The Exam-Day Checklist That Stops You Forgetting Something

Forgetting your calculator costs you marks you should never have lost. Here is the full checklist for the night before and the morning of any exam.

The night before

• [ ] Pack your bag
• [ ] Two pens, two pencils, eraser, sharpener, ruler, protractor, geometry box if needed
• [ ] Calculator with fresh batteries (test it!)
• [ ] Watch (mechanical, not smart)
• [ ] Water bottle (clear, no labels in many UK exam halls)
• [ ] Admit card / candidate number / school ID
• [ ] Tissues
• [ ] Layer of clothing (exam halls run cold)
• [ ] Phone in the kitchen, not on the bedside table
• [ ] Bed by 10:30 PM

The morning of

• [ ] Eggs and toast or oats — protein + complex carbs
• [ ] Water (not just coffee)
• [ ] Read your one-page summary, no new material
• [ ] Leave 15 minutes earlier than you think you need
• [ ] Two box breaths before walking in

In the hall

• [ ] Read the whole paper for 5 minutes before answering
• [ ] Underline command words on every question
• [ ] Easiest question first
• [ ] If a question feels impossible after 90 seconds, skip it
• [ ] Watch your time — 1 mark = 1 minute is a useful rule
• [ ] Last 10 minutes: review answers, fix any unanswered questions

After

Don't dissect the paper with classmates immediately. It only spikes anxiety. Go for a walk. Eat. Check the next exam's date.

Most papers feel worse than they are. Wait for the result before judging.