QCAA Chinese Extension exam-day guide
QCAA Chinese Extension · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID your school or the supervising authority has told you to present. If you are unsure which document is accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day rather than assuming a student card is sufficient.
Admission or attendance slip, if issued
Some schools issue a personalised slip or timetable confirmation. Keep it with your ID. Whether one is required varies by school, so confirm with the provider.
Black or blue pens and spare pens
Written responses and the extended response need legible ink. Bring at least two working pens plus a spare, and test them beforehand. Check with the provider whether correction fluid or tape is permitted before you rely on it.
Pencils, eraser and sharpener
Useful for planning, annotating stimulus material, or any multiple-choice section. Keep them in a clear container if your school requires transparent pencil cases.
Water in a clear, label-free bottle
Many venues allow water only in a transparent bottle with labels removed. Confirm the exact rule with the provider, since venues differ.
Wristwatch, if permitted
A simple analogue watch helps you pace the reading and response sections. Check with the provider whether watches are allowed and whether smartwatches are banned.
Approved print or monolingual dictionary, if permitted
Dictionary rules differ between written tasks and examinations and by school. Do not bring one unless the provider has explicitly confirmed it is allowed, and check whether it must be inspected beforehand.
Confirm the venue, start time and reporting time
Re-check the room, arrival time and any reading-time arrangement the day before. Arrive earlier than the stated time to allow for seating and ID checks.
Know the paper structure and timing
Be clear on how many sections there are, which are compulsory, how many marks each carries, and whether there is a reading period. If your school has not confirmed the structure, confirm with the provider.
Prepare your Chinese response conventions
Practise writing at least one full extended response in Chinese by hand under time, including how you will introduce, develop and conclude an argument or analysis. Handwriting fluency in Chinese is a genuine constraint on word count.
Plan for the listening component, if any
If your syllabus includes a listening section, confirm with the provider how it is delivered and whether you may take notes. Practise taking brief notes in Chinese and English while listening.
Leave prohibited items behind
Phones, smart devices, notes and unauthorised materials must stay outside the exam room. Confirm the provider's policy on where bags and devices are stored.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating. Reread your own summaries of the prescribed themes and texts, and list the key vocabulary and sentence patterns you will reuse in the extended response. Do one timed practice paper or one full extended response under exam conditions, then mark it against the criteria you have been given. Identify your two weakest areas and spend the remaining time there rather than rereading everything. Confirm the venue, start time and permitted equipment with your teacher or the provider. Protect your sleep schedule so your body clock matches the exam start time.
Light review only. Read your one-page summary of themes, text titles, characters and key arguments, plus a short list of connectives and evaluative phrases in Chinese you can deploy under pressure. Do not attempt a new full paper. Pack your bag: ID, pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, water bottle, watch and anything the provider has confirmed is permitted. Lay out clothes and plan transport, including a backup route. Check the weather and set two alarms. Stop studying early enough to sleep properly; a rested brain outperforms an extra hour of cramming.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Do a ten-minute warm-up only: skim your summary sheet and silently rehearse your opening sentence patterns for the extended response. Arrive at the venue with time to spare and keep away from last-minute group discussions that can raise anxiety or introduce doubt. Check you have your ID and equipment before entering. Follow all seating and ID instructions from supervisors without argument.
Use any reading time to scan the whole paper, note the mark allocation and decide your section order. Budget minutes per section and per mark, and stick to it: do not let a short-answer question consume the time your extended response needs. Read each question twice and identify the instruction word, such as describe, explain, compare or evaluate, because it determines the depth required. Answer in the language and form the question demands, and write legibly in Chinese with clear paragraphing. For the extended response, spend a few minutes planning structure and key vocabulary before writing, then leave time to check for missed questions, character errors and incomplete sentences.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from exam supervisors. If a supervisor's direction conflicts with what you expected, comply first and raise the issue afterwards through your school or the provider.
Present the identification the provider requires. If you are unsure what counts as acceptable ID, confirm with the provider well before exam day, because unresolved ID questions can delay or jeopardise your entry.
Keep phones, smartwatches and all unauthorised materials out of the room. If you are unsure whether an item is permitted, leave it out and confirm the policy with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has begun, and do not attempt to view another candidate's work. Raise your hand and wait for a supervisor if you need assistance.
If you need to leave the room for illness or another reason, attract a supervisor's attention rather than leaving unannounced. The provider's rules on toilet breaks and re-entry vary, so confirm them beforehand.
Write only in the spaces or booklets the paper directs, and make sure your candidate details are correct. Work written outside designated areas may not be marked.
Manage your own time; supervisors will announce remaining time but will not extend it for individuals. Plan to stop writing when instructed.
Understand how your work is scored: responses are marked against the syllabus criteria and mark allocations shown on the paper. If you are unclear about weighting, criteria or how sections contribute to your result, confirm with the provider rather than guessing.