SACE Stage 2 Australian Languages - First Language exam-day guide
SACE Stage 2 Australian Languages - First Language · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID form your school or the supervising authority requires. Because accepted ID types vary by provider, confirm with the provider which documents are valid and whether a school-issued card is acceptable.
Admission or attendance slip
If your school issues a printed slip or candidate number, bring it. If you are unsure whether one is required, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Approved pens and pencils
Pack several black or blue pens plus at least two pencils and an eraser for planning and corrections. Check the provider's list of permitted stationery, since some items may be restricted.
Clear water bottle
Bring a plain, label-free water bottle if permitted. Confirm with the provider whether bottles must be clear and labels removed.
Approved dictionary or reference
First Language courses sometimes permit a monolingual or bilingual dictionary. Do not assume this: confirm with the provider which dictionaries, if any, are allowed and whether they must be checked in advance.
Wristwatch
A simple non-smart watch helps you pace long writing tasks. Smart watches and devices with communication features are almost always prohibited, so confirm the provider's device rules.
No unauthorised electronics
Leave phones, smart watches, and earbuds at home or surrender them as directed. Confirm the provider's policy on where devices must be stored during the test.
Know the venue and start time
Confirm the exact room, building entrance, and reporting time with your school, and plan to arrive with buffer time for checking in.
Rest and nutrition plan
Arrange a normal night's sleep and a light meal before the test. Avoid trying new caffeine levels or foods on the morning itself.
Review task structure only
In the final day, reread the format and timing of each section rather than cramming new content. Confirm the section breakdown and time allocations with the provider.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating. Reread your summaries of key themes, text types, and language structures, and practise one timed response under exam conditions. Check the format and permitted materials with your teacher, and confirm with the provider anything unclear about dictionaries, devices, or ID.
Do a light review of your planning templates and a short list of common errors in grammar, register, and text-type conventions. Prepare your bag with ID, stationery, and any approved reference. Confirm the venue and reporting time. Stop studying early enough to sleep well.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and avoid last-minute discussion of content that could raise anxiety. Hand in or store devices as directed, check that your pens write, and settle into your seat with slow breathing.
Read all instructions and check the marks and suggested times for each section. Skim all questions or prompts before starting so you can allocate time and choose options wisely.
Spend a few minutes planning each extended response, then write. Keep an eye on the clock and leave time to check grammar, spelling, register, and whether you answered every part of each task. If a section is heavily weighted, protect its time.
Proofread for agreement, verb forms, punctuation, and text-type features. Make sure your name or candidate number is on everything required, and hand in materials only as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identification the provider requires; if you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Follow all instructions about prohibited items. Phones, smart watches, and other unauthorised devices should be left outside or surrendered as directed; confirm the provider's storage policy.
Do not communicate with other candidates once you enter the examination room, and do not look at others' work. Raise your hand and wait for a supervisor if you need help.
If you need to leave for a break, follow the supervisor's instructions. Policies on toilet breaks and supervised exit vary, so confirm with the provider how breaks are handled.
Use only permitted materials such as an approved dictionary. If you are unsure whether a resource is allowed, ask before the test rather than assuming.
Write in the language and text type the task requires, and answer every part of each question. Marks are awarded against the stated criteria, so check the requirements before writing.
Manage your own time within the total allowed; supervisors will announce start and finish but will not usually warn you about individual sections.
If illness or an unexpected problem affects you, tell a supervisor or your school as soon as possible and confirm with the provider what evidence and processes apply.