SACE Stage 2 Design, Technology and Engineering exam-day guide
SACE Stage 2 Design, Technology and Engineering · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission slip / exam timetable confirmation
Bring the printed or downloaded copy showing your candidate number, subject, date, time and venue. If you have not received one, confirm with your school's SACE coordinator before exam day.
Photo identification
Bring a current photo ID (for example a passport, driver's licence, or school-issued candidate card) if your school or the exam venue requires it. The exact accepted forms are set by the provider, so confirm with your school's SACE coordinator which ID is accepted.
Black or blue pens plus spares
Bring at least two pens that write cleanly, plus a spare. Practise with the same pen you will use so your handwriting stays legible under time pressure.
Pencils, eraser and sharpener
Needed for any sketches, graphs, freehand drawing or shaded diagrams. A sharp pencil gives cleaner construction lines and dimensioning.
Approved drawing and measuring instruments
Bring a ruler, set square or protractor, and a compass if your course uses them. Confirm with your teacher which instruments are permitted in the exam room.
Approved calculator
Check the exact model against your school's permitted-calculator list, and make sure batteries are fresh or the device is charged. Confirm the policy with your teacher or the provider.
Clear pencil case or pouch
Many venues require stationery to be visible in a clear container. Confirm the venue's rule with your school's SACE coordinator.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Stay hydrated during a long written paper. Remove labels unless the venue advises otherwise; confirm the rule with your school's SACE coordinator.
No notes, phones or smart devices in the exam room
Leave phones, smart watches and loose notes outside the room or in the designated area. Check the venue's storage arrangements in advance.
Know your venue, room and start time
Do a trial trip or check the route and transport timings. Plan to arrive well before the scheduled start so you are seated and settled.
Review the course's key design-process and materials content
Re-read your own summaries of the design process, materials and properties, sketching conventions, and any calculations your course covers. Do not rely on a commercial summary you have not checked against your class notes.
Rest, food and a calm routine the night before
Sleep, eat a proper breakfast, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. A settled mind performs better on extended design and justification questions.
Plan the day
Work through your own condensed notes and past class tasks rather than new content. Rewrite the design process stages and the key properties of the materials you studied, and practise two or three timed sketches or short design responses. Identify the two or three topics you are least confident about and spend focused time on them, then stop adding new material.
Pack your stationery, ID and admission details, and confirm the venue, room and start time with your school's SACE coordinator if anything is unclear. Do one light review of headings and definitions only, then stop studying early. Eat a proper meal, set two alarms, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat breakfast, dress comfortably in layers, and arrive early with all items from the checklist. Avoid discussing content with others in the final minutes. Once seated, read the front cover and instructions carefully, check the time allowed and the marks per section, and plan how long to spend on each part before you start writing.
Read the whole paper or all questions first, then answer the questions you are most confident about to secure marks. For design and justification questions, state the need or brief, describe your chosen solution, and explain why it suits the constraints, materials and user. Show working for any calculations, label sketches clearly, and keep an eye on the clock. Leave time at the end to check that every question has been attempted and that units, labels and spelling of technical terms are correct.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from the exam supervisor and read the front cover of the paper before writing. If an instruction is unclear, raise your hand and ask the supervisor rather than guessing.
Bring only permitted items into the exam room. Phones, smart watches, notes and unauthorised materials must be left in the designated area; confirm the venue's storage and permitted-items policy with your school's SACE coordinator.
Carry and display your photo ID if the venue requires it. The accepted forms of identification are set by the provider, so confirm with your school's SACE coordinator before exam day.
Breaks and toilet visits are at the supervisor's discretion and usually accompanied; check the venue's arrangements in advance so you can plan around them.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper has been distributed, and do not remove any exam material from the room unless the supervisor permits it.
Marks are awarded for what is written in your answer booklet, so show all working, label diagrams and answer every part of multi-part questions. Neat, organised responses help markers follow your reasoning.
If you feel unwell or need to leave, signal the supervisor immediately; do not wait until the end of the paper. Special arrangements and illness provisions are handled by the provider, so confirm the process with your school's SACE coordinator.
Any suspected breach of exam rules is dealt with under the provider's rules, not by the school alone. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask before the exam rather than risk a penalty.