QCAA Economics exam-day guide
QCAA Economics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your exam date, start time, and venue or school location
QCAA external assessment dates and session times are set by the QCAA and administered through your school. Verify your personal timetable and room allocation with your teacher or school assessment coordinator rather than relying on memory or secondhand information.
Bring photo identification if your school or venue requires it
Requirements vary by school and venue. Confirm with the provider (your school's assessment coordinator) whether ID is needed and in what form; do not assume a particular document is accepted.
Pack approved pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, and a ruler
Write in black or blue pen as directed; use pencil for diagrams or graphs where instructed. Check your school's stationery rules, since some venues restrict pencil cases and loose items on the desk.
Bring a school-approved calculator and confirm the permitted model
QCAA sets rules on approved calculators for external assessment. Confirm with your teacher which models are permitted and whether memory must be cleared; do not bring a second device unless you have checked it is allowed.
Do not bring notes, phones, smart watches, or unauthorised materials into the room
These must be left outside the assessment room or handed in as directed. Possession of unauthorised material during an external assessment can lead to a breach of assessment rules, so clarify storage arrangements with your school beforehand.
Bring water in a clear container and a light snack for after the session
Drink bottle rules vary; confirm with the provider whether clear bottles are permitted at your desk. Food is generally not allowed during the test, so plan to eat afterwards.
Review the syllabus content areas and your own summary notes in the final days
Focus on the topics and cognitive verbs your teacher has identified as assessable. Re-read your own condensed notes rather than trying to learn new content in the last 72 hours.
Practise past-style questions under timed conditions
Use the response genres and command words your course uses (for example, explain, analyse, evaluate). Time yourself to build pacing for extended responses.
Know the structure of the paper and the marks available
Confirm with your teacher the number of sections, whether there is a choice of questions, and the suggested time per section. This shapes how you allocate writing time.
Plan your travel and arrive early
Aim to arrive with time to spare so you can settle, use the bathroom, and follow seating instructions without stress. Late arrival procedures are set by the venue; confirm them in advance if you are concerned.
Check your equipment the night before
Test your calculator, confirm pens write, and lay out everything you need in one place so the morning is calm and unhurried.
Prepare your mental plan for extended responses
Decide in advance how you will structure analysis and evaluation answers, including how you will use economic terminology, data, and examples. This reduces decision-making under time pressure.
Plan the day
Consolidate rather than cram. Work through your own summary notes topic by topic, identifying gaps and filling them with brief targeted revision. Complete at least one full timed practice paper or a set of extended-response questions, then mark your work against the criteria your teacher has shared and note recurring weaknesses. Confirm your exam time, venue, and equipment requirements with your teacher. Protect sleep: aim for consistent rest rather than late-night study sessions.
Do a light review of key definitions, models, and policy concepts, and skim your summary notes without attempting new material. Rehearse the structure you will use for analysis and evaluation questions. Pack your bag: pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, ruler, approved calculator, water, and any ID your school requires. Check travel arrangements and set an alarm. Avoid intensive study late in the evening and prioritise sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Do a short, calm review of your summary sheet only, if it helps you feel settled. Arrive at the venue early, follow seating and materials instructions, and hand in or store any unauthorised items as directed. Use reading time, if provided, to scan the whole paper, note question choices, and plan time allocation before you begin writing.
Read all instructions and check the marks for each question so you can allocate time proportionally. Answer the questions you are most confident about first if that helps momentum, but keep to your time plan. For extended responses, take a minute to plan your argument, use economic terminology precisely, support analysis with relevant data or examples, and make explicit judgements where evaluation is required. Watch the clock, leave time to finish each response properly, and check that you have attempted every required question before the end.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from supervisors and the QCAA assessment rules as explained by your school; ask your coordinator in advance about anything you are unsure of rather than guessing on the day.
Do not bring unauthorised materials, including notes, phones, or smart devices, into the assessment room. Confirm with the provider where such items must be stored.
Confirm with the provider what identification, if any, you must present, and bring it as instructed.
Breaks and toilet access during external assessment are managed by supervisors under venue procedures; confirm the arrangements with your school beforehand rather than assuming you can leave and return freely.
Scoring is based on the criteria and marking guides set by the QCAA for the subject; your responses should address the command words and the marks allocated to each question.
If you believe something has affected your performance, such as illness or a misadventure, report it to your school promptly and ask about the applicable QCAA processes; confirm the deadlines with the provider.
Academic integrity applies throughout: present your own work and do not communicate with other candidates during the session.
If you are unsure about any procedural rule, such as calculator use or stationery, confirm with the provider before the exam day.