QCAA Psychology EA exam-day guide
QCAA Psychology EA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID your school has told you is required for external assessment. The exact accepted forms (for example learner licence, passport, or school-issued card) vary by venue, so confirm with your school or the QCAA before the day rather than assuming any photo card will be accepted.
Admission or attendance details
Know your scheduled session time, room, and seat or candidate number if your school issues one. Confirm with the provider whether you need a printed notice or whether supervisors hold the list.
Approved calculator
Check which calculator model your school permits for Psychology and confirm it meets QCAA equipment rules. Do not bring a model you have not cleared with your teacher.
Spare pens and pencils
Bring at least two dark blue or black pens, pencils, and an eraser. Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid or tape is permitted, as some venues restrict it.
Analogue watch
A simple non-smart watch helps you pace extended responses. Confirm with the provider whether watches are allowed in the room and whether any type is banned.
Clear water bottle
Labels usually must be removed. Confirm with the provider what bottles and containers are permitted in the examination room.
No prohibited devices
Leave phones, smart watches, and earbuds switched off and stored as directed, ideally not on your person. Confirm with the provider where devices must be kept during the session.
Summary notes for the final review
Bring concise one-page summaries of key studies, research methods, and cognitive biases for the pre-exam wait. These must be put away before entering the room.
Plan for timing practice
Rehearse allocating minutes per section and per mark, and practise writing extended responses under time at least once in the final days.
Transport and arrival plan
Plan to arrive early enough to settle without stress. Confirm with the provider the arrival time and late-arrival policy for your venue.
Rest, food, and water the night before
Prioritise sleep over last-minute cramming, and eat a normal breakfast. This is preparation rather than an item to bring, but it affects performance more than an extra hour of revision.
Confirm special provisions
If you have approved adjustments such as extra time or a separate room, confirm with the provider in advance how and where they will apply, and check the day before that the venue has recorded them.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating. Re-read your summaries of core topics: research methods and ethics, memory, learning, social psychology, and individual differences, plus the studies you will cite. Write at least one full timed response and one set of short-answer questions under exam conditions, then mark them against the syllabus descriptors. Identify two or three weak areas and target them, rather than reviewing everything equally. Check your equipment, confirm your session time and room, and protect sleep.
Do light retrieval practice: cover your notes and recall key definitions, study designs, and evaluation points aloud or on blank paper. Review command words and how many marks each question type typically carries so you can judge depth. Rehearse your timing plan. Pack your bag with ID, pens, calculator, and water. Avoid a full new practice exam this late; it tends to create anxiety without adding much. Set an alarm and go to bed at a normal time.
Eat breakfast and drink water. Do a short, calm review of your one-page summaries only, not deep new material. Arrive at the venue with time to spare, follow supervisor instructions for seating and materials, and put notes and devices away before entering. Once seated, read the front instructions, check the paper structure and mark allocations, and take a few slow breaths before starting.
Skim the whole paper first to see section structure and extended-response choices. Allocate time by marks, and keep a little time at the end for checking. Answer short-answer questions with precise terminology and one clear point per mark. For extended responses, plan briefly, use a clear structure with evidence and evaluation, and link back to the question. If a question stalls you, leave space, move on, and return. Watch the clock at each section boundary rather than constantly.
Rules to check
Follow all supervisor directions about seating, materials, and starting and stopping writing. Writing after the instruction to stop can be treated as a breach, so confirm with the provider how this is handled.
Bring and display the identification your venue requires. Accepted forms differ between schools and venues, so confirm with the provider well before the exam rather than relying on assumptions.
Keep phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices switched off and stored exactly as directed. If you are unsure whether an item is permitted, ask before the session begins.
Use only equipment the QCAA and your school permit, including your calculator model and any notes or annotation rules. Confirm with the provider whether the paper may be annotated and what materials are supplied.
Breaks and access to toilets are usually supervised and may not be permitted during the session. Confirm with the provider the break arrangements for your venue and raise any medical needs in advance.
Marks are awarded for accurate terminology, application to the scenario, and evaluation, not for length alone. Match the depth of your answer to the mark allocation and command words.
If you believe something is wrong with the paper or your conditions, raise it calmly with a supervisor at the time rather than after the session, and confirm with the provider how issues are recorded.
Do not discuss or share the paper's contents with others after the session in ways that could disadvantage other candidates. Confirm with the provider what post-exam communication is acceptable.