QCAA Film TV & New Media exam-day guide
QCAA Film TV & New Media · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID your school or QCAA requires for verification. Confirm with your teacher or the assessment supervisor exactly which form of ID is accepted, as requirements can vary by school and assessment type.
Admission or attendance notice
If your school issues a timetable, exam slip, or attendance confirmation, bring a printed copy. If you are unsure whether one is issued, confirm with the provider well before exam day.
Required stationery
Bring several black or blue pens, pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener. For Film, Television & New Media this may include a ruler for storyboards or shot plans; check your subject guide for permitted materials.
Highlighters and coloured pens or pencils
Useful for annotating stimulus material, planning responses, and colour-coding storyboard panels. Confirm with the provider whether these are permitted in your specific assessment.
Clear water bottle and a light snack
Stay hydrated and keep energy steady across a long writing or planning session. Check your school's rules on what may be brought to the desk.
Wristwatch
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you track time without relying on a wall clock. Confirm with the provider whether watches are permitted and whether smart devices are banned.
Approved calculator or device (if permitted)
Only bring equipment explicitly allowed for your assessment. Confirm with the provider whether any calculator, laptop, or device is permitted, as rules differ between written and practical tasks.
Know your terminology
Revise key vocabulary such as shot types, camera angles and movement, editing transitions, sound design terms, mise-en-scène, narrative structure, genre conventions, and production roles.
Prepare response structures
Practise planning frames for analysis, evaluation, and design tasks: identify the technique, describe its use, explain the intended effect on the audience, and evaluate its success.
Rest and logistics plan
Confirm start time, room, and travel arrangements the day before. Aim for a full night's sleep rather than last-minute cramming.
Confirm permitted materials list
Ask your teacher to confirm the exact list of permitted and prohibited items for this assessment. This is the item most likely to vary, so treat it as needs_review until verified.
Confirm break and timing arrangements
Ask how breaks, reading time, and per-task timing will operate on the day. Confirm with the provider, as these details vary between school-based and external assessments.
Plan the day
Review your summary notes on film language, media concepts, and production processes. Re-read feedback on past practice tasks and list your three weakest areas. Complete one full timed practice response under exam conditions, then mark it against the criteria and note specific improvements.
Build a one-page planning sheet from memory: key terms, analysis frameworks, and a checklist for design or storyboard tasks. Test yourself by explaining camera, editing, sound, and mise-en-scène choices and their intended audience effects without notes.
Do a light review only: skim your planning sheet, re-read the task instructions if available, and prepare your bag with ID, stationery, and permitted materials. Confirm start time, room, and travel. Set two alarms and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive early, and avoid discussing content with peers to keep your thinking clear. Use any reading time to scan the whole paper, note task weightings, and allocate minutes per section before writing.
Read all instructions and questions carefully. Underline key verbs such as describe, explain, analyse, evaluate, and design, and note how many marks each part carries so you can match depth of response to value.
Spend a few minutes planning each extended response. For analysis, name the technique, give specific evidence, explain the intended effect, and evaluate. For design tasks, annotate choices with purpose and audience in mind. Keep an eye on time and move on if a question stalls you.
Reserve time to check that every question is attempted, that diagrams and storyboards are labelled, and that your handwriting is legible. Correct obvious errors, then stop writing when instructed.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from the assessment supervisor. Raise your hand if you need assistance rather than communicating with other candidates.
Bring the identification your school requires and place it on your desk if asked. If you are unsure what ID is accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Do not bring unauthorised devices, notes, or materials into the assessment room. If you are uncertain whether an item is permitted, ask your teacher and confirm with the provider in advance.
Breaks and supervised rest periods are set by the supervisor. Confirm the arrangements with the provider beforehand, and remain supervised for the whole session.
Write in the format and medium specified for each task. If a task requires a storyboard, shot list, or design plan, label it clearly and annotate your choices.
All work must be your own. Do not copy from other candidates or reproduce existing published material; acknowledge sources where required.
Marks are awarded against the stated criteria, so read the task verbs and allocate time in proportion to marks. Show your reasoning even when unsure.
If you feel unwell or something affects your performance, tell the supervisor immediately and ask what processes apply. Confirm the specific procedures with the provider.