MATSEC AM French exam-day guide
MATSEC AM French · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID document your school or the MATSEC Examinations Board requires for admission to the hall (typically a passport, national ID card, or school-issued candidate card). Confirm with your school examinations officer which document is accepted for your session, since rules on expired or alternative ID vary by year and centre.
Statement of entry / exam timetable confirmation
Carry the slip showing your candidate number, subject, level (Advanced or Intermediate), date, time, and venue. Check the paper code and session (morning/afternoon) the day before; if anything looks wrong, contact your examinations officer immediately rather than on the morning.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
French papers are handwritten. Bring spare pens that write cleanly and do not smudge, plus a spare cartridge or second pen in case one fails. Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid or erasable pens are permitted before relying on them.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for planning essay outlines, annotating the reading passage, and any multiple-choice or grid-based section. Keep them in a clear pencil case if your centre restricts opaque cases.
Clear pencil case or transparent pouch
Many centres require transparent storage so invigilators can check equipment quickly. Confirm the exact rule with your school, as some centres simply ban pencil cases altogether.
Wristwatch (non-smart, silent)
Wall clocks may be hard to see and phones must be switched off and stored away. A simple analogue or digital watch without connectivity helps you pace the reading, writing, and listening sections. Smart watches are almost always prohibited; confirm with the provider.
Water in a clear, label-free bottle
Stay hydrated for a long paper, but remove labels and avoid noisy packaging. Confirm whether drinks are allowed at your desk, as some centres restrict them to break times.
Correct dictionary policy check
Do not assume a French–English dictionary is allowed. MATSEC rules on monolingual and bilingual dictionaries differ between components and years. Confirm in writing with your teacher or the MATSEC Examinations Board which, if any, dictionary is permitted for each paper, and whether it must be unannotated.
No phone, smart device, or notes on you
Leave phones, smart watches, earbuds, and revision notes at home or in the designated secure area. Possession of unauthorised material in the hall can lead to disqualification even if it is switched off. Confirm the storage arrangements with your centre.
Know your venue and arrival time
Visit or locate the exam centre in advance and plan transport for arrival well before the start, allowing for traffic and registration. Confirm the reporting time with your school, as it is usually earlier than the published start time.
Rest, food, and medication routine
Eat a normal breakfast or lunch and bring a small snack for after the paper. If you need medication, water, or a rest break for a documented condition, arrange access arrangements with the provider well in advance, not on the day.
Backup plan for the morning
Save your examinations officer's contact number and set two alarms. If something goes wrong (transport, illness, lost ID), contact the centre immediately; do not simply fail to appear. The provider's rules on late arrival and missed papers should be confirmed in advance.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Reread your own summaries of set texts, key vocabulary, and grammar points rather than starting new material. Do one timed past-paper section under exam conditions to check your pacing, then mark it honestly and note the two or three error types that cost most marks.
Confirm the practical details: exact date, session, venue, reporting time, and permitted equipment, including the dictionary rule, with your teacher or examinations officer. Check that your ID is valid and that you know how you will travel to the centre.
Practise the productive skills. Write one essay or structured response to time, then check it against the task requirements, not just grammar: did you answer the question, use an appropriate register, link ideas, and stay within the word limit? Review a short listening or reading passage to keep comprehension sharp.
Prepare your exam kit: pens, pencil, eraser, clear pouch, watch, water bottle, ID, and statement of entry. Put everything in one bag so the morning is not spent searching.
Do a light review only: vocabulary lists, set-text quotations or themes, and a checklist of common grammar traps you personally make (for example agreement, tense choice, or false friends). Stop studying early enough to sleep properly; a rested brain performs better than a crammed one.
Set out clothes, bag, and travel money. Check transport times and any planned disruptions. Set two alarms and ask someone to wake you as a backup. Avoid heavy screens late in the evening.
Eat a proper breakfast or meal, arrive at the centre with time to spare, and report to the designated area. Hand in or store your phone and any smart device as instructed before entering the hall. Use the waiting time for calm, low-effort review, not new material.
Read the instructions and the paper structure carefully. Count the sections, note the marks per question, and check for any choice (for example answering one essay from several options). Fill in your candidate details exactly as instructed. Plan how many minutes each section deserves and write those times down.
Answer the questions you find most accessible first if that helps confidence, but keep to your time plan. For reading and listening, read the questions before the passage or audio where the format allows. For writing, spend a few minutes planning structure and key vocabulary, then write, leaving time to check agreement, tenses, and spelling.
Stop writing new content and proofread systematically: verb endings, gender and number agreement, accents, and whether every part of each task has been answered. Check that your candidate number and question numbers are correct. If you finish early, use the time to check rather than leave.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identification document required by your centre. If you are unsure whether your ID is acceptable, confirm with the provider before the exam day; do not assume an alternative document will be allowed.
Phones, smart watches, earbuds, and any other electronic devices must be switched off and stored outside the hall as directed. Unauthorised material in your possession can lead to disqualification even if you did not use it.
Use only equipment and reference materials explicitly permitted for that paper. The rules on dictionaries, correction fluid, and calculators vary by component and year, so confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Follow all instructions from invigilators, including on seating, timing, and leaving the hall. If you need to leave for a rest break, raise your hand and wait to be accompanied; do not simply get up.
Communicate only with invigilators during the exam. Any form of communication with another candidate, or looking at another candidate's work, is treated as misconduct.
Write in the language and format the paper requires, and respect word limits and task instructions. Marks are awarded for relevant content, organisation, and accuracy, so a well-planned answer usually scores better than a longer, unstructured one.
If you believe there is a problem with the paper, equipment, or your circumstances, tell an invigilator immediately and ensure it is recorded. Concerns raised after the exam are harder to address.
Check the provider's published rules on late arrival, illness, and special consideration before the exam. If you are ill or unable to attend, contact your school or the MATSEC Examinations Board as soon as possible and confirm what evidence is required.