Exam-day preparation works best when it stays close to the current official sitting guidance.
That matters because practical details can change by sitting, and the safest source is the current Common Registration Assessment sitting page and the linked documents for that year.
Start with the current sitting documents
Before the day itself, check the current sitting page and the documents linked there, including the framework, regulations and specification or permitted-items guidance.
These are more reliable than recycled exam-day blog posts or forum threads.
What to bring
Bring the identification and permitted items required by the current sitting guidance and the test-centre rules for your sitting.
Do not rely on memory from a previous sitting or from another candidate. Check the live guidance.
For Part 1 and Part 2 preparation more broadly, also make sure you know in advance what the assessment format looks like and what materials are provided electronically within the assessment platform rather than assuming you can bring your own paper references.
What to do before the day
In the days before the assessment:
- check the current key dates and sitting information
- confirm travel plans and test-centre timing
- review the permitted-items guidance
- avoid last-minute uncertainty about logistics
The goal is to remove avoidable stress.
What to do on the day
Arrive with enough time to avoid a rushed start.
Once you are in the assessment environment, keep the routine simple:
- settle properly before the paper starts
- read each question carefully
- manage pace across the full paper rather than panicking about one hard item
- use the assessment structure you already practised against
For Part 1, that means controlled calculations method and checking.
For Part 2, it means careful reading, option comparison and disciplined pacing.
What to avoid
Avoid relying on hearsay about what is allowed in the room. Avoid bringing items that are not clearly permitted by the current guidance. Avoid last-minute cramming that increases confusion rather than confidence.
Also avoid changing your whole method on the day. Exam day is for executing what you have already practised.
A better way to think about the checklist
An exam-day checklist is not mainly about carrying objects. It is about reducing avoidable friction.
If the logistics are clear, the permitted items are checked and your pacing strategy is familiar, you are less likely to waste energy on things that should have been decided earlier.
Quick FAQs
- Where should I check what I can bring? Use the current sitting page and the linked specification or permitted-items guidance for that sitting.
- Should I rely on old exam-day articles? No. Use the current official sitting documents instead.
- What is the biggest exam-day mistake before the paper even starts? Usually avoidable uncertainty about logistics or permitted items that should have been checked in advance.