SEAB’s 2026 secondary GCE instructions prohibit electronic and communication devices such as mobile phones and tablets, as well as computerised aids such as smartwatches, in examination premises. Plan to leave them outside the exam arrangements unless SEAB has specifically authorised an item for your sitting. Switching off a phone does not change the rule on possession.
If you rely on your phone for directions, identity information or contacting a caregiver, prepare those details in an allowed form before leaving. Bring the hardcopy Entry Proof and identification required for your candidate category. If you realise you have brought a prohibited item, tell examination staff promptly and follow their directions.
- Read the prohibited-item rules for your own exam.
- Print the Entry Proof and prepare the specified identification.
- Plan a route and pickup that work without your phone.
- Check approved access arrangements separately.
- Tell staff promptly if you discover a prohibited item.
Make the journey work without a phone
Copy the centre name, address, reporting time and route onto paper or learn the main steps before leaving. Check the location against your current Entry Proof. If different papers use different venues, prepare a separate note for each day. Agree on a meeting point and time with anyone collecting you.
Check what proof of identity SEAB wants. Its private-candidate guidance lists examples of acceptable photo identification and requires a printed Entry Proof for verification. Follow the applicable instructions if you normally show a digital credential. Keep the documents together so you can find them easily at the centre.
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Check the rule for every item you usually carry
Review pockets and compartments, including any watch or secondary device you put away without thinking. Read the exam-year rules if you are unsure about a particular item. A calculator or dictionary can have a specific approval route for an individual paper. That permission does not apply to unrelated electronic items.
If you have an approved Access Arrangement involving equipment, check the written approval and the exam-day instructions. Bring the copy SEAB asks for and confirm what is authorised for that sitting. Ask ahead of time if the device, accessory or procedure is unclear.
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If you discover a device at the centre
Tell examination staff promptly and ask what to do. Follow their directions rather than assuming you can keep it switched off or put it in a particular place. Check the current centre arrangements in advance if you have a travel situation that makes leaving the device elsewhere difficult.
A practical examination may have specific procedures for handing over devices and for supervised rooms before or after a shift. Follow the practical schedule and staff instructions. Arrange pickup using the dismissal information so the plan does not depend on being able to send a message immediately.
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Worked example
A private candidate usually uses a phone for directions and wears a smartwatch. The night before the exam they print the Entry Proof, check the route and agree on a meeting point with their caregiver. They put the required identification beside the printed proof and check what equipment is allowed for the paper. Their travel and reporting plan now works without either device.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my phone with me if it is switched off?
Read the exam-year prohibition on possession. The 2026 secondary rules prohibit the specified devices in examination premises.
What if I need an approved device for access reasons?
Follow the written approval and official instructions for that sitting. Ask SEAB about any uncertainty before exam day.
Can I rely on the centre to store my phone?
Check the official centre instructions. Plan without assuming storage is available, and ask staff what to do if you have already brought the device.
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