Cambridge SC exam-day guide
Cambridge SC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration name
Bring the original government-issued ID whose name matches your booking exactly. If your ID name differs from your registration (for example a maiden name or a shortened first name), contact the test provider before test day to confirm what additional documentation they accept; this is not something to resolve at the desk.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Save the booking confirmation email offline on your phone and print one copy. It usually carries your candidate/registration number, the test centre address, and the arrival time. Phone signal at test centres is often poor, so do not rely on loading the email at the door.
Confirm the exact arrival time and reporting window
Arrival rules, late-admission cut-offs, and whether you may enter after the start time vary by centre and by sitting. Confirm the reporting time and the late-arrival policy with the provider in advance rather than assuming a grace period.
Confirm which stationery and materials are provided versus permitted
Many Cambridge sittings supply question papers, answer booklets, and sometimes a formula sheet, and restrict what you may bring to your desk. Confirm with the provider which items (pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, calculator model, dictionary) are allowed for your specific paper; do not assume a calculator is permitted unless the paper's regulations say so.
Confirm the permitted calculator model if the paper allows one
Where a calculator is allowed, regulations typically name acceptable models and prohibit ones with certain capabilities (for example symbolic algebra or stored text). Check the current regulations for your syllabus and confirm with the provider if your model is not explicitly listed.
Clear your pockets and wrists of unauthorised items
Plan to leave smart watches, fitness bands, phones, earbuds, notes, and loose paper outside the exam room. Centres commonly require phones to be switched off and stored as instructed; keeping one on your person can be treated as misconduct regardless of intent.
Bring water in a clear container and a light snack for afterwards
Some centres allow a clear bottle at the desk and some do not, so confirm the local rule. A snack for after the paper matters more than during it, especially for long sittings with a supervised break.
Plan the journey with a buffer
Work out the route in advance, check for transport disruptions the day before, and aim to arrive well before the reporting time. Build in time for security checks and seating, which can take longer than expected at large sittings.
Know your candidate number and desk details
Write your candidate number and centre number on a card you keep with your ID. You will be asked to enter them on answer booklets, and errors in these fields can delay or complicate marking.
Read the current notice to candidates
Cambridge publishes regulations covering conduct, permitted items, and malpractice. Read the version current for your exam series and confirm with the provider if anything in it is unclear for your paper.
Plan the day
Re-read the regulations for your paper, confirm your calculator and stationery are permitted, and check the centre address and reporting time. Do a final pass over your weakest topics using short active-recall sessions rather than new material. Protect sleep from this point on; do not plan late-night cramming.
Do one timed section under exam conditions to rehearse pacing, then mark it and note only the two or three error patterns worth fixing. Stop introducing new content. Confirm your transport route and check for planned engineering works or strikes.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, permitted stationery, clear water bottle, snack, and a watch if analogue watches are allowed (confirm with the provider). Charge nothing you cannot bring in; leave the phone off and packed away. Re-read the instructions on the front of a past paper so the rubric is familiar. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a proper breakfast, dress in layers, and leave with a generous buffer. Do not study new material in the queue; if you review anything, skim your own summary of formulas or method steps. Switch your phone off before entering the centre and follow staff instructions on storage.
Have your ID and candidate number ready, follow the seating instruction, and check that the paper in front of you matches your subject, tier, and duration before the start. Fill in your name, candidate number, and centre number carefully and exactly as instructed.
Read the front-page instructions and the number of questions you must answer before starting. Allocate time by marks, not by question order, and keep an eye on the clock at agreed checkpoints. If you get stuck, leave a clear gap and move on; return later. Show working where the paper awards method marks, and write legibly. If you finish early, check that every required question has an answer and that your candidate details are correct.
Hand in all materials as directed, take your belongings, and leave quietly without discussing the paper in the exam room. Note anything the centre handled unusually and, if relevant, confirm next steps with the provider. Do not attempt to reconstruct or share question content afterwards.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID that matches your registration name. If the names differ or the ID is not in the accepted form, contact the provider before test day to confirm what will be accepted; do not rely on being admitted with alternative documents.
Follow the centre's instructions on what may be at your desk. Items not expressly permitted, including phones, smart watches, and notes, should be switched off and stored as directed; possession during the exam can be treated as malpractice even if unused.
Arrive by the reporting time. Late-admission cut-offs vary by centre and sitting, so confirm the policy with the provider rather than assuming you will be admitted after the start.
Supervised breaks, if any, are governed by centre rules: you may be escorted and monitored, and you must not access notes, phones, or other candidates. Confirm the break arrangements for long sittings with the provider.
Raise your hand and wait for an invigilator if you need to leave the room, feel unwell, need more paper, or believe there is an error in the paper. Do not communicate with other candidates at any point during the exam.
Marking is against the published mark scheme, and method marks may be awarded for correct working even where the final answer is wrong, so show your reasoning. Grade boundaries are set after each series; do not assume a fixed percentage for a given grade.
If something goes wrong (illness, disruption, or a suspected error in the paper), tell the invigilator at the time and ask the centre to record it. Special consideration and post-exam processes are time-limited, so confirm the deadlines with the provider.
Results, appeals, and enquiry-about-results services follow the awarding body's published procedures and deadlines. Confirm the dates and fees with the provider or your centre rather than acting on second-hand information.