QCAA Drama exam-day guide
QCAA Drama · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Performance material and script
Bring a clean, fully memorised or performance-ready copy of your chosen script or devised material, plus any permitted cue script. Check the current QCAA Drama syllabus and your school's assessment instructions for what annotated or cue material is allowed in the room; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Costume and props list
Pack every costume piece, prop, and set item you need, labelled with your name. Run a full physical check the night before so nothing is missing on the day.
Technical and sound requirements
Bring your cue sheet and any approved sound or lighting files on a labelled USB as a backup. Confirm the exact file formats and submission deadlines with your teacher or provider, as technical rules vary by school.
Student ID and assessment paperwork
Carry your student identification and any signed authentication or assessment declaration your school requires. Confirm the exact ID requirement with the provider.
Water bottle and light snack
Stay hydrated and keep energy steady, especially if your performance slot is late in the day. Avoid heavy or unfamiliar food before performing.
Warm-up clothing and footwear
Wear or bring comfortable clothing for a physical and vocal warm-up, and safe footwear for your performance space.
Personal warm-up routine
Prepare a short, familiar warm-up for voice, body, and focus that you can run quietly without disturbing others.
Written reflection or statement notes
If your task includes a written component such as a director's statement or reflection, bring only what the rules permit. Confirm permitted notes with the provider.
Timing plan
Know your piece's exact running time and build in a buffer. Practise with a stopwatch so you can pace yourself under exam conditions.
Backup plan for nerves or mistakes
Decide in advance how you will recover from a dropped line or prop issue: stay in character, breathe, and continue. Rehearse this recovery at least once.
Arrival time and venue details
Confirm your call time, venue, and whether you must report early for setup. Arrive with margin for traffic and sign-in.
Contingency contact
Save your teacher's or coordinator's contact in case of illness, transport problems, or a missing item. Notify them as early as possible if something goes wrong.
Plan the day
Move from learning to polishing. Run full rehearsals in costume with props and cues, record one run and review it for clarity, pace, and character choices. Fix only small, high-value issues; avoid major changes late. Check all paperwork, permissions, and technical files, and confirm your call time and venue. Protect sleep and avoid new physical risks.
Do a final full run, then a lighter line and blocking check. Pack your bag from the checklist, label costumes and props, and test your USB files. Rehearse your warm-up and your recovery plan for a slip. Eat familiar food, hydrate, and aim for a full night's sleep. Stop heavy rehearsal early enough to rest your voice and body.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid dairy-heavy or very heavy meals if they affect your voice, and hydrate. Arrive early, sign in, and set up props and costume calmly. Run your warm-up, then focus on breath and intention rather than last-minute line cramming. Keep water nearby and stay off your voice if you have a long wait.
Enter the space with clear focus, establish your opening moment, and commit fully to the performance. Pace yourself against your timing plan, stay in character through any slip, and protect your voice and body. Finish cleanly, hold your final moment, then follow your teacher's instructions for exit, packing, and any written component. Debrief calmly afterwards and note what you would refine.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from the supervising teacher or assessor about entry, exit, performance space, and setup. Ask before moving furniture, equipment, or other candidates' property.
Bring and present the identification and authentication paperwork your school requires. If the requirement is unclear, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Use only permitted notes, scripts, or cue material during the performance. Confirm what counts as permitted with the provider, as rules differ between tasks and schools.
Keep to the set time limits for your performance and any spoken or written component. Overtime or undertime may affect scoring, so confirm the tolerance with the provider.
Treat the space and other candidates with respect: stay quiet outside the performance area, avoid distracting those waiting or performing, and keep phones and devices silenced and stored as instructed.
Breaks and waiting arrangements are set by the school. Ask your teacher about water, rest, and toilet breaks, and confirm any special provisions or illness procedures with the provider in advance.
Scoring is based on the criteria in the current QCAA Drama syllabus, applied by your school's assessors. Do not attempt to negotiate marks during the exam; raise any concern through your school's formal process afterwards.
If you become unwell or cannot perform, tell your teacher or coordinator immediately. Do not invent or assume a rescheduling policy; confirm the process with the provider.