QCAA Indonesian (SEE) exam-day guide
QCAA Indonesian (SEE) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and exam admission details
Bring the identification document your school or exam supervisor has told you to present, plus your personal exam timetable or admission slip if one is issued. Confirm the exact ID requirements with your school or the exam provider before the day, as rules on acceptable documents vary.
Know your session time and venue
Double-check the start time, room, and reporting time for your Indonesian SEE session. Arrive with margin for traffic and sign-in. If your school has not confirmed the reporting time in writing, ask your teacher or the exam provider.
Approved writing equipment
Pack several black or blue pens, pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener. Use only equipment types your school permits; check whether correction tape or highlighters are allowed, as rules differ between venues.
Clear water bottle and a light snack
Bring water in a clear, label-free bottle if your venue allows it, and a snack for before or after the exam. Confirm the venue's food and drink rules with your supervisor.
No prohibited devices
Leave phones, smart watches, earbuds, and any other electronic devices at home or in the storage arrangements your venue specifies. Do not assume you can keep a phone switched off in your pocket.
Review your Indonesian summary sheets only
Bring brief notes on vocabulary, text types, and sentence structures for last-minute review outside the exam room. Notes must not enter the exam room; check where bags and notes are stored.
Plan your route and backup transport
Work out how you will travel and have a backup plan. Check for public transport disruptions or roadworks that could affect your arrival time.
Sleep and eat normally
Aim for a normal night's sleep and a proper meal before the session. Cramming late into the night is unlikely to help with reading and writing tasks in Indonesian.
Read the instructions carefully
On the day, read the front cover and instructions for each section, including time allocation and any choice of questions. Ask a supervisor if something is unclear before you begin writing.
Check whether a dictionary is permitted
Some language exams allow a printed bilingual dictionary and others do not. Do not bring one unless your school or the exam provider has confirmed it is allowed for your session.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating. Review your summary of text types likely to appear, such as recount, procedure, narrative, report, and analytical exposition, and note their typical structure and language features. Practise one reading set and one writing task under timed conditions, then mark them against the criteria your teacher has shared. Reread your vocabulary list in short, frequent sessions rather than one long block. Confirm your exam time, venue, reporting time, and ID requirements with your school, and sort out transport.
Do a light review only: key vocabulary, common grammar trouble spots, and a checklist of what makes a strong response, such as clear structure, varied sentences, and accurate spelling. Pack your bag with ID, pens, pencils, and any permitted items. Check the venue location and travel time again. Avoid starting new topics or attempting a full past paper late in the day. Set an alarm and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Eat breakfast, hydrate, and leave earlier than you think you need to. Glance at your summary sheet on the way but do not try to memorise new material. Arrive at the venue with time to sign in, store your bag and phone as directed, and find your seat. Use the waiting time to settle your breathing and remind yourself of your time plan for each section.
Read all instructions and check how many questions you must answer and whether there is a choice. Skim reading passages for gist before answering detail questions. Budget time per section and keep an eye on the clock. For writing tasks, spend a few minutes planning structure and key vocabulary, then write, leaving time to check grammar, spelling, and word count. If you get stuck, move on and return later. Write legibly, and cross out mistakes neatly rather than using correction fluid unless it is permitted.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from supervisors and exam officials. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask before you act rather than after.
Present the identification your school or the exam provider requires. If you do not have the correct ID, tell a supervisor immediately; do not assume you will be admitted. Confirm acceptable ID with the provider in advance.
Keep all phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices out of the exam room and stored as directed. Possession of a prohibited device during the exam can have serious consequences regardless of whether you used it.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has started, and do not look at another candidate's work. Raise your hand if you need a supervisor.
If you need to leave the room, for example for the toilet, raise your hand and wait for a supervisor. Whether supervised breaks are allowed and whether you get extra time is set by the venue, so confirm the arrangements with your school or the exam provider.
Your responses are marked against the syllabus objectives and assessment criteria for Indonesian, including your ability to comprehend and produce texts and your control of vocabulary and grammar. Ask your teacher to explain how each section is weighted.
If you believe there is a problem with the exam conditions, such as noise or a misprinted paper, tell a supervisor at the time so it can be recorded. Report concerns through your school afterwards as well.
Check the exam provider's rules on what you may bring into the room, including dictionaries, notes, and water bottles, and follow them exactly. Rules can differ between sessions, so confirm rather than assume.