QCAA General Maths EA exam-day guide
QCAA General Maths EA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Approved calculator
Bring a calculator on the QCAA approved list and make sure it is charged or has fresh batteries. Confirm the exact permitted models and any memory-reset requirements with your school before exam day.
QCAA formula book / data booklet
General Mathematics papers assume access to the official formula and data booklet. Check with your teacher which booklet version your school supplies and whether you may bring your own annotated copy - confirm with the provider.
Student ID and photo identification
Bring the identification your school requires for external assessment. The exact accepted forms vary, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Stationery in a clear container
Several pens, pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, and a ruler. Transparent pencil cases or pouches are commonly required; confirm the school's specific rule.
Printed exam timetable and room allocation
Know your session time, room, and seat reporting time. Save a screenshot and a paper copy so a flat phone battery cannot derail you.
Water in a clear, label-free bottle
Many venues allow plain water at the desk. Confirm whether bottles must be unlabelled and whether they must sit on the floor - confirm with the provider.
Watch (non-smart, no alarms)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace yourself if the room clock is hard to see. Smart watches and phones are not permitted at the desk.
Layered clothing
Exam rooms can be cold or warm. Dress in layers you can remove without disrupting others, and follow any school uniform requirement.
Transport and backup plan
Plan the route, allow buffer time, and identify a backup lift or earlier service. Arriving late can cost you reading time or entry.
Leave phone and smart devices behind or switched off and stored
Devices must be off and out of reach per venue rules. Confirm the school's storage arrangement in advance.
Re-read the instructions for your specific paper
Check with your teacher whether your subject's paper is technology-free, technology-active, or a combination, and what that means for calculator use - confirm with the provider.
Rest and nutrition plan
Prioritise sleep and a normal breakfast over last-minute cramming. No policy needed here, but it is the highest-return preparation in the final day.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating. Work through the official sample papers and past external assessment papers under timed conditions, then mark them against the provided solutions. Build a one-page error log listing the mistake types you keep making - unit slips, misread questions, calculator entry errors - and a short list of formulas or procedures you still hesitate on.
Do one full timed paper at the same time of day as your real session to train your body clock. Afterwards, spend the session reworking only the questions you got wrong, without notes, until you can explain each step aloud. Confirm your calculator is on the approved list and practise the specific functions you will need, such as statistics mode, regression, and financial mathematics where applicable.
Do a light review of your error log and formula sheet only - no new practice papers. Pack your bag: calculator with fresh batteries, spare batteries if allowed, pens, pencils, ruler, eraser, ID, water bottle, watch, and printed timetable. Check the venue location and travel time, set two alarms, and confirm transport. Aim for a normal night's sleep rather than an early one.
Eat a normal breakfast and avoid heavy caffeine if you are not used to it. Arrive with buffer time, check you have your ID and calculator, and switch your phone off and store it as directed. Once seated, read the front instructions fully, note the total marks and suggested time, and plan a rough minutes-per-mark budget before you start writing.
Skim the whole paper to note question types and mark allocations. Start with questions you can do confidently to build momentum, but do not let a single hard item eat your time; mark it and move on.
Show working where marks are awarded for method, keep units and rounding consistent with the question's instruction, and write a clear final answer line. For multiple-choice, eliminate options and be wary of answers that ignore units or order of magnitude. Use your calculator deliberately and re-enter anything that looks surprising.
Stop new questions and protect your existing marks. Check that every question has an answer, that your name and details are correct, that multiple-choice bubbles are filled cleanly, and that you have not left a part-question blank when a partial method could earn marks.
Avoid post-mortems with classmates immediately afterwards if it affects your next exam. Note anything that surprised you for future papers, then move your attention to the next scheduled session.
Rules to check
Follow all venue instructions from supervisors immediately. If you are unsure whether something is permitted, raise your hand and ask before the paper starts rather than risking a breach.
Bring and display the identification your school requires. The exact acceptable forms and consequences of missing ID vary - confirm with the provider in advance.
Phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices must be switched off and stored away from your desk for the whole session. Possession of an unauthorised device can be treated as a breach even if you did not use it.
Only use equipment on the approved list for your subject, and use your calculator only as permitted for that paper. Confirm whether your paper is technology-free, technology-active, or mixed - confirm with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the session has begun, and do not read or copy others' work. Raise your hand for a supervisor if you need anything.
If you need to leave the room, a supervisor will usually accompany you; lost time is generally not added back. Confirm the school's supervision and toilet-break arrangements before the day.
Marks are awarded for correct method as well as the final answer in many questions, so show working clearly. Answers without required working or with incorrect rounding may lose marks.
If you feel unwell or believe an incident affected your performance, tell a supervisor immediately and ask about the school's special provisions or illness/misadventure process. Deadlines and evidence requirements apply - confirm with the provider.