prepared strategy.
Pace yourself against the clock and leave time to transfer or check answers if the format requires it. If you get stuck, mark the question and move on. If you need the toilet or feel unwell, raise your hand and ask the invigilator; do not leave the room unescorted.
Note when and how results are released, and keep your candidate number safe for checking them. Do not attempt to reconstruct questions to share afterwards; test content is confidential and sharing it may breach the provider's rules.
Rules to check
Bring the original, unexpired photo ID accepted by the provider, with a name matching your registration. Photocopies, digital copies, and expired documents are normally refused. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a second form is needed.
Arrive by the stated cut-off, not just the start time. Many centres refuse entry to late arrivals regardless of the reason. Confirm with the provider's late-arrival policy, since it is not uniform across centres.
Phones, smart watches, fitness trackers, notes, and bags are almost always prohibited at the desk. Switch devices off and store them as instructed. If a device is found on you during the test, expect the incident to be reported and possibly treated as misconduct.
Follow all invigilator instructions and do not communicate with other candidates once in the test room. Do not read, copy, photograph, or share test content afterwards; test materials are confidential and sharing them may breach the provider's rules.
If you need the toilet, medication, or to report feeling unwell, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Leaving the room unescorted may end your test. Confirm with the provider in advance how breaks work and whether they stop the clock.
Understand how your test is scored before you sit it: pass/fail against a cut score, a scaled score, or section-level scoring. If the scoring method or the results date is not stated in your confirmation, confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
If you believe something went wrong during the test, such as a faulty device, noise, or a timing error, tell the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded. Raise it with the provider afterwards too, keeping any reference number.
Do not bring unauthorised aids, including notes, headphones, or a second device. If you have approved access arrangements, use only what was approved and carry the approval confirmation. Confirm with the provider what evidence is required for those arrangements.