EAMAC Concours EAC exam-day guide
EAMAC Concours EAC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation / convocation letter
Print the summons or invitation you received when registering, showing your exam session, date, time and centre. If you have not received one, confirm with the provider (the organising body or the centre that registered you) how and when it will be issued and whether a digital copy is accepted.
Valid photo identity document
Bring the original identity document (national ID card or passport) whose number you used at registration. Check that it is unexpired and that the name spelling matches your registration. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is ever allowed - assume the original only.
Several black or blue ballpoint pens
Bring at least two or three pens that you have already tested. Confirm with the provider whether answers are marked on a separate answer sheet with a pencil or with a pen, and whether correction fluid or erasers are permitted, before buying supplies.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener (if machine-read answer sheet)
If the multiple-choice answers are read by machine, a soft pencil and clean eraser are usually required. This depends on the provider's instructions; confirm with the provider rather than assuming, and bring them only if allowed.
Simple non-programmable watch
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A basic analogue or digital watch with no smart features is normally acceptable, but confirm with the provider whether any watch is banned and whether a clock is displayed in the room.
Printed route and arrival plan for the centre
Write down the exact address, the entrance to use, the nearest public transport stop and a realistic travel time including a buffer. If the centre is unfamiliar, do a dry run beforehand or check the map the day before.
Water and a light snack for after the test
Eating and drinking during the test is often restricted, so plan to drink and eat before entering and after leaving. Confirm with the provider whether water bottles are allowed at the desk.
Nothing that could be treated as cheating material
Leave phones, smart watches, earphones, notes, textbooks and formula sheets outside the room unless the provider explicitly allows them. Switch the phone off before entering even if it stays in a bag at the back of the room.
Read the provider's instructions on permitted materials
Check whether a calculator, ruler, dictionary or formula sheet is allowed for your specific paper, and which model of calculator is accepted. Do not rely on memory from another exam; confirm with the provider.
Know your candidate number and session details
Write your candidate number, the paper or option you are sitting and the room on a small card. This speeds up check-in and prevents sitting the wrong paper.
Plan for delays and ID checks
Arrive well before the stated reporting time; identity checks and seating can take a while. Confirm with the provider the exact reporting time and what happens to late candidates.
Rest and logistics the night before
Sleep, set two alarms, prepare clothes and documents in one place, and check transport disruptions. Do not plan last-minute revision of new topics the same morning.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's convocation and rules: reporting time, address, permitted materials, duration of each paper, and scoring or penalty rules for wrong answers. Confirm with the provider anything that is unclear, especially calculator use and answer-sheet format.
Do one full timed mock under exam conditions, including filling the answer sheet and stopping exactly at the time limit. Then spend more time reviewing your errors than doing new questions.
Build a short one-page summary of formulas, definitions and recurring traps in your weakest areas. This is what you revise in the final hours, not the whole syllabus.
Check the journey: transport times, ticket, parking, and a backup route. If possible, locate the exact building and entrance so the morning is not a search.
Prepare the document folder: identity document, convocation, pens and any permitted materials. Put everything in one bag and place it by the door.
Light revision only: your one-page summary and a handful of questions in your weakest topic. Stop early, eat normally, avoid alcohol and screens late at night, and sleep at your usual time.
Eat a normal breakfast, recheck the bag against the checklist, leave with a buffer, and arrive before the reporting time. Avoid discussing difficult topics with other candidates outside the room; it raises anxiety without adding knowledge.
Present your identity document and convocation, switch off your phone, and follow instructions on where to leave bags. Listen for the rules read out and ask the invigilator quietly if something is unclear before the paper starts.
Read the instructions on the cover: number of questions, time allowed, marking scheme and penalty rules. Write your candidate details where required and check the paper is complete before starting.
Work in passes: answer the questions you know first, mark the doubtful ones, and return to them. Keep an eye on the clock and reserve the last few minutes to transfer or check answers and confirm your candidate details are correct.
Make sure every intended answer is recorded in the right place, no question is left blank by accident, and your name or number is written correctly. Then stop when told.
Note down the topics that felt weak while memory is fresh, and confirm with the provider how and when results are published and how appeals or re-sits work, if relevant to your plans.
Rules to check
Identity: bring the original valid photo identity document used at registration. The name and number must match your registration; if they do not, raise it with the provider before exam day, not at the desk.
Permitted materials: only bring what the provider explicitly allows for your paper. If you are unsure whether a calculator, watch, dictionary or formula sheet is allowed, confirm with the provider in advance and leave the item at home if the answer is unclear.
Electronic devices: phones, smart watches and earphones must be switched off and stored as instructed, not kept on your person. Even an unused device can be treated as a breach of rules.
Conduct: no talking, no looking at another candidate's paper, no passing materials. Follow invigilator instructions immediately; disputes are handled after the session, not during it.
Breaks and leaving the room: toilet breaks and early departure are usually restricted and may require escort. Confirm with the provider what applies to your session, and plan fluids accordingly.
Timing: you are responsible for managing your time within the announced duration. Extra time is not normally granted for late arrival; confirm with the provider what happens if you are delayed.
Scoring: understand before the test whether wrong answers carry a penalty and whether questions are weighted, since this changes your guessing strategy. If the marking scheme is not stated in your instructions, confirm with the provider.
Results and appeals: keep your candidate number safe and follow the provider's published procedure and deadlines for results, queries and appeals. Do not rely on unofficial sources for dates.