What Do “Exam Formats and List of Aids” Mean in PEO and EGBC Technical Exams?

What Do “Exam Formats and List of Aids” Mean in PEO and EGBC Technical Exams?

Before taking a P.Eng Technical Exam, knowing the subject name and examination date is not enough. Every candidate must also review the Exam Formats and List of Aids information for their assigned examination.

This section identifies whether the examination is open book or closed book, whether a calculator is permitted, which type of calculator may be used, and whether candidates may bring textbooks, an aid sheet, graph paper, or drawing instruments into the examination.

This information is important for applicants registered with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC), as online examinations for several Canadian regulators are administered using shared examination infrastructure.

The sample document examined in this article is the Spring/Summer 2026 Final Exam Schedule, which was updated on April 2, 2026. Requirements for later sessions may change. Candidates must always use the document published for their own examination session.

1. What Does “Exam Formats and List of Aids” Mean?

Exam Formats and List of Aids refers to the section of the official Technical Exam schedule that identifies the format of each examination and the resources or equipment permitted during that examination.

Candidates must locate their exact examination code and read the following columns together:

Exam Format

Closed/Open Book

Aids/Instructions

Reading only one of these columns can lead to a serious misunderstanding of the examination rules.

What Does Exam Format Mean in PEO and EGBC Technical Exams?

In the reviewed official document, the Exam Format is shown as either Format 1 or Format 2. This number relates directly to the calculator rule:

Format 1: Calculators are not permitted.

Format 2: A non-communicating, non-programmable calculator is permitted.

Format 1 and Format 2 do not determine whether an examination is open book or closed book. Open-book or closed-book status is shown in a separate column.

For example, an examination may be Format 2 and closed book. This means an eligible calculator may be used, but textbooks, notes, and other reference materials are prohibited.

An examination may also be Format 1 and open book. In that case, candidates may use the permitted printed resources, but they may not use a calculator.

What Does “List of Aids” Mean?

In this document, “aids” refers to the equipment and reference materials that candidates are permitted to use during the examination.

Depending on the examination, permitted aids may include:

A calculator

Textbooks

A formula sheet or aid sheet

Statistical tables

Regular graph paper

Semi-logarithmic graph paper

A scale ruler

A set square

A protractor

A compass

A sharp pencil

Predetermined charts or diagrams

The List of Aids is not the same for every examination. Even two closed-book examinations may have completely different requirements. One may prohibit all additional materials, while another may permit a handwritten aid sheet, a non-programmable calculator, and graph paper.

Information to Check for Your Examination Code

For your assigned examination, verify all of the following:

Format number and calculator rule

Whether the examination is open book or closed book

Number of permitted textbooks

Whether notes written in textbook margins are allowed

Whether loose notes are permitted

Number, size, and permitted content of aid sheets

Whether an aid sheet may be single-sided or double-sided

Whether the sheet must be handwritten or may be printed

Whether worked examples may be included

Whether the aid sheet must be submitted after the examination

Required graph paper or reference tables

Permitted drawing and measuring instruments

Charts that must be printed before the examination

Special instructions for scanning and submitting solutions

To understand where these examinations fit within the engineering licensing process, first read the Complete Guide to P.Eng Technical Exams in Canada.

2. How to Read the Exam Formats and List of Aids Table

The official table should be read from left to right across the row corresponding to your examination code.

The columns normally show the examination date, day of the week, official examination code and title, Exam Format, open-book or closed-book status, and permitted aids or special instructions.

Explanation of the Columns in the Sample Document

What Does an Asterisk Beside an Examination Mean?

In the Spring/Summer 2026 sample document, an asterisk beside certain examinations indicated that multiple time slots over several days had been arranged because of the large number of candidates.

Candidates were required to review their eProctor Canada confirmation email to find their specific date and time.

For example, Applied Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer appeared on April 13 and April 14 in the sample schedule. This did not allow candidates to choose either date freely. Each candidate’s assigned date and time was provided in the eProctor confirmation email.

What Do Multiple Codes in One Row Mean?

Several different examination codes may appear in the same row before one shared examination title. This normally means that different regulators, disciplines, or versions of the examination syllabus refer to the same examination sitting.

Candidates must not change their code based on the similarity of a subject title. The code stated in the regulator’s official assignment letter must be located exactly in the table.

To understand these subject classifications, review the Guide to Choosing Group A and Group B PEO Technical Exams.

What Does “PEO Only” Mean?

Certain rows may include “PEO Only” or a note referring specifically to APEGA or another regulator. These notes identify which group of candidates may rely on that row.

For example, Municipal and Environmental Engineering was marked “PEO Only” in the reviewed sample document. A candidate registered with another regulator should not apply the requirements in that row to their examination simply because the subject title or code appears similar.

3. Permitted Calculators in PEO and EGBC Technical Exams

Whether a calculator is permitted is determined by the Exam Format column.

In the reviewed document:

Format 1 meant that calculators were prohibited.

Format 2 meant that a non-communicating, non-programmable calculator was permitted.

Candidates must also review the examination-specific information in Aids/Instructions because that row may impose additional restrictions.

Technical Exam Calculator Checklist

If the Exam Format is 1, do not bring a calculator.

If the Exam Format is 2, select only a non-programmable and non-communicating model.

The calculator must not have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular connectivity, or another method of communicating with a separate device.

It must not allow the user to create, store, or execute custom programs.

A smartphone, tablet, or computer calculator cannot be used as a substitute.

Record the full brand and model number before the examination.

If Aids/Instructions includes a stricter limitation, follow the examination-specific instruction.

If you are uncertain, send the model name, photograph, and technical specifications to your regulator before exam day.

Do not rely on another candidate’s experience from an earlier session instead of the official document for your current session.

What Is a Non-Programmable Calculator?

A non-programmable calculator does not allow users to write, store, and execute custom programs.

A basic scientific calculator may fall within this category, but the fact that a calculator is scientific or has a simple appearance does not automatically make it acceptable.

Graphing calculators, Computer Algebra System calculators, and devices with programming, extensive text storage, or wireless communication functions generally do not comply with the non-programmable and non-communicating requirement.

Candidates must check the technical specifications of their exact calculator model.

What Is a Non-Communicating Calculator?

A non-communicating calculator cannot connect to the internet or another device using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a cellular network, a data cable, or a similar communication method.

The purpose of this restriction is to prevent access to external resources, file transfers, and information sharing.

A calculator application on a smartphone, smartwatch, or tablet is not acceptable. Even if the application itself performs only basic calculations, the device has communication capabilities and is therefore incompatible with a controlled examination environment.

Are Only Casio or Sharp Calculators Permitted?

EGBC’s Academic Exam Regulations state that any non-communicating, non-programmable calculator may be permitted for a Format 2 examination.

Casio and Sharp are common examples, but the general rule is not limited to these two brands unless the instructions for a particular examination specify a model or brand.

For some examinations, candidates may be instructed to record the calculator’s brand and model on the examination booklet or in another specified location.

In the Applied Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer example, candidates were required to write the calculator’s brand and model on the inside front cover of the Exam Book.

4. Open Book, Closed Book, and Aids/Instructions

Open book does not mean candidates have unlimited access to every resource. Similarly, closed book does not always mean that every tool is prohibited.

The Aids/Instructions column defines the precise restrictions for each examination and is more important than a general assumption based on the terms open book or closed book.

Steps for Identifying Permitted Examination Materials

Find your examination code.
The subject title alone is not sufficient. Search for the code shown in your regulator’s letter.

Read the Exam Format.
Format 1 prohibits calculators. Format 2 permits a non-communicating, non-programmable calculator.

Check the Open/Closed Book column.
This identifies the general rule for reference materials, but it does not complete the analysis.

Read the entire Aids/Instructions entry.
This section may define the number of books, type of notes, size of an aid sheet, or permitted drawing instruments.

Prepare required attachments.
If the table links to a specific chart or graph-paper template, print the official version before the examination.

Give priority to specific restrictions.
If an examination is open book but permits only one textbook, you may not bring multiple books and additional notes.

Check the file again close to exam day.
The schedule and List of Aids may be updated before the examination.

What Does Open Book Mean?

According to the Candidate Guide for Online Examinations, candidates in an open-book examination may use only permitted physical or printed copies of textbooks and notes.

Digital textbooks, PDF files, notes stored on a tablet, and online resources are prohibited. The Aids/Instructions entry may impose additional restrictions.

Examples from the official document include the following:

For Applied Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer, candidates were allowed one Thermodynamics textbook and one Heat Transfer textbook. Notes, past examination solutions, and worked problems were prohibited.

For Process Balances and Chemical Thermodynamics, one textbook was permitted for each section or part. Notes written inside the textbook were accepted, but loose notes were not permitted.

For Fluid Mechanics, the status was Open, while “None” appeared under Aids. In this structure, “None” should not automatically be interpreted to mean that no textbooks are permitted because the examination remains open book and the general rule for printed physical resources may apply unless another instruction states otherwise. However, candidates who are uncertain about the permitted scope of resources should obtain clarification from their regulator.

What Does Closed Book Mean?

In a closed-book examination, textbooks, notes, and reference materials are prohibited unless a particular item is explicitly permitted under Aids/Instructions.

For example, Transportation Planning and Engineering was listed as Format 2 and closed book in the sample document. Its instructions stated that an aid sheet was not permitted.

As a result, an eligible calculator was allowed under Format 2, but an aid sheet, textbook, and notes were prohibited.

By comparison, Thermodynamics, examination code 04-BS-10, was also Format 2 and closed book, but one handwritten, double-sided aid sheet measuring 8.5 × 11 inches was permitted.

Example problems and worked solutions could not be included on the sheet, and the aid sheet had to be submitted with the examination solutions.

What Does “None” Mean?

“None” in the Aids/Instructions column means that no additional examination-specific aid is identified in that row.

To interpret it correctly, candidates must also read the Exam Format and Open/Closed Book columns.

If an examination is Format 2, closed book, and Aids is “None,” an eligible calculator is permitted under Format 2, but textbooks, notes, and an aid sheet are not permitted.

If an examination is Format 1, closed book, and Aids is “None,” neither a calculator nor another reference aid is permitted.

If an examination is open book and Aids is “None,” the general open-book rules for physical or printed resources may apply unless the candidate guide or regulator imposes another restriction.

5. Aid Sheets, Textbooks, Graph Paper, and Drawing Instruments

Aids/Instructions may establish requirements that are far more detailed than a simple open-book or closed-book classification.

These requirements may specify:

Paper size

Number of permitted sheets

Single-sided or double-sided use

Whether the sheet must be handwritten

The type of information allowed on the sheet

Whether the sheet must be signed

Whether it must be submitted after the examination

What Is an Aid Sheet?

An aid sheet is a limited sheet of paper on which candidates may write permitted formulas, relationships, or notes.

Permission to use an aid sheet in one examination does not mean it is permitted in another examination.

A common example in the reviewed document was one letter-size sheet measuring 8.5 × 11 inches, on which candidates could write formulas and notes by hand on both sides.

However, some examinations permitted formulas only. Others prohibited:

Worked-out solutions

Example problems

Definitions

Procedures

Text copied from a textbook

An aid sheet may have to be signed or submitted with the candidate’s examination solutions. Candidates should not prepare one general formula sheet and assume that it can be used for every examination.

Can an Aid Sheet Be Typed and Printed?

If the instruction states “hand-written,” the aid sheet must be handwritten.

Typing information in a very small font and printing it does not satisfy a handwritten-aid-sheet requirement.

If the instruction states “formula only,” candidates should not include lengthy explanations, examples, solution methods, or sample answers.

In one example from the reviewed document, two double-sided formula sheets were permitted, but they could contain formulas only. Definitions, instructions, procedures, and solutions to sample problems were prohibited.

Are Notes Inside a Textbook Permitted?

The answer depends on the instructions for that examination.

For certain open-book examinations, a textbook containing handwritten notation in the page margins was permitted, while loose notes and solved problems were prohibited.

Tabs, sticky notes, pages inserted into the book, or extensive additional writing may be treated as loose notes or unauthorized materials.

If the instructions are not clear, obtain written clarification from your regulator before the examination.

Graph Paper and Semi-Logarithmic Paper

Certain examinations may require:

Linear graph paper

Regular graph paper

Ternary graph paper

Semi-logarithmic graph paper

The official file may require candidates to print a specified number of these sheets before the examination.

In the Structural Materials example, the aid sheet could contain formulas only, and candidates were also required to print one sheet of semi-logarithmic paper and two sheets of regular graph paper.

For Rock Mechanics, candidates were permitted to print graphing paper using the official link provided in the table.

Do not use graph paper that already contains annotations, formulas, or personal notes. Print a blank official template and write on it only after the examination begins.

Drawing and Measuring Instruments

Some examinations require drawing instruments.

Examples from the reviewed document include:

Fluid Machinery: A scale ruler, protractor, and sharp pencil were required to draw a vector diagram.

Structural Geology: A protractor, drawing compass, and ruler were permitted.

Environmental Control in Buildings: A scale ruler, set square, and sharp pencil were required, and the instructions stated that no other aids were permitted.

Required charts and diagrams also had to be printed before the examination.

An instrument permitted in one examination is not automatically permitted in another. Even a simple ruler should be checked against the instructions for the assigned subject.

Scanning and Submitting Solutions

Certain rows in the sample document stated that a flatbed scanner was preferred for submitting solutions.

This does not necessarily mean that a flatbed scanner is the only acceptable method. However, it indicates that scanning quality and page format may be particularly important for diagrams and large sheets.

Handwritten solutions must be scanned in accordance with the Written Solutions Guide for online examinations. The official instructions emphasize:

Submitting solutions as one PDF file

Clearly numbering all pages

Placing pages in the correct order

Ensuring that writing, calculations, charts, and diagrams are readable

Following the applicable file-size limit

Submitting the file within the stated time limit

To understand the login process and the relationship between eProctor and AssessBank, read the Complete eProctor Guide for P.Eng Technical Exams.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Exam Formats and List of Aids Section for PEO Exams?

This section identifies the examination format, calculator rule, open-book or closed-book status, and the resources or equipment permitted for each subject. Candidates must locate their examination code in the document for the current session.

What Is the Difference Between Format 1 and Format 2?

Format 1 means that calculators are prohibited. Format 2 means that a non-communicating, non-programmable calculator is permitted unless the examination-specific instructions establish an additional restriction.

Can I Use a PDF File During an Open-Book Examination?

No. According to the online examination guide, only permitted physical or printed resources may be used during an open-book examination. Electronic textbooks, PDF files, digital notes, and online resources are prohibited.

Is a Calculator Permitted During a Closed-Book Examination?

It may be permitted. Closed-book status determines access to books and reference materials, while the Exam Format determines whether a calculator is allowed. A Format 2, closed-book examination may permit an eligible calculator.

Can I Bring an Aid Sheet to Every Technical Exam?

No. An aid sheet is permitted only when it is explicitly listed under Aids/Instructions for that examination. Candidates must also comply with the stated size, number of sheets, handwritten requirement, and restrictions on permitted content.

What Should I Do If I Am Unsure About My Calculator Model?

Before exam day, send the calculator’s complete brand and model number, together with a link to its technical specifications, to the examination department of your regulator.

PEO candidates may contact exams@peo.on.ca, while EGBC candidates may contact exams@egbc.ca.

Conclusion

Exam Formats and List of Aids is one of the most important sections of the PEO and EGBC Technical Exam schedule.

The Exam Format determines the calculator rule. The Open/Closed Book column identifies the general rule for reference materials, and Aids/Instructions provides the precise limitations for textbooks, aid sheets, graph paper, drawing instruments, and other permitted items.

The sample document discussed in this article relates to the Spring/Summer 2026 examination session and should not be treated as the final authority for later sessions.

Before every examination, open the current document from the official Status of Online Academic Exams page and read the entire row corresponding to your exact examination code.

For academic preparation, candidates may also review Fanavaran’s Persian-language Technical Exam preparation courses. A preparation course can support subject understanding and study planning, but it does not replace the regulator’s rules and does not guarantee passing the examination or receiving a P.Eng licence.

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