MATSEC IM Accounting exam-day guide
MATSEC IM Accounting · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID document
Bring the original identity document accepted for MATSEC examinations (typically a Maltese ID card, passport, or equivalent). Do not rely on a photocopy or a photo on your phone. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted if yours is expiring or non-Maltese.
Examination timetable/slip and seat details
Check your personal timetable for the exact session date, start time, and venue. If your school or the MATSEC Examinations Board issues a candidate slip or index number, bring it if instructed. Confirm with the provider whether any slip must be presented and whether it must be printed.
Index/candidate number memorised
You will usually be required to write your index number on the answer booklet and any loose sheets. Learn it now and write it carefully; a wrong or missing number can delay or jeopardise marking. Confirm the exact format with your centre.
Approved calculator
Accounting papers involve ratios, VAT, depreciation, and apportionments, so a calculator is normally essential. Use a non-programmable calculator with cleared memory, and check the permitted model rules with the provider; programmable or graphing models may be restricted or banned.
Transparent pencil case with pens, pencils, eraser, ruler
Pack two black or blue pens, a pencil for ledger ruling and workings, an eraser, and a short ruler for underlining account totals. Keep them in a clear case so invigilators can inspect them quickly.
No prohibited items in pockets or on the desk
Leave phones, smart watches, notes, and any loose paper outside the examination room or switched off and stored as the invigilators direct. Even an unused phone on your person can be treated as misconduct. Ask the provider where bags and devices must be left.
Water and a light snack for before the session
Bring water in a clear bottle with the label removed, and eat something before a long paper. Confirm whether drinks are allowed at the desk in your centre, as rules vary.
Plan the journey and arrive early
Work out the route to the venue in advance, allow for traffic and parking, and aim to arrive well before the scheduled start. Late arrival may mean you are not admitted or lose reading time. Confirm the arrival time and any access restrictions with the provider.
Rest and revision plan for the last days
Use the final days for active recall and timed practice on formats, not for learning new topics. Prepare a one-page summary of layouts and formulae you will check in the final minutes before entering the room.
Know the paper structure and marks
Review the number of questions, whether sections are compulsory, and how marks are distributed, so you can allocate time per question. Confirm the current paper structure and any changes with the provider or your teacher.
Plan the day
Shift to consolidation. Rehearse the standard layouts from memory: income statement, statement of financial position, ledger accounts, trial balance, bank reconciliation, and control accounts. Do at least one full timed paper under exam conditions, marking it against a model answer and listing errors by type (format, arithmetic, concept). Rework only those weak areas. Prepare your equipment and check the venue and timetable details.
Do light revision only: read your one-page summary of formats, key adjustments (accruals, prepayments, depreciation, bad debts, closing stock), and ratio formulae. Pack your bag with ID, pens, calculator, and any permitted materials. Set two alarms, confirm transport, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Avoid cramming new topics or staying up late.
Eat a proper breakfast, re-check the venue and start time, and arrive early. Leave your phone and notes with your bag as directed. In the final minutes outside the room, skim your summary sheet but do not try to learn anything new. Use the toilet before entering.
Read the instructions on the front of the paper carefully: number of questions, compulsory sections, and any choice. Check the paper is complete and note the marks per question. Write your index number where required. Budget your time in proportion to marks and identify which questions you will answer first.
Answer the questions you are most confident about first to secure marks, then return to harder ones. Show all workings, because method marks are often available even when the final figure is wrong. Label workings clearly and cross-reference them to the answer. Keep an eye on the clock and reserve the last ten minutes to check arithmetic, ensure every required question is attempted, and confirm your index number and page numbering.
Rules to check
Bring the original accepted photo ID and place it on the desk if the invigilator asks. If your ID is lost, expiring, or in a non-standard form, contact the provider before the exam to confirm what will be accepted.
Follow all invigilator instructions about seating, bags, devices, and leaving the room. Do not communicate with other candidates once in the examination room, and do not look at another candidate's work.
Do not bring unauthorised materials into the room. Notes, textbooks, phones, smart watches, and programmable calculators are typically prohibited; confirm the exact permitted-equipment list with the provider.
If you need to leave the room during the paper, raise your hand and wait for an invigilator. Confirm the centre's rules on toilet breaks and whether extra time is granted, as these vary by centre.
Write in the language and format required by the paper, and show workings clearly. Marks are commonly awarded for correct method, so do not erase or omit your calculations.
If you believe there is a problem with the paper, such as a missing page or misprint, report it to an invigilator immediately rather than trying to work around it silently.
Misconduct, including possession of a device or copying, can lead to disqualification from the subject or the whole examination session. Confirm the current misconduct regulations with the provider.
Check the provider's published rules on access arrangements, extra time, and special consideration, and apply for any entitlement well before the exam date rather than on the day.