HSC Design and Technology exam-day guide
HSC Design and Technology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and exam admission details
Bring the identification document and any admission or nomination slip your school or the exam authority has issued. The exact accepted ID types and whether a nomination slip is required vary by provider, so confirm with the provider before the day.
Confirmed exam time, room and seat
Check your personal timetable for the date, start time, room and seat number. Arrive with time to spare; late-entry cut-offs are set by the provider, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.
Approved writing materials
Pack several black or blue pens, pencils, an eraser and a sharpener. Use only the pen colours and pencil types permitted for your paper; confirm any restrictions with the provider.
Approved drawing and design equipment
A ruler, set square, protractor, compass and a clean eraser are commonly useful in design papers. Check the permitted-equipment list for your subject, because some items may be restricted.
Calculator status confirmed
If your paper permits a calculator, bring an approved model and check its battery beforehand. Calculator rules differ between papers; confirm with the provider whether one is allowed and which models are approved.
Clear container or transparent bag
Use a clear pencil case or bag if your centre requires it, so supervisors can check contents quickly. Confirm the centre's bag and container rules with the provider.
Water in a clear bottle with labels removed
Bring a clear, unlabelled bottle of water if permitted. Bottle and food rules vary, so confirm with the provider.
No notes, phones or smart devices
Leave phones, smart watches, earbuds and any notes outside the exam room or in the location your centre directs. Unauthorised devices can lead to a misconduct investigation, so check the rules with the provider.
Plan for travel and a backup alarm
Set two alarms, confirm transport times and allow a buffer for delays. Tell a family member or friend your exam time so someone can help if something goes wrong.
Light snack and water for afterwards
Bring a snack and drink for after the paper, especially if you have another exam later that day. Keep it outside the exam room unless your centre allows otherwise.
Check any permitted reference materials
Some design papers allow specified materials or equipment. Do not bring anything not explicitly permitted; confirm the exact list with the provider.
Know the illness and misadventure process
Find out in advance how to report illness or an unexpected problem affecting your performance. The process and deadlines are set by the provider, so confirm with the provider before exam day.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Rework your summaries of core design and technology topics: the design process, factors influencing design, materials and their properties, manufacturing and production methods, and the social, ethical and environmental impacts of design. Practise past-style questions under timed conditions, then mark them against the syllabus outcomes and note recurring weaknesses rather than rereading everything. Prepare your equipment bag and check the permitted-items list. Protect sleep: aim for consistent nights rather than late-night cramming, because recall and clear written expression matter more than last-minute facts.
Do a light review only: key terminology, case studies and the structure of longer responses. Plan how you will allocate time in the paper, for example how many minutes per section and how long to leave for checking. Lay out clothes, ID, admission details, pens, drawing equipment and any approved calculator by the door. Confirm travel arrangements and the room location. Eat a normal meal, avoid a heavy late-night study session, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. If you feel unwell, contact your school or the provider immediately to ask about the illness process.
Eat breakfast and drink water. Do a final check of your bag against the checklist and leave devices you cannot bring into the room with a trusted person or at home. Arrive at the venue early enough to find the room and settle. Avoid comparing notes with others in the final minutes, as it can increase anxiety and is often inaccurate. Follow supervisor instructions for seating and materials, and use any reading time to scan the whole paper before writing.
Read all instructions and check the number of questions and marks. Allocate time according to mark value and stick to it; do not let one long response consume the whole paper. For design questions, show your reasoning: identify the need or problem, justify decisions, and connect choices to users, materials, production and sustainability. Use clear headings, labelled sketches where permitted, and specific technical vocabulary. Answer the question asked, including command words such as describe, explain, evaluate or justify. Leave time to check that every required question is attempted, units and labels are correct, and your responses are legible.
Rules to check
Follow all supervisor instructions about seating, materials and timing. If an instruction is unclear, raise your hand and ask rather than guessing.
Bring and display the identification and admission documents your provider requires. Accepted forms vary, so confirm with the provider before the exam.
Do not bring unauthorised notes, phones, smart watches, earbuds or other devices into the exam room. If you accidentally have a device, declare it to a supervisor immediately.
Stay in your seat until a supervisor dismisses you. If you need to leave for the toilet or another reason, follow the centre's supervised procedure; confirm the exact process with the provider.
Breaks and rest periods within the exam are not normally permitted unless specified for your paper. Check the paper's rules with the provider.
Marks are awarded for what is written in your response, so write legibly, show working or reasoning where relevant, and answer every required question.
If you feel ill or something disrupts your exam, tell a supervisor and ask your school about the illness or misadventure process as soon as possible; deadlines are set by the provider.
Any suspected misconduct is handled under the provider's rules. Avoid any behaviour that could be misinterpreted, such as talking or looking at another candidate's work, and confirm the conduct rules with the provider.