HSC English EAL/D exam-day guide
HSC English EAL/D · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and exam admission details
Bring the identification your school or exam authority requires, plus your personalised exam timetable or admission notice. Accepted ID types and whether a student card alone is sufficient vary between providers, so confirm with the provider and your school's exam coordinator before the day.
Several black or blue pens and spare pencils
Bring at least three working pens, a couple of spare pencils, an eraser and a sharpener. EAL/D papers are mostly handwritten extended responses, so test each pen beforehand and choose one that writes smoothly without smudging.
Prescribed texts, if permitted
Some EAL/D papers allow clean copies of prescribed texts or a dictionary. Check exactly which texts, editions and annotations are allowed for your paper, and whether a monolingual or bilingual dictionary is permitted. Confirm with the provider, because rules differ by paper and year.
Approved calculator only if your paper requires one
EAL/D is a language and literature subject and normally does not need a calculator. Do not bring one unless your exam authority lists it as permitted for your specific paper; confirm with the provider.
Clear water bottle and a light snack
Bring a transparent, label-free water bottle and a snack for after the exam. Check your provider's rules on what may be taken to the desk, since some venues require bottles to be on the floor.
Analogue watch
A simple analogue or digital watch without smart features helps you pace long writing tasks if the room clock is hard to see. Smartwatches and phones are almost always prohibited at the desk; confirm with the provider.
Printed summary of your paper structure
Prepare a one-page sheet listing each section, its mark value, suggested timing and the number of texts or questions you must answer. Read it before entering the room and leave it outside; do not take notes to the desk.
Know your seating and venue arrangements
Check the venue, room and reporting time the day before. Arrive early enough to find your seat calmly. Late-entry and misadventure rules differ between providers, so confirm with the provider if you are worried about delays.
Plan for medical or special provisions
If you have approved disability provisions, extra time or rest breaks, confirm in advance how they will be applied and who to speak to on the day. Bring any required documentation. Confirm all arrangements with the provider.
Leave prohibited devices at home or in your bag
Phones, smartwatches, earbuds and notes must not be at your desk. Follow your venue's instructions about where to store bags, and switch devices off rather than leaving them on silent.
Sleep, food and transport plan
Decide how you will travel, who will accompany you if needed, and what you will eat before the exam. Aim for a normal night's sleep rather than last-minute cramming, which tends to reduce clarity in extended writing.
A calm pre-exam routine
Plan a short routine for the minutes before reading time: slow breathing, a reminder of your timing plan, and a quick mental checklist of the sections you must answer. This reduces panic and helps you start reading purposefully.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating what you already know. Re-read your notes on each module or elective, then practise one timed response per section under exam conditions. Review feedback from earlier practice tasks and identify two or three recurring weaknesses, such as weak topic sentences or rushed conclusions, and drill those specifically. Confirm your exam venue, reporting time, permitted materials and ID requirements with your school or the provider. Reduce screen time in the evenings and keep sleep regular.
Do light revision only: skim your summary sheets, key quotations, text outlines and essay plans rather than writing full essays. Prepare your bag with pens, pencils, ID, admission details and any permitted texts or dictionary. Rehearse your timing plan for each section aloud. Eat a proper meal, avoid intensive cramming late at night, and set two alarms. If you feel unwell, contact your school or the provider immediately to ask about illness and misadventure procedures.
Eat a substantial breakfast and drink water. Arrive at the venue with time to spare, carrying only permitted materials. Hand over or store your phone and any smart device as instructed. Once seated, check that your name and candidate details are correct, read the front cover instructions carefully, and note the number of questions and texts you must answer. Use reading time to choose questions and sketch a brief structure, not to start writing.
Follow your timing plan and keep an eye on the clock. Read each question twice, underline the key instruction words, and make sure you answer the exact question rather than a rehearsed topic. Spend a few minutes planning each extended response, write a clear thesis or topic sentence, and support points with specific textual evidence. Watch the mark value to judge length. Leave time to proofread for spelling, grammar and paragraphing, and make sure every page and question number is clearly labelled. If you run out of time, finish the current sentence and move on rather than leaving a section blank.
Rules to check
Bring the identification and admission documentation required by your exam authority. Accepted forms of ID vary, so confirm with the provider and your school before the day.
Do not take phones, smartwatches, earbuds, notes or unauthorised texts to your desk. Follow venue instructions for storing bags and devices, and switch devices off.
Follow all instructions from supervisors about seating, reading time, starting and stopping writing. If you begin writing before reading time ends or continue after the signal, you risk a breach report.
Only use materials explicitly permitted for your paper, such as a clean prescribed text or an approved dictionary. Check the rules for your specific paper and confirm with the provider.
If you need to leave the room for illness or a rest break, raise your hand and wait for a supervisor. Rules on leaving and returning during the exam vary, so confirm with the provider.
If you feel ill or something disrupts your performance, tell a supervisor and your school as soon as possible. Illness and misadventure applications have strict deadlines and evidence requirements, so confirm the process with the provider.
Write only in the spaces and answer booklets provided, label each question clearly, and do not remove any exam materials from the room unless a supervisor permits it.
Marking rewards responses that answer the question with evidence and clear structure. Do not rely on memorised essays; adapt your knowledge to the specific question and allocate time according to mark value.