How to Add Name and Date on an Exam Photo (the Right Way)

Some exams ask for the candidate's name and the date the photo was taken to appear on the photograph itself. The aim is to make sure the photo is recent and belongs to you. The exact rules differ by exam and change between years, so treat this guide as practical advice and follow your notification wherever it differs.

What Is Usually Expected

• Where: a plain strip at the bottom of the photo, below your face. Your face must not be covered.
• What: your name as written in the application, and the date of photo in a numeric format such as DD/MM/YYYY.
• How it looks: dark text on a white or light strip, large enough to read at the small upload size.
• When: the date is the day the photo was taken — not the day you apply. Many exams also want the photo to be recent (for example taken within the last few months).

Some exams instead want the name and date handwritten on a slate or placard that you hold while being photographed, or printed on the physical photo you paste on an admit card. Check which one your notification describes.

Adding It Digitally

1. Take a fresh photo against a plain light wall.
2. Open Add Name & Date on Photo, or the page for your exam in the exam directory — exams that commonly need it have the option ready.
3. Enter your name exactly as in your application and the date the photo was taken.
4. Choose "strip below the photo" so your face is not covered.
5. Crop, download, and check that the text is readable and the size is inside the KB range.

The tool makes the photo area slightly shorter so the final image is still the exact pixel size required, with the strip included.

Common Mistakes

• Using today's date instead of the photo date. If you took the photo two weeks ago, use that date.
• Text over the face or chin. Verifiers may reject a photo where the text hides any part of the face.
• Tiny or light text. At 200 pixels wide, thin grey text becomes unreadable. Use bold, dark text.
• Different name spelling. Match the name in your application form, including initials.
• Editing only one copy. If the exam also needs a printed photo (for example on an admit card or at counselling), use the same photo with the same name and date.
• Adding the date when the exam does not ask for it. Extra text can itself be a reason for rejection on some portals. Only add it when your notification asks.

Handwritten Versions

If the notification asks for handwriting, print the photo or hold a slate, write clearly in black marker in capital letters, and photograph it in good light. Keep the slate below your chin so your face stays fully visible.

Keep the Original

Save the original photo without text. If a later stage — document verification, counselling or a different exam — asks for the photo without a name and date, you can make a clean copy without taking a new photo.