MATSEC AM Maltese exam-day guide
MATSEC AM Maltese · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring a valid photo ID (ID card or passport). Confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether a school-issued card is sufficient.
Examination timetable and candidate number
Print or save the official timetable and your candidate/seat details. Confirm with the provider how candidate numbers are issued and displayed.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written Maltese papers are handwritten. Bring spares; check with the provider whether correction fluid or erasable pens are permitted.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener
Needed for multiple-choice answer sheets and rough planning. Confirm with the provider whether mechanical pencils are allowed.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many centres require stationery to be visible. Confirm with the provider whether a clear case is mandatory or merely recommended.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam halls may not display a visible clock. Smart watches and phones are normally prohibited at the desk; confirm with the provider.
Water in a clear, label-free bottle
Stay hydrated for long writing papers. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk in your centre.
Approved texts or dictionaries, if the paper permits them
Some Maltese literature or language papers may allow specified texts. Check the official syllabus and confirm with the provider exactly which editions and annotations are permitted.
No phones, smart devices or notes
Leave phones and smart watches outside the hall or switched off and stored as instructed. Possession at the desk can lead to disqualification; confirm with the provider.
Transport and arrival plan
Plan to arrive well before the start time; traffic and parking around Maltese centres can be unpredictable. Confirm with the provider the exact reporting time and late-entry policy.
Rest, food and medication
Eat a proper breakfast and bring any prescribed medication. If you have a documented condition or access arrangement, confirm with the provider in advance.
Review the official regulations
Read the current MATSEC examination regulations and the notice to candidates. Confirm with the provider any rule you are unsure about rather than guessing.
Plan the day
Confirm your centre, seat details, reporting time and the papers you are sitting. Re-read the official regulations and the notice to candidates. Check whether any paper allows texts, dictionaries or calculators, and confirm with the provider if the syllabus wording is unclear.
Do light, targeted revision: review your own summaries, past-paper question types and mark schemes, and the prescribed texts or themes. Do not start new topics. Practise timed handwriting for one section of a Maltese paper to check pace and legibility.
Prepare your stationery and bag: pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, clear case, watch, ID and any permitted texts. Check transport and, if needed, accommodation. Protect sleep: keep regular hours rather than cramming late.
Do a final short review only: key terms, essay or letter structures, poetry and prose quotations you are confident about, and the format of each section. Stop studying early enough to rest.
Lay out clothes, ID, stationery and permitted materials by the door. Charge nothing you cannot bring into the hall; leave smart devices at home or pack them away. Set two alarms and confirm your journey time.
Eat breakfast, drink water and arrive at the centre with time to spare. Keep phones switched off and stored as instructed. Go to the toilet before entering the hall. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions and check that you have the correct paper and any insert or answer booklet.
Read the whole paper first and note the marks and suggested times for each section. Answer the questions actually asked, allocate time by marks, and leave space to return to unfinished answers. Write legibly in Maltese, watch the clock, and stop writing immediately when instructed.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo identification and place it on your desk if instructed. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what happens if you arrive without them.
Follow all instructions from invigilators. Do not communicate with other candidates once in the hall, and do not look at others' work; misconduct can lead to disqualification. Confirm with the provider the full list of prohibited items and behaviours.
Phones, smart watches and any unauthorised electronic devices must be switched off and stored outside the desk area. Possession at the desk is normally treated as malpractice; confirm with the provider.
Only bring materials explicitly permitted by the syllabus for that paper, such as specified texts or dictionaries. Annotations and editions may be restricted; confirm with the provider before the exam.
If you need to leave the hall (for example, to use the toilet), raise your hand and wait for an invigilator. Confirm with the provider the centre's rules on supervised toilet breaks and whether extra time is granted.
Marks are awarded for what is written in the answer booklet, so write in the spaces indicated and cross out rough work clearly. Confirm with the provider how rough work and additional sheets are handled.
If you believe there is a problem with the paper, or you are ill during the exam, tell the invigilator immediately and ask for it to be recorded. Confirm with the provider the procedure for special consideration.
Check the official timetable and regulations for the exact start times, late-entry rules and any access arrangements. Confirm with the provider any policy you are unsure about rather than relying on rumour.