SACE Stage 2 Chinese (background speakers) exam-day guide
SACE Stage 2 Chinese (background speakers) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID document your school or the SACE Board requires for external assessment. Acceptable forms and any name-change documentation should be confirmed with your school's SACE coordinator before exam day.
Admission slip or exam timetable confirmation
Check whether your school issues a printed admission slip or relies on the school's own roll-check process. If you are unsure what to bring, confirm with the provider (your school or the SACE Board) in advance.
Several black or blue pens
Written responses in Chinese and English are usually completed in pen; bring at least two spares plus a pencil and eraser for planning or for any multiple-choice answer sheet.
Clear water bottle
Labels must usually be removed. Check your school's rules on drinks in the exam room; if uncertain, confirm with the provider.
Approved dictionary or reference materials
Some Chinese background-speaker assessments permit printed dictionaries under set conditions. Whether a dictionary is allowed, and which type, varies by subject and year, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms may not display a visible clock. A simple analogue watch helps you pace the reading, listening and writing sections. Smart watches are almost always prohibited.
No phone or smart device on your person
Leave phones, earbuds and smart watches at home or in the designated storage area. Possession in the exam room can lead to a breach of rules even if the device is switched off.
Know your seat number and room
Confirm your exam room and seating arrangements with your school the day before, as rooms are often not your usual classroom.
Plan transport and arrival time
Aim to arrive well before the scheduled start, allowing for traffic and check-in. Late entry rules are set by the provider, so confirm them if you are unsure.
Rest, food and water the night before
Sleep and a normal breakfast matter more than last-minute cramming. Bring a light snack for after the exam rather than during it.
Review the task structure, not new content
In the final days, re-read the assessment outline and practise timing for each section rather than learning new vocabulary lists.
Confirm special provisions
If you have approved adjustments (extra time, separate room, rest breaks), confirm the arrangements in writing with your school. Do not assume they carry over automatically; confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Do a full timed practice run under exam conditions: complete one listening, one reading and one writing task within the official time allocations. Mark where you lost time and adjust your pacing plan for each section.
Re-read the assessment outline and marking criteria so you know exactly what each section rewards (for example, content, organisation, range of language and accuracy). Note the word or character counts required for written tasks.
Build a one-page revision sheet of your own: high-frequency connectives, sentence patterns for argument and comparison, and a short list of personal examples you could use in an extended response. Keep it to what you can actually recall under pressure.
Check logistics: exam room, start time, transport, and whether any materials such as a dictionary are permitted. If anything is unclear, confirm with the provider now rather than on the day.
Do a light review only: skim your revision sheet and practise one short planning exercise for a writing prompt (five minutes to outline structure and key vocabulary). Stop studying by early evening.
Prepare your bag: ID, pens, pencil, eraser, clear water bottle, non-smart watch, and any approved materials. Put your phone away and set two alarms.
Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy caffeine late in the day, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Sleep is more useful than one more vocabulary list.
Eat breakfast, drink water, and arrive early. Do a five-minute warm-up: read a short Chinese text aloud or silently to activate the language, and glance at your revision sheet without trying to memorise anything new.
Hand in or store your phone and any smart device as directed before entering the room, and check you have your ID and pens.
Read the instructions and check the number of sections, marks and suggested times. Note any choice of questions and decide quickly which options you will answer.
Use the reading time to predict likely vocabulary and question focus. During playback, note keywords and numbers rather than full sentences, and use any second playback to confirm details. Write something for every question; unanswered items score nothing.
Skim questions first, then read for gist before detail. Underline or note the exact words in the text that justify each answer, and watch for distractors such as negation, comparison and time shifts.
Spend two to three minutes planning structure and key phrases, then write. Leave five to eight minutes to check agreement, measure words, character accuracy, tense markers and the required length. If you run short of time, finish your conclusion rather than perfecting earlier sentences.
Check that every question has an answer, that your name and candidate details are correct, and that you have not left writing tasks below the required length. Stop writing immediately when instructed.
Rules to check
Bring the identification your school or the SACE Board requires and place it on your desk if instructed. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day; do not rely on a photograph of your ID on your phone.
Phones, smart watches, earbuds and other electronic devices must not be in your possession in the exam room. Even an unused device can be treated as a breach of rules, so leave it outside or hand it in as directed.
Follow all instructions from supervisors, including seating, start and stop times, and leaving the room. Do not begin writing before the signal or continue after the final instruction. If you need to leave temporarily, raise your hand and wait for a supervisor; re-entry rules are set by the provider, so confirm them if unsure.
Use only materials the assessment permits. Whether a printed dictionary or other reference is allowed in the Chinese background-speakers exam varies, so check with the provider in advance and do not bring unauthorised notes or annotated materials.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not share or discuss specific exam content with others in a way that could disadvantage candidates sitting later. If you believe you have seen the paper in advance, tell a supervisor immediately.
Write in the language and format each task requires, and respect stated word or character counts. Responses that ignore the required text type or length can lose marks even if the language is accurate.
If you feel unwell or something affects your performance, tell a supervisor or your SACE coordinator as soon as possible. Special circumstances provisions exist but have strict timelines and evidence requirements, so confirm with the provider rather than waiting.
Academic integrity applies throughout: presenting memorised model essays as your own response to an unseen prompt, or bringing in prepared text, may be treated as a breach. Prepare structures and vocabulary, not a script to reproduce.