What to bring and how to prepare for Saber 11 exam day

The exam summons

Weeks before the exam, Icfes publishes the exam summons (citación). In 2026 it came out on February 27 for Calendar B and on July 10 for Calendar A. It shows your test site, the date, the time, the items you must bring and the ones that are prohibited.

• Look it up as soon as it's published and check it again in the following days. Icfes recommends checking it regularly.
• If the test site is far away or you don't know it, make the trip beforehand, at about the same time as the exam.
• If you find a mistake in your details, contact Icfes through its official channels as soon as possible.

Valid IDs

For the July 2026 exam, Icfes accepted these documents:

• Citizenship ID card (cédula de ciudadanía), physical or digital.
• Identity card for minors (tarjeta de identidad).
• Certificate of an ID in process, physical or digital.
• Valid passport, for Colombians or foreigners.
• Colombian driver's license.
• For foreign residents in Colombia: foreigner ID card (cédula de extranjería), or Temporary Protection Permit (PPT) together with the ID from your home country.

Digital IDs must be shown from the app authorized by the Registraduría (Colombia's civil registry). Photos and printouts are not accepted. Anyone without a valid ID can't take the exam.

If you plan to use your digital ID, keep in mind that your phone can't stay with you during the test. If you have the physical document, bring it too.

Materials

• No. 2 pencil. Bring two or three already sharpened.
• Soft eraser.
• Pencil sharpener.

In the room you'll receive the booklet, the answer sheet and a scratch sheet for your calculations. Everything is returned at the end, including the scratch sheet.

What you can't use

Using phones or any other electronic device during the tests is prohibited, and doing so can void your exam. If you bring one, you'll have to leave it in a security bag you can only access when you finish.

The full list of prohibited items is on your exam summons. If you're unsure about something, like a watch or headphones, the safest choice is to leave it at home.

Be wary of anyone offering you the answers. Icfes warns that each booklet is personalized with the test taker's name and ID number, and that fraud or attempted fraud can be penalized up to the cancellation of the exam.

If you need support

People with disabilities take the exam with the support they requested during registration, whatever version of the booklet they take. That's why it's important for that information to be recorded correctly from the start. If in doubt, check the orientation guide or ask at your school.

Exam week

• Don't start new topics. Review your mistake log and your own summaries.
• Adjust your sleep to the exam schedule; the first session starts early.
• Get your ID, pencils, eraser and sharpener ready the night before.
• Plan how you'll get there in the morning and what you'll do between sessions.

Exam day

To split the four and a half hours of each session well, read how to manage your time in the two sessions.