MATSEC IM Economics exam-day guide
MATSEC IM Economics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring the identity document the exam centre requires. MATSEC generally expects a valid ID with a photograph and signature, but the exact accepted forms and any candidate number slip requirements should be confirmed with your school or the MATSEC Examinations Board before the day.
Statement of entry / candidate number
Have your candidate number and the exact subject and level (Intermediate or Advanced) to hand. Confirm with the provider how these are issued to private and school candidates, as procedures differ.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written Economics answers should be legible and in ink. Bring spares; do not rely on a single pen or on pencil for essay answers.
Pencil, eraser and ruler
Useful for diagrams (cost and revenue curves, supply and demand shifts, externality diagrams) and for any multiple-choice answer sheet. Draw diagrams in pencil so they can be corrected cleanly.
Calculator (non-programmable)
Economics papers can involve elasticity, multiplier, GDP or percentage-change calculations. Bring a simple non-programmable calculator and confirm with the provider whether programmable or graphing calculators are prohibited.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many centres require stationery to be visible. Keep only permitted items inside; confirm the centre's rules on bags and whether they must be left at the back of the hall.
No phone or smart device in the exam room
Leave phones, smartwatches and any wearable technology switched off and outside the exam room, or hand them in as the centre directs. Possession in the hall can be treated as malpractice.
Water in a clear bottle, labels removed
Check the centre's policy; some allow only transparent, label-free bottles. Confirm whether food or drink is permitted in the hall.
Know the venue, room and start time
Confirm the exact venue and reporting time with your school or the MATSEC Examinations Board, and plan to arrive well before the start. Do a route check the day before.
Watch (optional, non-smart)
A plain analogue or digital watch helps you pace sections if the hall clock is not visible. Smartwatches are not permitted. Confirm with the provider whether watches are allowed at all.
Review the paper structure in advance
Know how many sections, questions and marks your specific paper has, and whether there is a multiple-choice component. Confirm the current format with your teacher or the official MATSEC syllabus, as formats change between sessions.
Rest and logistics
Sleep, eat and arrange transport so you arrive calm. If you have access arrangements (extra time, separate room), confirm them in writing with the provider beforehand.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Rework your summary sheets on the core topics: scarcity and opportunity cost, demand and supply, elasticity, market failure and government intervention, costs and revenue, market structures, macroeconomic objectives, and policy tools. Practise drawing and labelling key diagrams from memory. Do one timed past-paper or specimen paper under exam conditions and mark it honestly against the mark scheme.
Target your weakest two or three areas identified from the timed paper. For each, write a one-page sheet: definitions, a diagram, and a worked example. Practise the calculation types you are likely to meet, such as price elasticity, income elasticity, the multiplier, and percentage changes in real GDP, checking each step.
Do a light review only: definitions, diagram labels, and the structure of the paper. Prepare your stationery, ID and any permitted documents in one place. Confirm venue, reporting time and transport. Avoid cramming new material late at night; aim for a normal night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, dress comfortably in layers, and leave earlier than you think necessary. Re-read only your one-page summary sheets, not full notes. Arrive at the venue with time to spare, switch off your phone and store it as directed, and locate the room and your seat.
Read the instructions and the rubric carefully: how many questions to answer, whether there is a choice, and the marks per question. Check the paper is complete and legible. Note the total time and allocate it in proportion to marks, leaving time to check. Read every question before starting to write.
Answer the questions you are most confident about first if that helps momentum, but keep to your time allocation. For each answer, define terms, use a diagram where it earns marks, explain the mechanism in steps, and finish with an evaluative judgement where the question asks for one. Show working for calculations and state units. Watch the clock at each section boundary.
Check that you have answered the required number of questions and that question numbers and page references are correct. Verify diagrams are labelled and titled, units are given, and no answer is left blank where a partial attempt could earn marks. Cross out rough work clearly if instructed.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identification the centre requires. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day rather than on the morning.
Follow all instructions from invigilators. Raise your hand if you need to speak, need more paper, or feel unwell; do not communicate with other candidates once in the hall.
Do not bring unauthorised materials or devices into the exam room. Phones, smartwatches, notes and programmable calculators are typically prohibited, but confirm the exact list with the provider.
Breaks and toilet visits are usually at the invigilator's discretion and may be escorted; you will not normally be given extra time. Confirm the centre's policy in advance if you have a medical need.
Marks are awarded for what is written on the script. Write legibly, label diagrams, show calculation steps, and make sure answers are attributed to the correct question number.
Malpractice, including copying, impersonation or possession of unauthorised material, can lead to disqualification from the subject or the whole examination. Take the rules seriously.
If you believe there was a problem with the paper or the conduct of the exam, report it to the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's appeals or special-consideration procedure afterwards.
Grade boundaries and the treatment of resits or private candidates are set by the awarding body. For any question about scoring, eligibility or special consideration, confirm directly with the MATSEC Examinations Board rather than relying on rumour.