Concours APESA exam-day guide
Concours APESA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation and exam-room assignment
Bring the convocation document the organizing body sent you; it usually states the date, time, address and room. If you have not received it, or the venue has changed, confirm with the provider before travelling.
Valid photo ID
Take the identity document accepted by the provider (national ID card or passport are the usual choices). Check the name spelling matches your registration and that the document has not expired. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider.
Several black or blue ballpoint pens
Take at least three working pens plus a spare. Answers written in pencil or erasable ink may not be accepted where the provider requires permanent ink; confirm with the provider if this is not stated in your instructions.
Pencil, eraser and small sharpener
Useful for rough work and for any answer sheet that requires pencil shading. Keep rough work clearly separated from the final answer sheet.
Non-programmable watch
Many rooms have no visible clock. A simple analog or basic digital watch helps you pace the sections. Smartwatches and connected devices are normally forbidden; leave them at home.
Printed instructions and any authorised documents
If the provider allows a formula sheet, dictionary or annotated texts, take only the versions explicitly permitted. Anything not listed as authorised should stay outside the room.
Water and a light snack
Take a small bottle of water and something easy to eat for the break, if breaks are scheduled. Check whether food and drink are allowed at the desk; if in doubt, confirm with the provider.
Transport plan and backup route
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time, typically 30 to 45 minutes early, and identify a second route in case of strikes, traffic or cancelled trains. Confirm the exact reporting time with the provider.
Phone switched off and stored
Switch the phone fully off, disable alarms, and store it in the bag or in the place the invigilators indicate. A ringing or vibrating device is commonly treated as a breach of exam rules.
Clear bag or pouch for personal items
A transparent pouch makes security checks faster and keeps your ID, pens and water together. Check whether the venue imposes specific bag restrictions; if so, confirm with the provider.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, prepare clothes and documents in one place, and check the weather forecast. Avoid last-minute revision of new material; consolidate what you already know.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the organising body's contact number in case of delay or incident on the day. Report any problem to the invigilators as soon as you arrive rather than after the test begins.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Re-read your own summary sheets, correct past mistakes and rehearse the structure of the written answers or oral presentation. Confirm the venue, reporting time and transport, and prepare the documents and stationery in one bag. Protect sleep: two full nights before the test matter more than a late revision session.
Do a light review only, focusing on formulas, definitions and the sections you tend to rush. Lay out ID, convocation, pens, watch, water and clothes. Check the journey one more time, including any public transport disruptions. Eat normally, avoid alcohol and screens late in the evening, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a normal breakfast, leave with a comfortable margin, and arrive at the venue early. Switch off the phone before entering. Locate the room, the toilets and the water point, then sit calmly and read the instructions on the paper before writing. Use the first minutes to scan the whole paper and plan your time by section.
Read each question twice and note the command word (describe, justify, calculate, compare). Answer the easiest questions first to secure marks, then return to the harder ones. Watch the clock at fixed checkpoints and keep a few minutes at the end to check names, numbering and that no question is left blank. If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and follow the invigilator's instructions.
Rules to check
Bring the convocation and the accepted photo ID; you may be refused entry without them. If the accepted documents are not clearly stated in your instructions, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Arrive before the reporting time. Late candidates may be admitted or refused depending on the provider's rules; confirm with the provider what the cut-off is.
Switch off all electronic devices, including phones, smartwatches and connected earbuds, and store them away from the desk. Unauthorised devices are commonly treated as a breach of exam rules.
Only authorised documents and stationery may be on the desk. Place bags, coats and notes at the place indicated by the invigilators.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the test has started, and do not look at another candidate's paper. Raise your hand for an invigilator if you need anything.
Breaks and toilet visits are usually supervised and may not extend your working time. Check the provider's policy on breaks and on leaving the room during the test.
Follow the provider's scoring rules exactly: check whether wrong answers are penalised, whether all questions must be attempted, and how marks are allocated between sections. If this is not stated in your instructions, confirm with the provider.
Any suspected irregularity is reported by the invigilators and may lead to cancellation of the result. If you believe an error has occurred, ask the invigilator to record it before you leave the room.