Sitting for the notarial practice exam was most certainly one of the most daunting, yet rewarding, milestones in my legal career.
The content is technical, the time pressure is significant, and many candidates underestimate the skill of writing quickly and clearly under exam conditions.
When I prepared for the notarial exam, I opted for the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law’s recordings. I preferred this format as I was able to listen to them at my own pace and in my own time. I only used the GLR recordings and notes. These, combined with past papers, proved to be more than enough. I wrote and passed the exam in April 2025 and was admitted as a notary in October 2025.
Looking back, I realised there were many things I wished I had known before I started preparing.
In this blog, I share the concerns I came across while preparing, along with the strategies that helped me manage and overcome them, and ultimately pass the exam.
How to ensure you finish the exam in time
Given that the notary exam is four hours long and extremely writing-intensive, time is a common concern. The exam paper is long and is certainly drafting-focused. You will not merely be required to regurgitate law or legal principles.
Practice writing
Many of us type daily and seldom write for four hours straight. Begin practicing your handwriting weeks before the exam to build stamina and speed. I would suggest physically writing out answers when studying, as opposed to typing. Muscle memory is key.
Time yourself
Allocate marks to time. The exam is a 100-mark paper with an allocated writing time of four hours (240 minutes). As such, you should not spend more than 24 minutes on a 10-mark question. Stick to this strictly, even if you feel your answer is incomplete. You can always return if time allows.
Leave space
If you get stuck on a specific question, leave a blank space and move on. Returning later is better than running out of time.
Plan your answers during the reading time
Answer the questions that you are most comfortable with first. You will, in all likelihood, be able to answer these questions faster, enabling you to free up some time to spend on the sections that you are less comfortable with.
Preparing without prior notarial experience
Many candidates, myself included, enter the exam with very limited exposure to notarial practice.
This can be overcome with dedication and the right approach.
- Properly engage with the GLR explanatory notes and examples. The Gawie le Roux notes provide comprehensive examples and excellent templates, specifically regarding the drafting questions and proposed answers. Study the examples with the goal of understanding the answers, as opposed to merely memorising the answers.
- Work through past papers and practice the questions included in the notes (and example bundle). In my opinion, this is the single best way to understand how questions are framed in the exam.
- Ask practicing notaries questions. This will help you better understand principles from a practical point of view. Even a short discussion with someone who regularly drafts antenuptial contracts, servitudes, or notarial bonds can bring the subject to life.
- Listen to the questions that are asked during the recorded lectures. It is often extremely helpful to see things from another person’s point of view.
Practice drafting under exam conditions
This should be a pillar of your exam preparation.
- Drafting is the heart of the exam (approximately 80% of the paper). Your hands will get tired. Practice. Practice. Practice.
- Simulate exam conditions. Sit down with a past paper, switch off distractions, and write for four hours. Handwrite as far as possible. Avoid looking at the memos and answers before attempting to answer questions yourself.
- Many drafting questions do not have only one correct answer. Find your style and practice it.
- Mark your work. Compare your answers with the suggested answers. If you have made any mistakes, try to understand where you went wrong to avoid similar mistakes going forward.
Spotting when studying
Spotting is risky; it always has been. Examiners often ask big questions from smaller (less common) chapters. With proper planning, it should not be necessary to spot.
The examiners are known for testing a wide range of topics. The most common topics (making up approximately 80% of the papers) remain ANCs, notarial bonds, servitudes, and notarial deeds in respect of Sectional Title Schemes. Be sure to know these chapters well.
The best approach is smart prioritisation. Yes, you can focus on heavily tested areas, but do not neglect the smaller sections, such as wills, trusts, and sea protests.
The solution is balance. Instead of spotting, aim for an approach of tiered revision (deep focus on high-yield topics, light revision on the rest).
Create a study schedule
Having a study schedule is essential.
- Plan backwards. Start with your exam date, work backwards, and divide your time accordingly. Be sure to leave sufficient time for working out past papers and testing yourself under exam conditions.
- Set daily and weekly goals. Allocate specific sections (or portions thereof) to specific days.
- Accountability. Stick to the schedule as best you can. If you miss a day, for some or other reason, make it up the following day.
- Flexibility. It may very well be that some chapters take longer than others. Provide some buffer days for revision and unexpected disruptions.
- Rest days are extremely important. Be sure to prioritise rest days. In my opinion, avoid early mornings and late nights. Pick one of them; if you are a morning person, stick to that.
Tips to calm your nerves on exam day
Anxiety has the potential to undo weeks and even months of studying and preparation. Don’t allow it.
Here are some strategies that worked for me.
- The night before: Pack your stationery, ID, and snacks. Avoid last-minute cramming. Ensure that you get enough sleep.
- The morning of: Arrive early and avoid getting caught up in others’ panic. Everyone studies and remembers differently.
- Mindset shift: Allow yourself to relay what you have studied. If you do not understand a question, move to the next one.
The benefits of passing the exam
I work in the commercial law department, where my focus is on conveyancing and property-related transactions. Notarial deeds often go hand in hand with more complex conveyancing matters, and passing the notarial practice exam has already opened doors for me. And I know it will continue to do so in the future by way of:
- Professional recognition. Becoming a notary sets you apart in the profession. While there are several admitted notaries, the low pass rate suggests that passing the exam has become increasingly difficult.
- Expanded services. You can prepare (and execute) antenuptial contracts, notarial bonds, servitudes, authentic deeds, and much more.
- Career growth and opportunities. Whether in practice or in-house, notarial skills make you more marketable.
The bottom line
I wish someone had told me:
- You don’t need to remember and understand absolutely everything. Passing requires competence and understanding, not flawlessness.
- Start early with handwriting. Cramping hands can cost you valuable time and valuable marks.
- Study to understand and not simply to memorise. Understanding the why behind a question will most certainly assist in being able to answer adapted and unexpected questions in the exam.
- Trying to study from too many different resources will just confuse you and put you under time pressure to cover content that may be unnecessary.
- Proper rest is key.
Conclusion
The notarial practice exam is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity. Many have attempted, many have passed, and so can you.
Plan properly. Study thoroughly. Rest well. Take it head-on.
About the author
Francois Malherbe is an attorney, conveyancer, and notary at MHI Attorneys in Cape Town.
Last updated on 3 November 2025.