MATSEC SEC Maltese as a Foreign Language exam-day guide
MATSEC SEC Maltese as a Foreign Language · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the original ID document (usually a passport or national ID card) that matches the name on your entry. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a photocopy is ever allowed - do not assume.
Statement of entry / exam timetable slip
Print or download the slip showing your candidate number, session times, and venue. Confirm with the provider whether it must be presented at the door.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (two or more)
Written Maltese papers are normally handwritten. Bring spares; check whether pencil is permitted for any section and confirm with the provider.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for rough notes and any multiple-choice or matching section. Confirm with the provider whether rough work is allowed on the question paper.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many venues require stationery to be visible. Confirm with the provider what is permitted on the desk.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam halls do not always have a visible clock, and phones are usually not allowed on the desk. Confirm with the provider whether watches are permitted.
Water in a clear, label-free bottle
Often allowed if the label is removed. Confirm with the provider before relying on this.
Venue location and travel plan
Rehearse the route to the examination centre and note the arrival time. Aim to arrive well before the start; late entry rules vary, so confirm with the provider.
Candidate number memorised or written down
You may be asked to write it on every answer booklet. Keep it somewhere accessible but not on loose paper that could be mistaken for notes.
No notes, dictionaries, or electronic devices
Unless the provider explicitly permits a dictionary for this paper, leave notes, phones, smart watches, and earbuds at home or switched off and stored away. Confirm with the provider whether any reference material is allowed.
Rest and a proper meal beforehand
Listening and reading sections reward concentration. Sleep and eat normally rather than cramming the night before.
needs_review - Exact permitted materials for the writing and listening sections
The specific list of allowed items (dictionary, rough paper, audio equipment provided by the centre) is set by the awarding body and can change. Confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the official syllabus and specimen materials for this paper so you know the section order and mark weighting. Make a one-page summary of the grammar and vocabulary areas you still find shaky, and spend your remaining study time there rather than on material you already know.
Do one full timed practice paper under exam conditions: no phone, no notes, writing by hand. Mark it honestly and note where you lost marks - spelling, verb endings, article agreement, listening comprehension, or running out of time in the writing task.
Confirm practicalities with the provider: exact venue, start time, reporting time, ID requirements, and whether any materials are permitted. Do not leave this to the day before.
Do light revision only: reread your summary sheet, practise a short listening passage, and write one paragraph in Maltese to keep your hand and sentence patterns warm. Stop early enough to sleep properly.
Pack your bag: ID, entry slip, pens, pencil, eraser, clear case, water, watch. Lay out clothes and check your travel route and transport times.
Eat breakfast, check your bag against the checklist, and leave with a buffer for delays. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material, which tends to increase anxiety without improving recall.
Find the room and your seat, switch off and store your phone, place only permitted items on the desk, and read the front of the question paper carefully for instructions and timing.
Read the whole paper first and allocate time by mark weighting. Answer the sections in the order you find easiest to build momentum, but make sure you attempt every question - a partial answer usually earns more than a blank.
For listening sections, read the questions before the recording starts and write brief notes; for writing, plan for two or three minutes, watch the clock, and reserve time to check gender, number, and verb agreement.
Check that your candidate number and name are on every booklet, that no answers are left on rough paper only, and that you have attempted all sections. Hand in only what is asked.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID specified by the provider and keep it on the desk if instructed. If your ID is lost or your name differs from your entry, contact the provider before the exam rather than on the day.
Electronic devices, including phones and smart watches, must normally be switched off and stored away, not kept in a pocket. Confirm with the provider where devices should be left.
Notes, textbooks, and dictionaries are generally not permitted unless the syllabus for this paper explicitly allows them. Confirm with the provider what is allowed in each section.
Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need to leave the room; toilet breaks are usually escorted and may not be permitted during a listening section. Confirm with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper has been distributed, and do not look at another candidate's work. Suspected misconduct is normally reported to the awarding body.
Write in the language and format the question requires, and follow word limits for writing tasks - exceeding or falling well short can cost marks.
Marks are awarded for accurate, appropriate Maltese; spelling, accents, and agreement matter, so reserve time to proofread. Check the marking scheme in the syllabus for how each section is weighted.
If you believe there was a problem with the paper, timing, or conditions, tell the invigilator immediately and ask the provider afterwards about the official complaints procedure.