LO HAVO (common core) exam-day guide
LO HAVO (common core) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring valid ID
Take the identity document the school or exam centre told you to bring, and check it has not expired. If you are unsure which document is accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Bring your admission letter or exam number
Have your exam number and any admission or registration letter ready. Write the number on a note as a backup in case your paperwork is misplaced.
Pack pens, pencils and eraser
Bring at least two blue or black ballpoint pens, two sharpened pencils and a good eraser. Confirm with the provider which ink colour is required and whether pencil is allowed for specific sections.
Check allowed aids for your subjects
For subjects such as mathematics, physics or economics, check which calculator type and which reference materials (for example a formula booklet or dictionary) are permitted. Rules differ per subject, so confirm with the provider.
Bring a plain analogue or approved watch
A simple watch helps you pace yourself. Smartwatches and phones are generally not allowed at the desk, and exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. Confirm with the provider which watches are permitted.
Leave your phone at home or switched off and stored
If you must bring a phone, switch it off completely and hand it in or store it where the invigilator instructs. A phone that sounds or is found at your desk can lead to confiscation or invalidation.
Bring water and a small snack
Take a clear bottle of water and something small to eat between sessions. Check with the provider whether drinks are allowed on the desk and whether eating is permitted in the exam room.
Know the exact time and location
Confirm start times, room numbers and which entrance to use, and plan your route. Arrive well before the start; late arrivals may be refused entry, so confirm the cut-off with the provider.
Read the official exam instructions
Go through the rules the school or exam board has given you: permitted items, how to fill in answer sheets, and how to ask an invigilator for help. Keep the document with your bag the night before.
Prepare your bag the night before
Put ID, pens, pencils, eraser, calculator, water and your admission letter in one bag. Lay out clothes and transport money so the morning is calm and decision-free.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summaries, formula lists and marked mistakes instead. Do one timed practice paper per subject under exam conditions to practise pacing, then mark it and note only the two or three error types you will watch for.
Check the practical details: exact start times, room numbers, allowed aids per subject, transport route and travel time. Confirm anything unclear with the provider rather than guessing.
Protect your sleep. Shift bedtime gradually so you are awake and alert at the time your exam starts, and avoid all-night study, which costs more marks than it gains.
Do a light review only: skim summaries, formula sheets and key definitions for 60 to 90 minutes, then stop. No new topics and no full papers this late.
Pack your bag: ID, admission letter, exam number, pens, pencils, eraser, approved calculator, watch, water, snack and transport money. Check the calculator works and has fresh batteries.
Confirm your alarm and your transport plan, including a backup route. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Avoid trying to cram new material; if you review anything, read only your one-page summary of formulas and common mistakes.
Leave with extra time to spare so a delay does not rattle you. Arrive early, find your room, and use waiting time to settle rather than to talk about the exam with others.
Read the instructions on the cover first and check the number of questions and the marks per question. Fill in your name and exam number correctly before you start answering.
Divide the time by the marks available, not by the number of questions. Do the questions you can answer confidently first, and leave clearly marked gaps for the harder ones to return to.
Watch the clock at the halfway point and again with about fifteen minutes left. In the final minutes, check that every answer is transferred to the answer sheet and that no question is left blank where guessing is not penalised.
Do not spend the break re-analysing answers with classmates. Eat, drink water, walk a little, and focus on the next session. If sessions are on different days, rest before the next review block.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document the school or exam centre requires and keep it on your desk if instructed. If you are unsure what counts as valid ID, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Follow the invigilator's instructions immediately. Do not start writing before you are told to begin or continue after you are told to stop; writing after the stop signal can lead to your work being invalidated.
Keep all unauthorised items away from your desk: phones, smartwatches, earphones, notes and bags go where the invigilator directs. A device that sounds or is found at your desk can lead to confiscation or invalidation.
Ask the invigilator if you need to leave the room, feel unwell, or need extra paper. Do not communicate with other candidates in any way during the exam, including passing items or signalling answers.
Check with the provider in advance whether toilet visits during the exam are allowed and whether they are supervised, since this varies between centres and subjects.
Scoring rules such as penalties for wrong answers, rounding of final marks, and whether all questions must be attempted differ per subject and paper. Confirm the rules for your specific papers with the provider rather than assuming.
Use only the aids approved for that specific subject, such as a particular calculator model or a dictionary. If an aid is not explicitly permitted, leave it outside the room and ask the provider beforehand.
If you believe something went wrong during the exam, such as a disturbance or a misprinted paper, tell the invigilator before you leave and ask how it will be recorded, rather than raising it only afterwards.