QCAA English & Literature Extension exam-day guide
QCAA English & Literature Extension · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and QCAA student identification
Bring current photo identification and your school/student ID. Specific accepted forms and whether digital ID is allowed should be confirmed with the provider before exam day.
Exam timetable and room details
Reconfirm the start time, venue, seat number, and reporting time from your school's official exam timetable. Arrive with a buffer for travel and sign-in.
Black or blue pens and spare pens
Pack at least two dark blue or black pens plus one spare. Confirm with the provider whether pencil is permitted or required for any planning or annotation.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for planning, annotating stimulus material, or any sections where pencil is permitted. Check the provider's equipment rules for your specific paper.
Highlighter and annotation tools
Bring a highlighter for marking key terms and stimulus details. Confirm with the provider whether loose annotation paper or sticky notes are allowed, as some venues restrict them.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Stay hydrated without distracting yourself. Check the venue's rules on bottle labelling and placement at your desk.
Approved calculator if your syllabus permits one
Only bring a calculator if the provider's equipment list for this subject allows it. Confirm the approved model list rather than assuming.
No prohibited devices or notes
Leave phones, smart watches, and unauthorised notes outside the exam room or in the designated storage area. Confirm the provider's rules on device storage and whether phones must be switched off and surrendered.
Review the assessment conditions and weighting
Read the official subject syllabus and assessment overview for the exact conditions, time allocation, and how each section is weighted. Confirm details with the provider rather than relying on memory.
Plan your response structure in advance
Prepare a mental template for analytical and creative responses: thesis or concept, evidence, technique, interpretation, and evaluation. Practice applying it under timed conditions.
Sleep, food, and a calm arrival routine
Prioritise sleep in the final week, eat a normal breakfast, and arrive early enough to settle without rushing. Avoid last-minute cramming in the corridor.
Backup plan for transport and contact
Know a backup route and have your school's exam contact saved. If you are delayed, contact the venue immediately and confirm the provider's late-arrival policy.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating. Reread your summary notes on key texts, concepts, and analytical frameworks, then do at least one full timed practice response under exam conditions. Mark it against the syllabus criteria and identify two specific weaknesses to address. Confirm your equipment, ID, timetable, and venue details with the provider if anything is unclear. Keep sessions focused and stop heavy study by early evening so sleep stays stable.
Do a light review only: skim your one-page summary of core ideas, terminology, and response structures. Prepare your bag the night before with ID, pens, highlighter, water, and any approved equipment. Walk through your timing plan for each section and decide how many minutes you will allocate to planning, writing, and checking. Avoid new material and avoid comparing notes with others, which tends to increase anxiety. Aim for a normal night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, hydrate, and do a brief 15 to 20 minute review of your summary sheet rather than a full re-read of texts. Arrive at the venue with time to spare, follow sign-in instructions, and place prohibited items in the designated area. Once seated, read the instructions and any stimulus material carefully, note the marks or weighting for each section, and write a short plan before beginning. Keep an eye on the clock and leave time to proofread.
Read all questions and stimulus material before writing so you can allocate time sensibly. Answer the question actually asked, using precise terminology and specific textual or conceptual evidence rather than general statements. For extended responses, state a clear line of argument early, develop it with well-chosen evidence, and evaluate rather than just describe. If you get stuck, move on and return with remaining time. Manage handwriting legibility and leave a few minutes at the end to check for omissions and unclear expression.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from exam supervisors and the provider's assessment rules. If an instruction is unclear, ask a supervisor before the exam begins rather than guessing.
Bring only permitted equipment. Devices, notes, and unauthorised materials must be stored as directed; confirm the provider's policy on phones and smart watches before exam day.
Present valid photo identification on request. If you do not have acceptable ID, raise it with your school or the provider in advance; do not assume an alternative will be accepted.
Confirm the provider's rules on lateness, early departure, and supervised breaks, including whether toilet breaks are permitted and how they are supervised, rather than relying on assumptions.
If you believe an illness, misadventure, or equipment problem affected your performance, notify a supervisor immediately and ask the provider about the correct application process and deadlines.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam and do not share or discuss paper content afterwards in ways the provider prohibits.
Understand how your response is scored: read the syllabus criteria and any marking guidance the provider publishes, and confirm weightings with the provider if they are not stated in your materials.
If any requirement in this guide conflicts with official instructions, the provider's instructions take precedence. Verify uncertain details with your school or the provider before exam day.