QCAA Biology EA exam-day guide
QCAA Biology EA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID your school or QCAA has specified for verification. Exactly which document is accepted (e.g., school ID, driver licence, passport) is set by the provider - confirm with the provider before exam day.
Admission or attendance slip
If your school issues a personalised slip or timetable confirmation, print it or save it as instructed. Whether this is required varies by venue - confirm with the provider.
Approved calculator
Check that your calculator model appears on the QCAA-approved list for the relevant subject and that batteries are fresh. If unsure whether a model is permitted, confirm with the provider.
Spare batteries or second approved calculator
A flat battery mid-exam is avoidable. Carry spares that fit your model, or arrange a backup approved calculator.
Pens, pencils, eraser and sharpener
Bring at least two black or blue pens and two pencils. Use pencils for diagrams and graphs unless instructions state otherwise.
Ruler, and any subject-specific instruments
A clear ruler is standard. For practical or data questions, check whether protractors or other instruments are permitted for your subject - confirm with the provider if unclear.
Clear water bottle and a light snack for before the session
Labels must usually be removed from bottles. Eat before you enter; eating during the exam is generally not allowed.
No phone, smartwatch, or unauthorised notes
Leave devices at home or in the designated storage area. A device found on you during the exam can trigger an academic-integrity investigation even if unused.
Know your start time, room and seat
Confirm the exact session time and location the day before. Arrive early enough to complete any check-in without rushing.
Read the whole paper before writing
Use the reading time, if one is provided, to scan question structure, marks per question, and any data or stimulus supplied with the paper.
Plan timing against total marks
Estimate minutes per mark from the total working time and total marks, then keep checking your pace against that budget.
Sleep and normal routine the night before
Avoid late-night cramming. A rested candidate reads unfamiliar practical scenarios and data more accurately.
Plan the day
Map the syllabus content against your notes and identify weak areas in experimental design, data interpretation and justification. Practise full-length or sectioned questions under timed conditions, then mark them against the criteria and rewrite weak answers. Rehearse the standard practical skills: identifying independent, dependent and controlled variables; writing a testable hypothesis; describing controls and replication; choosing appropriate units and significant figures; and explaining sources of error and improvements. Confirm your calculator is on the approved list, check your ID and admission requirements with your teacher, and verify the session time and room.
Do a light review only: skim summary sheets, definitions, formula or equation lists, and your own list of past mistakes. Do not start new topics. Pack your bag with ID, pens, pencils, eraser, ruler, approved calculator and spare batteries. Lay out clothes and transport plans. Set two alarms, eat a normal dinner, and go to bed at your usual time rather than an unusually early one.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Recheck your bag against the checklist before leaving. Arrive with enough margin to find the room and complete check-in. Keep conversation light and avoid comparing preparation with others, which tends to raise anxiety. Once seated, take steady breaths and focus on the instructions.
Read the instructions and check the paper for missing pages or data. During any reading time, plan which questions to answer first and note the marks attached to each. Answer the questions you are most confident about early to bank marks, then return to harder items. Show working for calculations, include units, and match the precision of your answer to the data given. For practical and experimental questions, address the command word directly: describe means state features; explain means give reasons or mechanisms; justify means provide evidence-based reasoning; evaluate means weigh strengths and limitations and reach a judgement. If a question supplies data or a scenario, quote specific values from it rather than answering generically. Leave time at the end to check that every question has been attempted, that multiple-choice answers are transferred correctly, and that no answer is left blank where partial credit is possible.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions given by supervisors. Raise your hand if you need to speak, need materials, or feel unwell, rather than leaving your seat unannounced.
Bring only permitted equipment to your desk. Bags, phones and smart devices must be stored where supervisors direct; possessing an unauthorised device or note during the exam can be treated as academic misconduct regardless of intent.
Carry valid identification and be ready to show it on request. The specific ID requirements for your venue are set by the provider - confirm with the provider in advance.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has begun, and do not share or discuss paper content with anyone until supervisors confirm the session has ended for all candidates.
If you need to leave the room for a break, expect supervision and possible time adjustments. The exact toilet and break procedures are venue-specific - confirm with the provider or your supervisor before the exam.
If you believe there is an error, missing page or ambiguity in the paper, notify a supervisor immediately rather than guessing silently.
Scoring is based on the criteria and mark allocations shown on the paper, so address the command words and allocate effort in proportion to marks. Partial credit is often available, so attempt every question even when unsure.
If illness or misadventure affects your performance, report it to your school as soon as possible and ask about the applicable special-provision or misadventure process. Eligibility and deadlines are set by the provider - confirm with the provider.