QCAA Italian exam-day guide
QCAA Italian · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID document your school or test centre requires. The exact accepted forms (e.g. student card, passport, driver licence) are set by the provider, so confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether photocopies are allowed.
Confirmation of entry or timetable
Carry your personal exam timetable or confirmation notice showing the date, session time and venue. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Approved writing equipment
Pack several black or blue pens, pencils, an eraser and a sharpener. Confirm with the provider whether pens must be a specific colour and whether correction fluid or tape is permitted.
Clear water bottle
A plain, label-free bottle is the safest choice in most exam rooms. Confirm with the provider whether water is allowed at your desk and whether labels must be removed.
Permitted reference materials
Italian exams may allow a dictionary or vocabulary list in some components. Do not assume: confirm with the provider exactly which printed materials are permitted and whether annotation is allowed.
Electronic devices stowed
Phone, smartwatch and any other device should be switched off and stored as directed. Confirm with the provider where devices must be placed and the consequences of a device being found on you.
Venue and arrival time checked
Reconfirm the room, building entrance and reporting time the day before. Arrive earlier than the stated time to allow for seating and ID checks.
Travel and backup plan
Plan the route and a fallback option in case of transport delays. Know who to contact at the venue if you are running late.
Timing plan for each section
Decide in advance how long to spend on listening, reading and writing sections, and leave time to transfer answers and proofread.
Rest and nutrition plan
Prioritise sleep in the final nights and eat a normal breakfast. Avoid trying new caffeine levels on the day.
Emergency contact and provider details
Save the school or test centre phone number so you can notify them of illness or delay. Confirm with the provider what evidence is required for special consideration.
Personal circumstances arrangements
If you have approved adjustments, confirm with the provider in advance what they cover and how they will operate on the day.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Review your summary notes on key grammar (verb tenses, agreement, pronouns) and your personalised list of frequent errors. Do two or three timed mini-tasks under exam conditions rather than rereading whole textbooks.
Practise the productive skills aloud and in writing: a short spoken response to a familiar topic, and one written text in the register and format your course requires. Check the task requirements (audience, purpose, length) before and after writing.
Confirm logistics: venue, reporting time, transport, what is permitted in the room, and which ID to bring. Resolve any uncertainty with the provider now rather than on the morning.
Protect sleep. Move study to earlier in the day, stop screen work well before bed, and avoid all-night revision, which reliably reduces accuracy in listening and reading tasks.
Do a light review only: skim your error list, key vocabulary and a couple of model structures. Stop studying by early evening.
Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, clear bottle and any permitted materials. Lay out clothes and check the weather and travel time.
Set two alarms, tell someone your plan, and get a full night's sleep. Eat familiar food rather than anything new or heavy.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and leave earlier than you think necessary. Do a five-minute warm-up only: read a short Italian text or say a few sentences aloud to activate the language.
Arrive at the venue with time to spare, switch off and stow your phone as directed, and complete ID checks calmly. Use waiting time for breathing, not for last-minute cramming of new material.
Read the instructions and check the number of sections, marks and suggested times. Note any choice of tasks and decide quickly so you do not lose time deliberating.
Read questions before the audio or text where permitted, predict likely vocabulary, and answer in the language and format required. If you miss a detail, keep moving; do not let one item consume the section.
Plan for two to three minutes, write, then reserve time to check verb endings, gender and number agreement, word order and whether you met the task requirements.
Make sure every answer is recorded in the correct place, no questions are blank, and your name or candidate details are completed as instructed. Use remaining time to proofread rather than to start a new idea.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from supervisors immediately. If you are unsure whether an action is allowed, ask before doing it rather than after.
Bring the ID the provider requires and keep it on your desk if instructed. If you do not have acceptable ID, the provider may not admit you, so confirm the requirements in advance.
Electronic devices must be switched off and stored as directed for the whole session, including any breaks. Confirm with the provider the rules on phones, smartwatches and headphones.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the session has begun, and do not take any materials into or out of the room unless a supervisor permits it.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for a supervisor. Confirm with the provider in advance whether toilet breaks are allowed and whether you are supervised or timed.
If you feel unwell or are disrupted during the exam, tell a supervisor immediately and ask for the incident to be recorded, as this may support an application for special consideration.
Scoring and marking are set by the provider. Do not rely on rumours about mark allocation; confirm with the provider how each component is weighted and what the task requirements are.
Academic integrity applies throughout. Any attempt to bring in unauthorised material, use a device, or copy another candidate's work may lead to the provider investigating the matter under its rules.