Sitting for a major examination can be daunting, what with the numerous preparations to do aside from your studies. What’s more unsettling is the endless possibility of how things could go south despite how prepared you are.

Don’t worry! To help you be as prepared as you can be, here are some of the common worst-case scenarios that could occur and what you should do if any of these were to happen to you.

#1. Forgetting your IC or SPM exam slip

So, you’re ready to give your best shot for the most feared exam in secondary school. You’ve studied endlessly for months. It’s time. You unzip your bag, draw out your stationery and crap, your identity card (IC) is nowhere to be found. Your heart is racing now. You’re thinking your mum is going to kill you if you call her and ask her to bring your IC.

You’ve worked so hard and you’re probably going to fail the paper without even trying yet. You’re doomed… or maybe not.

What you should do:

1. Don’t panic. Take a breather and stay as calm as possible.
2. Look for your school teacher who is in charge. Your teacher would have been briefed on how to handle this situation.
3. Explain to him or her about your situation and apologise. You will most likely be taken to the office and be given a verification letter that will allow you to sit for your exam.

#2. Arriving late for the exam

You’ve pulled an all-nighter to catch up with the topics you weren’t able to cover yet. You accidentally doze off in bed after telling yourself “just 5 minutes of rest”. The 5-minute shut-eye turns into a nightmare as you find yourself waking up to the sunshine. It feels nice having enough slee-- wait a minute. Something’s not right.

You realise you’re terribly late! Your exam begins in 15 minutes and your house is precisely 15 minutes away from school. You get dressed hastily, hop on your motorbike and rush your way to the hall hoping they’ll still let you sit for the paper.

What you should do:

1. Try to keep calm.
2. Make a phone call to your school or school teacher in charge if you can and let them know that you’ll be arriving late for whatever reason.
3. Get to school as soon as you can but don't cut through traffic. Your safety is more important.
4. You will still be allowed to sit for the exam if you provide a reasonable excuse to the Chief Exam Supervisor (Ketua Peperiksaan) should you arrive 30 minutes after the exams have begun. However, you will not be given replacement time.
5. If you’re not allowed to sit for the paper, your other resolution is to sit for a retake the following year.

#3. An emergency causes you to be absent for the paper

You’re required to sit for all exam papers for the subjects that you have registered for. If you miss out on certain compulsory exams for a subject, you will be considered as absent for the particular subject. But what if you have an emergency, such as a sudden death in the family?

What you should do:

1. Inform your school teacher in charge that you will not be able to sit for the paper.
2. Make sure to stay calm, be polite and provide valid reasons for your absence.
3. You will have to provide the Chief Exam Supervisor (Ketua Peperiksaan) with supporting documents such as a doctor’s letter or a special permission letter, obtained from the Examination Director (Pengarah Peperiksaan). In the case of a death in the family, you would most likely have to provide a death certificate.
4. Be sure to hand in the documents before the end of the SPM exam period!

#4. Meeting an accident or emergency

Unfortunately, malang tidak berbau. Emergency situations — road accidents, medical emergencies, allergic reactions — can occur any time and anywhere, especially when you’re tensed and least expect it. You can be prepared for the worst and still be caught off guard by an unwanted situation.

What you should do:

1. Inform your school teacher in charge of your situation. If you are unable to, get your parents or guardian to do it.
2.  You will have to provide the Chief Exam Supervisor (Ketua Peperiksaan) with a doctor’s letter or a special permission letter. Hand in the documents before the end of the SPM exam period.
3. If you are hospitalised but are still able to take the exam, you can sit for the exam in the hospital. Arrangements will be set for you in a special room where an Exam Supervisor will be on duty to assist you. Extra time may be allocated accordingly.

#5. Getting caught in a natural disaster

The past few years have seen serious floods hitting the nation, even during the SPM exam period. So what happens if you open your front door and realise that you can’t leave home due to flood or some form of natural disaster? Fret not, as schools located in flood-prone areas are often briefed beforehand should disaster strike.

What you should do:

1. Try to contact your teacher in charge and wait for instructions. Do not leave your home. Your safety is more important.
2. If you are unable to reach anyone from school, you may head to any examination centre and report to its chief observer to sit for the exam paper for the day.
3. You can also contact the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate (MES) mobile room, open from 7am to 5pm daily at 03-6126 1668 / 1600 (general line); or 03-6126 1650 / 1651 / 1653 / 1661 / 1662.

Although there are solutions to unwanted situations when it comes sitting for your SPM exams, prevention is always better than cure. Be sure to pack your essentials — identity card, examination slip, calculator and pens — the night before. Get enough rest, sleep early and don’t burn the midnight oil. Wake up early to avoid rushing in the morning.

And if something bad happens, take a deep breath and keep calm — no matter the situation!

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Josephine Serena

Media studies and journalism graduate. Buy me coffee and I'll spill the beans. Also really tall.