EXANI-III exam-day guide
EXANI-III · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official identification document
Bring the original, valid photo ID that the registration process required (typically a government-issued ID such as a passport or national ID card). Confirm with the provider which documents it accepts and whether a photocopy is rejected; do not assume a student card or expired document will be accepted.
Exam admission/registration confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your registration, assigned session, and any folio or applicant number. Some centers ask for it at the door; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy is accepted.
Know your exact session time and arrival window
Reconfirm the reporting time and the address of the assigned venue at least 24 hours before. Arrive earlier than the stated time to allow for ID checks and seating; confirm with the provider what happens if you arrive late.
Venue location and route plan
Check the exact building and entrance in advance, estimate travel time with a margin for traffic or transport delays, and identify a backup route. If the venue is unfamiliar, consider a practice trip the day before.
Permitted writing materials
Bring only what the provider allows, such as pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener. Confirm with the provider whether pens, highlighters, or any other materials are permitted or prohibited before packing them.
No prohibited electronic devices
Leave or switch off phones, smartwatches, and other devices as instructed. Confirm with the provider where devices must be stored and what happens if one is found during the test; treat unauthorized devices as a serious conduct risk.
Review the answer-sheet format in advance
Practice filling in answer sheets for multiple-choice items so that bubbling, erasing, and numbering errors do not cost you time on the day. Read the instructions on the sheet itself before starting.
Confirm calculator or tool policy
The quantitative and analytical sections may require arithmetic. Confirm with the provider whether any calculator, formula sheet, or scratch paper is allowed; if not, practice mental and written calculation without aids.
Plan food, water, and medication
Eat a normal meal before the session and bring any medically necessary items. Confirm with the provider whether water, snacks, or medication are allowed in the testing room and whether breaks are scheduled.
Sleep and a low-stress morning routine
Protect sleep in the final nights and keep the morning simple: ID, confirmation, permitted materials, and a calm arrival. Avoid last-minute cramming of new content on the morning of the test.
Scratch-paper and annotation policy
Confirm with the provider whether blank scratch paper is supplied, whether you may write in the question booklet, and whether notes must be handed in. Do not bring your own paper unless explicitly permitted.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the provider's contact details and a local emergency contact, and identify a backup way to reach the venue. If an unexpected problem occurs, contact the provider as soon as possible and ask about its documented procedure; needs_review.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the session time, venue address, and ID requirements with the provider. Re-read the official instructions on permitted and prohibited items. Do a timed practice set for the quantitative and analytical sections to rehearse pacing, and review your error log rather than starting new topics. Prepare the documents and materials you will bring and place them in one bag. Check transport options and, if needed, plan a practice trip to the venue.
Stop intensive study in the evening. Lay out your ID, confirmation, and permitted materials. Charge your phone but plan to keep it off and stored during the test. Set two alarms, confirm the departure time with a travel margin, and get a full night's sleep. Avoid alcohol and unusual food, and confirm that any medically necessary items are packed.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate moderately. Take the packed bag with ID, confirmation, and permitted materials, leave early, and arrive before the reporting time. Use the restroom before entering the room. Keep conversation with other candidates light and avoid comparing preparation, which tends to raise anxiety.
Listen to and read all instructions, verify that your name and identification on the materials are correct, and check the number of pages and items. Note the start and end times and calculate a rough per-item pace. Ask the invigilator about anything unclear before the clock starts.
Work in passes: answer items you can solve quickly, mark difficult ones, and return to them. Transfer answers to the answer sheet as you go or in disciplined blocks, checking item numbers. For quantitative items, write down the given data and the required quantity before calculating. For reading items, locate the evidence in the passage before choosing an option.
Reserve time to verify that every item has exactly one answer, that no answers are misaligned, and that erased marks are clean. Revisit marked items only if time allows. Do not change answers without a reason grounded in the item text. Stop writing immediately when instructed.
Note how you felt about pacing and section difficulty while it is fresh. Confirm with the provider when and how results are published and what the review or appeal procedure is. Keep your confirmation and any receipts in case you need to follow up.
Rules to check
Bring the original, valid photo identification that the registration required and present it when asked. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy or expired document is rejected; if your ID is lost or damaged, contact the provider immediately to ask about alternatives.
Follow all instructions from the invigilator and the written instructions on the booklet and answer sheet. If an instruction is ambiguous, ask before the test begins rather than deciding on your own.
Do not use or possess unauthorized devices or materials, including phones, smartwatches, notes, or unauthorised calculators. Confirm with the provider where devices must be stored and what constitutes a violation, since electronic-device violations are commonly treated as serious misconduct.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, do not look at another candidate's answers, and do not attempt to copy, photograph, or remove test materials. Unauthorised communication or removal of materials can lead to invalidation of the result.
Breaks are governed by the provider's schedule. Confirm with the provider in advance whether breaks are scheduled, whether you may leave the room, and whether food, water, or medication are allowed; do not assume you can leave during a section.
Scoring is based on correct answers as defined by the provider's published rules. Confirm with the provider whether wrong answers are penalised, whether sections are weighted, and how the result is reported; do not rely on unofficial claims about scoring.
If you feel unwell, need to leave, or encounter a problem with the materials, raise your hand and notify the invigilator immediately. Do not attempt to resolve equipment or booklet problems yourself.
Results, review, and appeal procedures are set by the provider. Confirm with the provider the publication date, the channel for results, and the deadline and process for any review or appeal; keep your confirmation and receipts.