If you finish an SEC written exam early, stay at your assigned desk and wait for the official end and dismissal instructions. SEAB’s 2026 GCE rules prohibited candidates from handing in their scripts and leaving the examination centre before the scheduled end of the paper.
For the 2027 Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), use the current instructions for your sitting. If you feel unwell or need to leave your desk for an urgent reason, signal to an invigilator and follow their directions.
- Use any remaining writing time for a focused check.
- Put your pen down when told to stop.
- Stay seated while staff collect the scripts.
- Ask staff for help if you need to leave your desk.
Finishing your answers and being dismissed are separate
Suppose you finish with 15 minutes left. You may be ready to close your booklet, but the examination is still in progress for the room. Follow the rules about communication and remain at your desk. If another candidate leaves with an escort, that is an individual arrangement. Wait for directions that apply to you.
Check the time printed for your component and listen to the announcements. A parent arranging a pickup should use any official dismissal guidance and allow for collection. A practical or oral sitting may have different instructions about when candidates are released.
Use the last few minutes to catch omissions
Start with unfinished subparts, misplaced responses and question numbering. If you used an extra answer sheet, check that the question is clearly identified and prepare the materials for submission as instructed. If the paper has a multiple-choice sheet, compare the rows you intended to answer against the marks you made.
Review a calculation by checking the unit, sign and rounding. For a written explanation, read the conclusion alongside the question and make sure you have answered what was asked. Once the stop instruction comes, end the review immediately.
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Handle an urgent request separately
If you feel ill, raise your hand and say so. If you need the toilet, ask the invigilator and wait for permission. The earlier GCE rules distinguished an escorted exit from handing in a script and leaving early. Staff can tell you what to do with your materials and when you may move.
If a sheet is overlooked during collection, signal to staff. Avoid passing it to another candidate or following the invigilator out of the row. Staff can check what was collected and tell you what to do.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I hand in my script before time is up and go home?
The 2026 GCE rule did not permit this. Wait for the scheduled end and staff dismissal under your current instructions.
Can I stand up once my booklet is collected?
Wait for staff to dismiss your row or room.
Can I finish a word after the stop signal?
Stop writing when instructed. Signal to staff for a procedural issue.