QCAA French Extension exam-day guide
QCAA French Extension · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID document your school or the supervising authority has told you to present. If you are unsure which forms of ID are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Admission or attendance notice
Carry any printed or digital notice showing your name, candidate number and scheduled session. If your school has not issued one, confirm with the provider what you need to show on arrival.
Candidate or student number
Know it by heart or write it on a card. You may be asked to write it on every response booklet or answer sheet.
Approved stationery
Pack several black or blue pens, pencils, an eraser and a sharpener. Check with the provider whether correction fluid or tape is permitted, as rules vary.
Clear water bottle
A plain, label-free bottle is usually acceptable. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at your desk.
Wristwatch (optional)
If you want your own timekeeping, bring a simple non-smart watch. Many venues provide clocks and prohibit smart devices, so confirm the rules with the provider.
No prohibited devices
Leave phones, smart watches, earbuds and any other electronic devices switched off and stored as instructed. Do not assume you may keep them on your person.
French reference materials
Check with the provider whether any dictionary, vocabulary list or reference sheet is permitted for your particular paper. Do not bring one unless it has been explicitly approved.
Confirm venue, room and arrival time
Re-check the location, room number and reporting time the day before. If anything is unclear, confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Plan the journey
Work out transport and allow a generous buffer for delays. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time so you are settled and calm.
Sleep and breakfast
Prioritise a normal night's sleep and a light breakfast. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material the morning of the exam.
Read the instructions on the paper
When told to begin, read the front cover and question instructions carefully, including any choice of questions or word limits. Ask a supervisor if something is unclear.
Plan the day
Consolidate rather than cram. Review your own summary sheets of key vocabulary, connectors and structures, and re-read feedback on past practice tasks. Do one timed practice section under realistic conditions, then mark it honestly and note two or three specific improvements. Confirm your venue, reporting time and what you are allowed to bring, checking with the provider if unsure. Keep evenings calm and protect your sleep.
Do a light review only: skim vocabulary lists, common grammatical pitfalls and your plan for structuring extended responses. Pack your bag with ID, stationery, water and any approved materials. Check transport arrangements and set two alarms. Avoid learning new content or doing a full mock, as fatigue will cost more than extra facts will gain. Eat well and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat breakfast, dress comfortably in layers, and leave with buffer time. Glance at your summary sheet on the journey but stop revising once you arrive. Arrive early, follow signage, store devices as instructed and settle at your desk. Use any reading time to scan the whole paper, note question choices and plan timing before writing.
Read all instructions and allocate time across sections before starting. Answer in French unless a question clearly requires otherwise, and watch for task requirements such as word limits, register and text type. Monitor the clock at checkpoints rather than constantly. If a question stalls you, leave space and move on, returning later. Reserve the final minutes to check agreements, tenses, spelling and that you have attempted every required question.
Rules to check
Bring only materials the provider has approved for your paper. If you are unsure whether a dictionary, reference sheet or device is allowed, confirm with the provider in advance rather than assuming.
Present the identification required by your school or supervising authority on request. If you are unsure what ID is accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Switch off and store all phones, smart watches and other electronic devices exactly as instructed. Keeping a prohibited device on your person, even switched off, may be treated as a breach.
Follow all directions from supervisors about seating, starting and stopping writing, and leaving the room. Do not write after you are told to stop.
If you need to leave the room for a break or for medical reasons, raise your hand and wait for a supervisor. Confirm with the provider in advance if you have a condition requiring special arrangements.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has begun, and do not share or seek information about the paper until the session has ended.
If you believe there is an error, ambiguity or missing page in your paper, attract a supervisor's attention immediately rather than guessing.
Scoring and grading arrangements, including how sections are weighted and how results are reported, are set by the authority. Confirm the specifics with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.