Met Police Exam exam-day guide
Met Police Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your booking
Bring the original, current photo identification that matches the name on your application. Accepted ID types and name-matching rules vary by assessment stage and provider, so confirm the exact list with the provider before the day. A mismatch between your booking name and your ID is the most common avoidable problem at check-in.
Booking confirmation and appointment details
Have your confirmation email or letter available, on paper or on your phone, showing the date, time, venue, and any reference number. This speeds up sign-in and helps if your name is spelled differently in the booking system.
Venue location, travel plan, and arrival time
Plan to arrive with a comfortable margin before your scheduled slot. Check the venue address, which entrance to use, and local transport disruption on the day. Confirm with the provider how early you should arrive and what happens if you are late.
Any invitation letter or pre-assessment instructions
If the provider has sent instructions about the format, permitted materials, or a candidate handbook, read them and bring any required pages. Requirements differ between stages, so rely on your own invitation rather than general advice.
Confirmation of permitted and prohibited items
Ask the provider in advance whether phones, smart watches, notes, or bags can be taken into the test room and where they can be stored. Do not assume lockers are available. Confirm with the provider.
Access arrangements or reasonable adjustments confirmed in advance
If you need extra time, a separate room, a reader, or other adjustments, these normally must be requested and agreed before the test day. Bring any confirmation you received. Arrangements usually cannot be added on the day. Confirm with the provider.
Water and a light snack for before or after the test
Check whether drinks are allowed at your desk; many test rooms do not permit them. Keep hydration and food for before the session or for a scheduled break, subject to venue rules.
A watch or awareness of timing rules
Some test rooms have no visible clock and smart watches are usually banned. Ask the provider whether a plain analogue watch is allowed. If not, use the timing information the invigilator gives you.
Rest, sleep, and a normal routine in the days before
Cognitive and situational-judgement tests reward steady attention more than last-minute cramming. Protect sleep in the final week and avoid a late-night revision session the night before.
A calm plan for the journey home
Know how you are getting home and avoid scheduling anything demanding immediately after the test. If the assessment includes several parts, check the expected finish time with the provider so your return travel is realistic.
Contact details for the provider
Save the provider's contact number or email so you can report an emergency, illness, or travel problem as early as possible. Keep any evidence, such as a travel disruption notice or medical note, in case you need to request a rearrangement.
Re-read the provider's current candidate guidance
Rules on ID, conduct, permitted items, and rescheduling can change. Check the provider's most recent guidance in the final week rather than relying on older forum posts. needs_review
Plan the day
Confirm the practical details: re-read your invitation, verify the venue and arrival time, check your ID matches your booking name, and confirm any access arrangements in writing. Do one or two short, timed practice sessions on the relevant question types rather than a long cram. For situational judgement, practise explaining why one response is better than another, not just picking it. Stop heavy revision at least a day before and protect your sleep.
Prepare your bag: ID, confirmation, invitation, and anything the provider permits. Charge your phone but plan to switch it off or hand it in if required. Check the weather and travel status, set two alarms, and decide your departure time with a buffer. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not start learning new material.
Eat a normal breakfast, dress comfortably in layers, and leave earlier than you think necessary. Recheck your bag against the checklist before leaving. Arrive at the venue and follow sign-in instructions; keep conversation with other candidates calm and avoid comparing preparation, which tends to raise anxiety rather than help.
Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions and read the on-screen or printed directions before starting. Work at a steady pace, note the time available per question, and do not let one difficult item consume a disproportionate share. If the format allows review, flag uncertain answers and return to them. Answer every question unless the rules penalise wrong answers, which you should confirm with the provider. If equipment fails or you feel unwell, raise it with the invigilator immediately rather than waiting until the end.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID specified by the provider and make sure the name matches your booking. If your documents show a different name, contact the provider before the test day; do not rely on being admitted with mismatched ID. Confirm the accepted ID list with the provider.
Follow all invigilator instructions on electronic devices. Phones and smart watches are commonly required to be switched off and stored away from the testing room, and possession during the test can lead to invalidation. Confirm the provider's device policy in advance.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not copy, photograph, or share test content. Assessment materials are confidential, and sharing them can invalidate your result and affect future applications.
Breaks are usually only at times set by the invigilator, and some tests allow no breaks at all. Ask before the session starts what the procedure is if you need to leave the room, and confirm the provider's break policy rather than assuming one.
If you are ill or cannot attend, contact the provider as soon as possible and ask about rearrangement or refund rules. Policies differ and time limits often apply, so keep supporting evidence. Confirm the provider's policy.
Understand how your test is scored before you sit it. Some tests penalise incorrect answers, others do not, and some use within-subject comparison rather than a simple pass mark. Where you are unsure, confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Arrive by the time stated in your invitation. Late arrival may mean you are refused entry or your slot is reallocated, and the exact cut-off is set by the provider. Confirm the arrival and lateness rules with the provider.
Treat the assessment as part of a wider selection process. A single test result is rarely decisive on its own, so report any technical or personal difficulty promptly and in writing so it can be considered.