Mali Permis Catégorie B exam-day guide
Mali Permis Catégorie B · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring your national identity card or valid passport
The examiner must verify your identity before the test. Carry the original document, not a photocopy. If your ID is expired or you hold a residence permit, confirm accepted documents with the centre d'examen at least a week in advance.
Bring proof of your driving-school registration or exam convocation
The convocation (or attestation from your auto-école) shows your name, the category (B), and the appointment. Keep it printed if the centre requires paper; confirm the format with your school or the exam provider.
Bring your learner's permit / livret d'apprentissage if required
Some centres ask to see the livret d'apprentissage or the permis de conduire provisoire. Confirm with your auto-école whether it must be presented on the day, since practice varies by centre.
Wear comfortable, closed shoes suitable for pedal control
Thin-soled shoes give better feel on the clutch and brake. Avoid flip-flops, heavy boots, or heels that make pedal modulation harder.
Bring glasses or contact lenses if your licence will carry a vision correction condition
If you need corrective lenses to meet the vision standard, you must wear them during the test. Testing without them when your file requires them can lead to a fail or a restriction on the licence.
Know your appointment time and arrive early
Plan to be at the meeting point (often the auto-école or the exam centre) well before the scheduled slot. Traffic, parking, and administrative checks take time; confirm the exact meeting point and arrival margin with your school.
Carry any medical certificate or administrative document requested in your file
If your file includes a medical opinion or specific administrative paperwork, bring the originals. Confirm with the provider which documents are mandatory for your situation.
Leave prohibited items out of reach
Phones must be switched off and stowed, not held or glanced at. Confirm the centre's exact policy on phones and recording devices before the day.
Prepare a short self-check routine for the vehicle
Before driving, you may need to adjust the seat, headrest, mirrors, and seatbelt and confirm the gear is in neutral and the handbrake is on. Practise this sequence until it is automatic.
Review the vehicle's basic controls and safety equipment
Be ready to locate and operate lights, indicators, wipers, hazard lights, horn, and demisting controls if asked. Know where the warning triangle and safety vest are kept.
Confirm the test vehicle and insurance arrangements
The vehicle used is normally the driving-school car or an approved vehicle. Confirm with your school which car will be used and that its insurance and documents are in order; do not assume.
Plan for the result notification procedure
Ask your auto-école in advance how and when the result is communicated and what happens if you pass or fail. Do not rely on assumptions about same-day paperwork.
Plan the day
Confirm the appointment time, meeting point, and required documents with your auto-école or the exam provider. Check that your ID, convocation, and any file documents are valid and complete. Book one or two final practice sessions focused on your weakest manoeuvres rather than on everything at once.
Drive a route similar to the exam route if your school offers it: mixed urban and extra-urban roads, roundabouts, intersections, and a parking manoeuvre. Ask your instructor for direct feedback on observation checks (mirrors, blind spots, signalling) and on speed adaptation. Re-read your notes on priority rules and on the manoeuvres you find hardest.
Do a light review only: the vehicle controls, the self-check routine, and the main safety rules. Prepare your clothes and documents the night before. Avoid a late, exhausting practice session; sleep is more useful than one more hour of driving. Check the weather forecast and plan your route to the meeting point.
Eat a normal meal and arrive early. Re-check that you have your ID, convocation, glasses if needed, and any required documents. In the car, take a moment to breathe and settle before starting. Adjust seat, headrest, mirrors, and seatbelt deliberately, then confirm neutral gear and handbrake before moving off.
Listen carefully to each instruction and ask for clarification if something is unclear. Drive at a safe, adapted speed, use mirrors and blind-spot checks visibly, and signal early. Narrate nothing unnecessarily, but make your observations clear through head movements. If you make a mistake, keep driving calmly; one error does not automatically end the test. Perform manoeuvres slowly and precisely, and complete each safety check before and after.
Follow the examiner's instructions for stopping and securing the vehicle. Listen to the debrief and ask questions only if invited. Collect your documents and confirm with your auto-école how the result will be communicated and what the next steps are.
Rules to check
Carry original identity documents: a national identity card or valid passport is normally required for identity verification. Confirm with the exam provider which documents are accepted if you do not hold one of these.
Follow the examiner's instructions throughout the test. If an instruction is ambiguous or seems unsafe, ask for clarification rather than guessing; safety takes priority over obedience to a doubtful instruction.
Phones and other electronic devices must be switched off and stowed. Do not use them during the test; confirm the centre's exact policy on devices and recording before the day.
Wear corrective lenses if your file requires them. Driving without required correction can affect the result or the conditions attached to your licence.
Drive according to traffic law and safety rules at all times. The examiner assesses observation, speed adaptation, signalling, positioning, and autonomy, not only the absence of errors.
Breaks and timing are set by the exam provider. Ask your auto-école how long the session lasts and whether a break is scheduled; do not assume a fixed duration.
Scoring and pass/fail criteria are set by the official examining body. Ask your auto-école to explain how the assessment is structured; do not rely on unofficial claims about a specific number of points or errors.
If you have a disability or a specific need, request any adaptation well in advance through your auto-école or the exam provider. Confirm what accommodations are available rather than assuming they will be granted.