QCAA Digital Solutions exam-day guide
QCAA Digital Solutions · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and exam admission details
Bring the identification your school or exam supervisor requires (commonly a student ID or government-issued photo ID). Confirm with the provider which form of ID is accepted and whether a printed admission slip is needed.
Know your exact exam time, room, and seat
Check the timetable and venue the day before. Arrive with enough margin for sign-in and equipment setup; the QCAA sets a supervised external assessment window, but late-arrival and seating rules should be confirmed with the provider.
Permitted equipment only
Digital Solutions is a written external assessment, so bring pens, pencils, an eraser, and a ruler. Leave phones, smart watches, and any unauthorised notes outside the room. Confirm with the provider whether a calculator or any other aid is permitted.
Approved calculator status
Do not assume a calculator is allowed. Confirm with the provider whether one is permitted and, if so, whether it must be on the approved list and free of stored notes.
Water in a clear container
A clear bottle with no label is commonly allowed, but check the venue's rules. Do not bring food unless the provider permits it for a documented reason.
Review the syllabus and past-paper style questions
Re-read the Digital Solutions syllabus objectives and practice the question styles: short response, extended response, and any stimulus-based items. Focus on explaining, justifying, and evaluating rather than recalling definitions.
Practise handwriting under time
Write at least one full timed response by hand. This builds stamina and exposes legibility and pacing problems before exam day.
Prepare a one-page summary of key concepts
Cover data, algorithms, programming constructs, relational databases, networks, and project management. Use it for revision only; do not bring it into the exam room.
Plan travel and a backup route
Know how you will get there and allow extra time for delays. Have a contact number for the school or exam supervisor in case of a problem.
Sleep and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the final week and eat a normal breakfast. Avoid last-minute cramming the night before; consolidate instead.
Check for special provisions
If you have approved adjustments such as extra time or a separate room, confirm with the provider that arrangements are in place before the day.
Read the instructions on the paper carefully
Check the number of questions, the marks per question, and whether there is a choice of questions. Allocate time before you start writing.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating. Review your summary sheet, redo past questions under timed conditions, and identify two or three weak areas to target. Practise writing full extended responses by hand and check them against marking-style criteria: does the answer explain, justify, and evaluate? Get normal sleep each night.
Do a light review only: key terms, algorithm and database concepts, and the structure of a strong extended response. Pack your bag with ID, pens, pencils, ruler, clear water bottle, and any permitted equipment. Confirm the venue, time, and transport plan. Avoid cramming new topics late at night and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat breakfast, arrive early, and avoid discussing content with others if it makes you anxious. Check in, put away all devices, and read the front cover instructions. Take a few calm breaths and set your time plan before the start signal.
Read the whole paper briefly, then start with questions you can answer confidently. Watch the mark allocation: a higher-mark question needs more depth, examples, and justification. For extended responses, plan briefly, use clear structure, and refer to the scenario. For programming or algorithm questions, state assumptions and show working. If stuck, move on and return. Reserve the final minutes to check you have answered every question and that your handwriting is legible.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from the exam supervisor. Raise your hand if you need to speak, need materials, or feel unwell; do not leave your seat without permission.
Bring only permitted items to your desk. Phones, smart watches, and unauthorised notes must be left outside the room as directed; possession during the exam can lead to a breach of assessment rules.
Have your ID ready for checking. Confirm with the provider which identification is accepted and what to do if you forget it.
Toilet breaks are usually supervised and may not be permitted in the final part of the exam. Confirm with the provider how breaks are handled at your venue.
Write in the required format and within the spaces or booklets provided. Answers outside designated areas may not be marked, so confirm with the provider how extra paper is handled.
Academic integrity applies throughout. Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam or share answers afterwards in a way that breaches assessment rules.
Scoring is based on the quality and depth of your responses against the syllabus objectives, so match the length and detail of your answer to the marks available.
If something goes wrong, such as illness or a disruption, tell the supervisor immediately and follow the provider's process for reporting it; do not try to resolve it alone after the exam.