MATSEC AM Accounting exam-day guide
MATSEC AM Accounting · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring your official photo ID
Carry the identity document the exam centre requires (typically a passport or national ID card). The exact accepted documents and whether a student ID suffices must be confirmed with the provider; do not assume.
Bring your statement of entry / candidate number
Have your MATSEC candidate number and the exact subject/level (Intermediate or Advanced) and session details available. Confirm with the provider whether a printed statement of entry is mandatory or merely useful.
Bring several black or blue pens plus a pencil, eraser and ruler
Accounting papers are handwritten. Use dark ink for final answers, a pencil for workings you may wish to erase, and a ruler for accounting formats, tables and underlining totals. Confirm any pen-colour restriction with the provider.
Bring a non-programmable calculator in working order
Check batteries beforehand and know how to use it. Programmable or graphing calculators are commonly restricted; confirm with the provider which models are permitted and whether spares are allowed in the room.
Bring a clear pencil case or pouch
Many centres require stationery to be visible in a transparent case. Confirm the centre's rules on what may be on the desk.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or switched off and stored
Smartwatches, phones and any device with communication or storage capability are typically banned from the desk. Confirm the provider's policy on collection and storage before the day.
Confirm the venue, room and start time in advance
Check the address, entrance and reporting time on your statement of entry or the official timetable. Plan to arrive well before the start; confirm how late arrival is handled with the provider.
Know the paper structure and timing before you sit down
Review the instructions on the front of the paper as soon as it is issued: number of questions, whether there is a choice, section weighting, and any suggested time allocation. Confirm the current format from the official syllabus and past-paper structure.
Plan your accounting workings and presentation
Practise writing ledger accounts, trial balances, statements of profit or loss and financial position, and cash-flow statements in a clear, labelled format so markers can follow your figures.
Bring water and a light snack for after the exam
Check whether drinks are allowed at the desk; if not, keep them outside the room. Confirm centre rules on food and drink.
Plan the day
Do targeted revision only: rework past-paper questions under timed conditions, focusing on the topics you most often get wrong (for example depreciation adjustments, accruals and prepayments, bank reconciliations, partnership admissions, or company accounts). Rehearse the standard formats for the statements you will be asked to prepare. Do not start new topics. Check the official syllabus and the provider's instructions for any format or calculator rules.
Confirm the venue, reporting time and travel plan. Assemble your stationery, calculator and ID in one place. Sleep on a normal schedule; avoid all-night revision, which damages accuracy in calculation-heavy papers.
Do a light review of formulae, double-entry rules, and the layout of the main financial statements. Pack your bag: ID, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, calculator, clear case, water. Re-read the provider's candidate instructions for conduct and permitted items. Set two alarms and go to bed early.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the venue with time to spare. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material; instead skim your own summary of formats and common adjustments. Switch off your phone and store it as instructed before entering the room.
Read the front-page instructions carefully: number of questions, any choice, section marks and time guidance. Check the paper for missing pages. Fill in your candidate details exactly as instructed. Read the whole paper briefly and decide which questions you will answer before writing.
Allocate time in proportion to marks and keep to it. For each question, state workings clearly: markers award method marks, so show the figures behind each adjustment. Label accounts and statements fully, use correct headings and dates, and double-check that debits and credits balance. If a figure will not reconcile, move on and return later rather than losing time. Watch for 'show your workings' and 'state' versus 'calculate' instructions. Leave a few minutes at the end to check totals, labels and that you have answered the required number of questions.
Rules to check
Bring and present the photo ID required by the centre; if you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Follow all instructions from invigilators. Do not begin writing until told to start and stop immediately when told to stop; writing after time is called can lead to a penalty.
Keep only permitted items on the desk. Phones, smartwatches and any unauthorised electronic devices must be switched off and stored as the centre directs; confirm the provider's rules on possession and penalties.
Use only the calculator type permitted by the provider. Confirm whether programmable or graphing calculators are allowed before the exam.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not take any paper, notes or materials out of the room unless the invigilator permits it.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator; confirm the centre's rules on supervised toilet breaks and whether extra time is granted.
Marks are awarded for correct method as well as final figures, so show workings and label all accounts and statements; unclear or unlabelled presentation can lose marks even when the arithmetic is right.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or you feel unwell, tell an invigilator immediately; do not rely on resolving it after the exam. Confirm the provider's procedure for reporting problems.