Months of practice come down to one hour
The steno skill test is short: about 10 minutes of dictation and up to an hour of transcription. After months of preparation, small things on the day, like a broken pencil, a confusing keyboard, or panic in the first minute, can cost you the result. This checklist helps you arrive calm and ready.
One week before
- Re-read the admit card and notice. Note the reporting time, the centre address, and the documents you must carry. Also note the dictation speed, transcription time and medium.
- Visit or map the centre. Know how long it takes to get there at that time of day. Plan to arrive at least 45 minutes early.
- Switch to exam-style practice only. Full 10-minute dictations at your test speed, transcribed on a computer within the official time. No new techniques now.
- Practise on a desktop keyboard. If you've been practising on a laptop, switch to a full-size keyboard this week.
- Fix your sleep. If your test is in the morning, start waking up at that time now.
Two days before
- Take your last full mock test. Don't do one the day before. A bad result then can shake your confidence for no good reason.
- Revise your list of difficult outlines and spellings.
- Prepare your stationery and documents (see below).
What to carry
Check the admit card for what's allowed, but usually you'll need:
- Admit card (printed, as instructed)
- Original photo ID listed on the admit card, and a photocopy if asked
- Passport-size photographs if the notice asks for them
- Pencils and pens: at least two of each, the kind you practise with. Sharpened pencils and a small sharpener if allowed.
- Shorthand notebook, only if the notice says candidates must bring their own. Many exams provide sheets.
- Water bottle if allowed, and a light snack for after the test
Don't carry anything that's banned, like phones, smartwatches, or calculators. Leave them at home or follow the centre's rules for storage.
The night before
- Lay out your documents, stationery and clothes.
- Eat a normal dinner. Avoid anything new or heavy.
- Do 10 minutes of light outline revision, not a dictation.
- Sleep at your normal time.
On the morning
- Have breakfast. Long tests on an empty stomach reduce concentration.
- Leave early enough to absorb delays.
- Warm up your hand on the way or while waiting: write a few lines of grammalogues on a scrap of paper if allowed, or simply flex and relax your fingers.
In the exam hall, before dictation
- Check your seat. Is the chair stable? Can you see and reach the keyboard comfortably?
- Check the keyboard. Press a few keys if you're allowed. If any key is stuck or the layout is unusual, tell the invigilator immediately, before the test starts.
- Set up your notebook or sheet. Write your roll number where instructed. Fold the pages so they turn easily.
- Listen to the instructions carefully: how the dictation will be played, when transcription begins, how to save or submit.
During dictation
- Don't stop writing. If you miss a word, leave a small gap and keep going.
- Don't panic in the first minute. Many candidates feel the speed is faster than practice in the first 30 seconds. It's nerves. Keep writing and your hand will settle.
- Mark sentence ends as you've practised.
- Ignore other candidates. Don't look around if someone stops or sighs.
During transcription
- Plan your time: typing in the first 75–80% of the time, proofreading in the rest. For a 40-minute test, aim to finish typing by about the 30-minute mark.
- Read ahead, type behind: read a phrase, type it, move on.
- Never leave blanks. Use the sentence to guess unclear outlines.
- Keep your place with a finger or pencil on the notes.
- Proofread once for missing small words, endings and spelling.
- Save as instructed. Make sure you know how to save and submit before time runs out. Don't wait until the last second.
After the test
Whatever happens, write down what went well and what didn't while it's fresh: the speed, the topic, the hard words, how much time you had left. If you need to appear again, this note is gold for your next preparation.
Practise the whole experience
The best way to be calm on exam day is to have done it many times before. Steno Daily's mock test series runs in real exam mode: one-time audio, no pause, a fixed 40-minute transcription timer and automatic marking against the allowed mistake limit. Take one each week in the last two months before your test, at the same time of day as your exam slot.
For a full overview of the exam itself, read our SSC Stenographer preparation guide and how mistakes are counted.