NG Bar Crim Lit exam-day guide
NG Bar Crim Lit · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your exact appointment time, venue address, and arrival window
Log into your scheduling account and read the confirmation email or letter again. Note the reporting time, not just the start time, and the full street address with building and floor. If the venue is unfamiliar, check its location on a map the day before. If your confirmation does not state an arrival or check-in cutoff, confirm with the provider.
Confirm which ID document the provider accepts
Most testing providers require a current government-issued photo ID with signature, and many require the name to match your registration exactly. Rules on expired IDs, photocopies, and digital IDs vary. Check the provider's current ID policy page and, if your only ID is unusual (foreign passport, expired document, name change), confirm with the provider in writing before test day.
Print or save your admission confirmation
Some venues ask to see a confirmation number or barcode at check-in; others do not require it. Bring a printed copy and keep a digital copy on your phone in case the venue asks. Confirm with the provider whether a printed confirmation is mandatory.
Pack permitted writing materials
Bring two or three pens or pencils and an eraser if the exam is paper-based. Do not assume scratch paper is allowed; many providers supply it and prohibit bringing your own. Check the provider's list of permitted and prohibited items.
Leave prohibited electronics at home or in your bag
Phones, smart watches, fitness trackers, earbuds, and similar devices are usually banned from the testing room and sometimes from the building. Plan to store them as the venue directs, and expect to be asked to turn a phone off rather than leave it on silent.
Bring water and a light snack for after the exam
Food and drink are typically not allowed at the desk, but having water and a snack for the break or the trip home helps if the exam is long. Confirm with the provider whether any food or drink is permitted in the testing room.
Read the provider's current rules on breaks, calculators, and reference materials
Break policy, whether unscheduled breaks are allowed, and what happens to the clock during a break differ by provider and by exam. So do rules on calculators, statute books, and highlighters. Read the current rules page rather than relying on what a colleague told you.
Plan the journey with a buffer
Work out the route and aim to arrive well before the reporting time, allowing for traffic, parking, and security screening. Arriving late can mean being turned away with no refund, and the exact cutoff is set by the provider, so confirm it if you are unsure.
Check the venue's practical details
Look up parking or nearby transit, whether lockers are available for bags, and whether the building requires a visitor pass. Contact the venue directly if the information is not published.
Prepare for the format you registered for
Confirm whether you are sitting a computer-based or paper-based version, since the interface, navigation, and review tools differ. Practise with the provider's official sample or tutorial if one is offered.
Get a normal night's sleep and eat before you go
Avoid last-minute cramming the night before. A steady routine and a proper meal reduce the chance of fatigue or distraction during a long sitting.
Know your candidate or registration number
Write it down and keep it with your confirmation. Some check-in processes ask for it, and having it ready speeds up registration.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summary sheets, flagged weak areas, and any official format guidance. Re-read the provider's rules on ID, permitted items, breaks, and scoring so nothing on test day is a surprise. Confirm your appointment time, venue address, and travel plan, and check whether the venue has sent any updated instructions. If you are unsure about any policy, email the provider now rather than the morning of the exam. Keep evenings light and protect your sleep.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, pens or pencils, water, and snack. Charge your phone but plan to stow it. Lay out clothes and check the weather and transit disruptions. Do a short, calm review of high-level frameworks or checklists rather than detailed content. Set two alarms. Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Do not start a new practice exam the night before.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Recheck the venue address and leave with a generous buffer. Arrive early, follow check-in and security instructions, and store bags and devices where directed. Use the waiting time for light review only, such as a one-page outline, not for cramming new material. Use the restroom before you are seated. If something goes wrong, such as a delayed train or a missing document, contact the venue or provider immediately rather than arriving silently late.
Read the instructions and confirm the time allowed and the number of questions before you begin. Do a quick first pass, answering questions you know and flagging the rest, then return to flagged items. Watch the clock against the number of questions remaining rather than checking it constantly. Read each question stem carefully for words like 'except' or 'best', and read all options before choosing. If the format allows review, check that every question has an answer before you submit, and confirm the submission screen. If a technical problem occurs, raise your hand and ask the invigilator to log it rather than trying to fix it alone.
Rules to check
Bring the ID document the provider specifies and make sure the name matches your registration. If your ID situation is unusual, confirm with the provider in advance, because rules on expired, photocopied, or digital IDs vary.
Follow the venue's rules on prohibited items. Phones, smart watches, and similar devices are commonly banned from the testing room, and possession during the exam can lead to invalidation. Ask the invigilator where to store them if you are unsure.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not attempt to copy, photograph, or remove exam materials. Misconduct rules and their consequences are set by the provider and by the relevant regulator, so read them before test day.
Ask before you leave your seat. Break policy, whether the clock stops during a break, and whether unscheduled breaks are allowed differ by provider; confirm the rules at the start of the session or with the provider beforehand.
If you need to leave for illness or another emergency, tell the invigilator immediately. Do not simply walk out, as doing so may affect your result or your ability to reschedule.
Understand how the exam is scored before you sit it. Whether there is negative marking, how questions are weighted, and what the pass standard is are set by the provider; check the current published information rather than assuming.
If a computer or equipment fails, stop and raise your hand. The invigilator should record the incident, and you should ask how it will be handled rather than continuing on a faulty machine.
Keep to the time allowed. If you finish early, use remaining time to check flagged questions and confirm every item is answered, then follow the invigilator's instructions for leaving.