This is the first of two videos and is for all candidates who will be attending a Pearson VUE test centre to sit their Oxford admissions test.

Watching this video will give you general information about taking your test at a Pearson VUE test centre.

If you do require access arrangements, once you've finished watching this video, please do watch our second video, which gives information about access arrangements when taking your test at a Pearson VUE test centre.

Pearson administer tests in two kinds of test centre: their own Pearson professional centres run by Pearson staff and third-party centres that have been quality assured and adhere to a specific set of Pearson standards.

This provides candidates with opportunities for in-person assessments in many towns, cities, and countries around the world.

It's important for you to know that the procedures you will see in this video will be the same wherever you take your test, but the style and layout of your test centre may well be different.

When you arrive at the test centre, you will be taken through a standard check-in procedure. You're advised to arrive at the test centre 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled start time, which should be sufficient to run through the security checks and check-in process in order to be seated and ready to launch the test on time.

To ensure this goes smoothly on test day, you should arrive on time or you won't be allowed to take your test. We suggest checking the details of your appointment the day before, even if you think you know them.

Have your ID ready and know where it is ahead of time. Searching for it on test day may cause delays and could cause you anxiety. If you're late, you won't be allowed to sit your test.

Check that the ID you're planning to use has a signature, or that you have a secondary ID with the signature.

Make sure the names on your ID match the names on your Oxford Admissions Test registration portal.

Your first name and last name must match for you to be able to sit your test.

Once you're signed in, you'll be given a key to a locker, where you can store your personal belongings.

You cannot take anything into the testing room, so all coats, bags, wallets, keys, phones, etc. must be put away. Bottles of water are not permitted in the testing room for health and safety reasons, due to the amount of electronic equipment. You must also ensure your phone is switched off in your locker as any buzzing or ringing could disturb other candidates.

Before entering the testing room, the test administrator will guide you through a few security steps. These procedures help keep the tests fair and secure for everyone, so your results and those of all test takers stay valid and protected.

You could be asked to remove outdoor clothing like coats or hats and store them, pat yourself down or turn out your pockets to demonstrate that you have not forgotten to store any item which is not permitted in the test room.

Roll up your sleeves to show there are no concealed notes or items.

You may be asked to lift up your hair, to show your ears or neck, and to demonstrate there are no concealed items.

The test administrator may ask to visually inspect other items such as reading glasses, jewellery, or religious headwear.

There can be noises as different test takers enter and leave the room, and there are audible sounds like typing on keyboards. Oxford have therefore agreed with Pearson VUE that any candidate taking an Oxford admissions test can bring and wear their own non-electronic ear defenders or earplugs. These will also need to be presented for visual inspection.

All checks are conducted visually and the test administrator will not physically touch you during these important security steps.

If you feel you would prefer to undergo these check-in procedures in a private area, let the test administrator know as soon as you arrive.

You will be given a set of note boards or laminated sheets and a whiteboard pen, for any calculations or planning. You should check these have been cleaned and are in good working order before starting your test.

If there are any problems, let your test administrator know so that they can assist you.

You will be shown to your seat in the testing room, and you will be offered an on-screen tutorial on the testing platform.

It's recommended that you complete the tutorial, but it is possible to skip this if you would prefer to. The tutorial will not count towards your test duration.

You will also be asked to review and consent to the non-disclosure agreement, which is a legal agreement that confirms you will not share anything about the test. To be clear, this includes any form of communication about the test, from chatting to your peers about questions to making comments about the test in online forums or on social media.

During the test, should you need to use the toilet or leave to take a drink of water, you need to raise your hand to let the test administrator know you need to leave the room.

Please be aware that if you take an unscheduled comfort break during the test and you do not have pre-approved rest breaks as an access arrangement, the timer on your test will not be stopped and will continue to count down.

When you're ready to re-enter the testing area, the test administrator may do a quick security check again to ensure you're not bringing any personal items into the testing room.

When you finish your test, you'll be given a short five-minute feedback survey. You can then let the test administrator know you're ready to leave by raising your hand.

Once you've collected your belongings, you can return your locker key and you'll be given a confirmation of test completion.

If you become ill or experience any kind of disruption during your test that impacts your test performance, it is important to let the test administrator know and ensure they create a case log of the incident.

They should give you a case log number on a slip of paper before you leave the test centre to show this has been done.

Be careful not to lose this as it will be important if you need to apply for special consideration. You will need to provide evidence of any circumstances that created a disruption during your test.

To ensure that our tests are kept secure around the world, Pearson VUE test centres do not allow any working out or note-taking to be done on paper.

Instead, your test centre will provide you with a set of note boards or laminated sheets, either spiral bound or loose sheets, and a whiteboard pen.

These are slightly different to the wipeable whiteboards you use in school, and you should not try to wipe them. Often, you cannot wipe them clean yourself. Test centre administrators will use special cleaning solution to do this.

You should use both sides to make any notes or calculations. If you run out of space, you simply raise your hand to request more sheets, and the test administrator will exchange your used note boards with clean ones.

The test centre administrator will take these from you when you finish your test and wipe them clean.

It is best to check your note boards are clean and your pens are working before the test begins, but bear in mind you're not permitted to start writing lots of notes before the test starts.

If there is any issue with your note boards or pens during your test, please raise your hand and notify the test administrator so that they can help you.

If your pen runs out and requires changing during your test, raise your hand to seek test administrator support. If there's any delay in the test administrator attending to you or finding a replacement before leaving, you should ask for a case log so that there is a record of any disruption you experienced during your test.

Please be aware the type of note-taking materials may vary in your test centre.

Just make sure you test out what you're given prior to the test beginning so that you are comfortable with how to use it before the test timer starts.

You are able to bring any items outlined on the Pearson VUE Comfort Aid list, but please present these for inspection when you arrive. You should also have followed the guidance as to how such items should be brought in.

For example, glucose tablets should be unwrapped and not in a bottle or container. Such items are best placed in clear plastic bags that can be easily inspected.

Pearson VUE test centres do not allow candidates to bring any liquids into the testing rooms. All candidates are welcome and encouraged to bring a beverage to keep in their locker, so they can have a drink just before or after testing or during a break.

You'll be able to open your locker in the waiting area to access what you need during your break. It would be a good idea to take items from your bag and store them at the front of your locker for easy access.

We hope this video has been useful to prepare you for what to expect on test day.

If you do not require access arrangements, thank you for watching. If you do require access arrangements, do remember to watch our second video outlining how access arrangements work when taking a test at a Pearson VUE test centre.

Thank you for watching and good luck.