SAL1 exam-day guide
SAL1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID type and name format your registration uses. If your registration name differs from your ID (nickname, married name, hyphenation), resolve it before test day - confirm the accepted ID list and name-match policy with the provider.
Confirmation / admission letter
Print or download the confirmation email showing your appointment time, test centre or online link, and candidate ID. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is accepted.
Know your candidate/registration number
Have it written down separately from your device in case you are asked to verify identity at check-in.
Approved calculator (and spare batteries)
Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted and whether a backup device is allowed in the room. If you use a software calculator, confirm it is embedded in the test environment rather than a separate app.
Permitted writing materials
Find out in advance whether scratch paper, a marker board, or an on-screen notepad is supplied, and whether you may bring your own pens or pencils. Do not assume - confirm with the provider.
Plan your route and arrival buffer
For a test centre, do a route check the day before and aim to arrive well ahead of your appointment. For a remote sitting, confirm the check-in window and how early you may launch the software.
Test your remote set-up (if applicable)
Run the system check on the same machine, webcam, microphone and network you will use on the day. Wired internet or a stable connection is safer than public Wi-Fi. Confirm technical-support contact details with the provider.
Quiet, well-lit, cleared workspace
For remote exams, remove notes, books, second screens and anything within reach that a proctor could flag. Confirm the room and desk rules with the provider in advance.
Water and a light snack for the break
Check whether food and drink are allowed at your desk or only during scheduled breaks; policies differ by venue and delivery mode.
A watch or timing strategy
Note the total test time, number of questions and whether there are section time limits. Know your target pace per question before you start.
Read the candidate handbook / rules page
Skim the provider's rules on permitted items, misconduct, breaks and score reporting so nothing on the day is a surprise.
Backup plan for the unexpected
Save the provider's contact number, know their policy for technical failure or illness, and have a phone (silenced and out of reach) available if the venue allows.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment time, location or remote link, and ID requirements in writing. Re-read the permitted-items list and resolve any name-mismatch or equipment questions with the provider now, not on the day.
Switch from learning new material to consolidation: review your own summary sheets, formula list and error log. Do timed mixed-topic practice under exam conditions rather than untimed topic drills.
Protect your sleep schedule. Shift bedtime gradually so you are alert at your actual appointment time, especially for a morning slot.
Do a final short review of high-yield summaries and your error log only. Stop studying by early evening; cramming new topics at this point costs more in fatigue than it gains.
Lay out ID, confirmation, calculator, spare batteries, writing materials, water and snack in one place. Charge all devices and pack chargers.
Check the route or run the remote system test one last time, and confirm the check-in time and any arrival buffer required by the provider.
Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and aim for a full night's sleep. Set two alarms.
Eat a normal breakfast you have eaten before; avoid experimenting with heavy caffeine or unfamiliar food. Dress in layers so room temperature is not a distraction.
Do a 15-20 minute light review of your summary sheet only - no new problems, no practice tests. Arrive or log in early per the provider's check-in window.
Read the instructions and note the total time, question count and whether there are section locks or a review screen. Write your pace target down before question one.
First pass: answer everything you can quickly and flag the rest. Do not let one hard question consume several minutes - the mark is worth the same as any other.
Second pass: return to flagged questions with the remaining time. If a question resists, make a reasoned guess, eliminate options, and move on. Never leave a blank unless the format penalises incorrect answers - confirm that with the provider.
If you take a break, note the clock rules: confirm in advance whether break time counts against your test time or is paused, and whether you must re-verify identity to resume.
Stop solving new items with a few minutes left. Verify every question has a response and that flagged items are resolved, then submit deliberately rather than letting the timer force it.
Note anything about the process that surprised you while it is fresh - timing, interface, rules - for your next sitting. Confirm with the provider when and how results are released.
Rules to check
Bring ID that exactly matches your registration name. If it does not match, resolve it with the provider before test day; on the day the check-in staff may have no discretion to admit you.
Follow the provider's permitted-items list precisely. Unapproved devices, notes or wearables can be treated as misconduct regardless of intent - if you are unsure whether something is allowed, leave it at home or confirm with the provider first.
Expect identity verification and possibly a room or desk scan at check-in, particularly for remote sittings. Cooperate with proctor instructions; disputes are handled afterwards, not at the desk.
Do not communicate with anyone other than the proctor during the test, and do not attempt to capture, photograph or reproduce exam content. Content-sharing rules typically survive the exam itself, so treat questions as confidential.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand or use the designated chat channel and wait for authorisation. Unauthorised absence may end your session - confirm the exact break rules with the provider.
Scoring: remember that a hard question and an easy question are normally worth the same. Optimise for answered questions rather than for completing the paper in order, and confirm whether wrong answers are penalised.
If a technical failure interrupts your sitting, stop and contact the proctor or support line immediately and get the incident logged. Follow the provider's documented process for incidents rather than deciding yourself what remedy applies.
Confirm with the provider in advance how results are reported and what the pass standard is; do not rely on second-hand accounts of scoring policy.