SACE Stage 2 French (continuers) exam-day guide
SACE Stage 2 French (continuers) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID (as required by your school or the SACE Board)
Bring the identification your school or exam venue has told you to present. Rules for what counts as acceptable ID vary by venue, so confirm the exact requirement with your school's SACE coordinator or the SACE Board before exam day.
Admission slip or exam timetable confirmation
Some schools issue a personalised exam timetable or admission notice. Ask your coordinator whether you need to bring anything printed, or whether seating is handled entirely by the venue. If unsure, confirm with the provider.
Black or blue pens (at least two) plus spares
Written responses in the French continuers exam are completed in pen. Bring more than one so a failing pen does not cost you time. Check with your school whether pencil is permitted for any rough work.
Pencil and eraser for planning
Use pencil for planning notes, mind maps and draft structures before writing final answers in pen. Confirm your venue's rules on what may be written in the question booklet.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Staying hydrated helps sustained concentration across a long language paper. Many venues require bottles to be clear and unlabelled; check your school's exam rules.
Approved dictionary or word list - only if your school permits it
Do not assume a dictionary is allowed. Some language exams restrict or prohibit dictionaries and electronic devices. Ask your teacher or coordinator in advance and follow their answer exactly.
A watch (non-smart) if the room clock is not visible
Timing is critical in a paper with reading, listening and writing sections. Smart watches and phones are almost always banned at the desk, so bring a simple analogue or digital watch if permitted.
Know your seat number, room and start time
Confirm the venue, room and reporting time at least a day ahead. Arrive early enough to settle, use the bathroom and complete any ID checks without stress.
Revise your personal phrase bank and connectors
Prepare a one-page list of high-frequency connectors (d'abord, ensuite, cependant, par conséquent, en revanche), opinion phrases and subjunctive triggers. Review it in the final days rather than learning new material.
Practise timing under exam conditions
Do at least one full timed practice using the official section structure and mark allocation. This trains you to allocate minutes per section and to leave time for checking.
Plan your writing structures in advance
Have a reliable structure for the text types likely to appear (formal letter, article, diary entry, speech, email). Know the conventions for opening, closing and register for each.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or in your bag
Mobile phones, smart watches and any connected device are normally prohibited at the desk. Check your venue's rules on where devices must be stored and switch them off before entering.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidation. Re-read your phrase bank, grammar summaries and text-type structures. Do one timed practice paper or section under exam conditions, then mark it and list your three most frequent error types (for example, verb endings, agreement, or register). Spend the remaining time targeting those errors rather than revising everything.
Practise the listening and reading components if your exam includes them. For listening, train yourself to note key words, numbers and names on first hearing, since repeats may be limited. For reading, practise scanning for the question's key term before reading the whole text. Review vocabulary linked to common themes such as environment, technology, health, family and school life.
Confirm the venue, room, reporting time and what you are allowed to bring. Pack your bag: pens, pencil, eraser, water bottle, ID and any permitted materials. Lay out clothes. Do a light review of your phrase bank and text-type structures only. Avoid cramming new grammar. Eat a proper meal, avoid excessive screen time and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat breakfast and arrive at the venue with time to spare. Do a short ten-minute review of connectors and your writing structures, then stop. Once seated, read the front cover and instructions carefully, check the mark allocation and note the recommended time per section. Take a few slow breaths and begin with the section you feel most confident about if the paper allows it.
Read all instructions and check how many questions are compulsory and whether there are choices. Note the marks per question so you can judge how much detail each answer needs. Write your candidate details exactly as instructed. Scan the whole paper so you know what is coming and can plan your time.
Follow your time plan strictly. For writing tasks, spend a few minutes planning structure and key vocabulary before drafting. Use a range of tenses, connectives and vocabulary appropriate to the text type and audience. If a question is taking too long, leave a space, move on and return if time allows. Keep an eye on the clock at each section boundary.
Reserve time to check your work. Look for verb endings and tense consistency, gender and number agreement, accents and spelling, and whether you have addressed every part of the question. Check that you have answered the required number of questions and that no answer is left blank where marks are available.
Rules to check
Bring the identification your school or the SACE Board requires and present it if asked. Because acceptable ID and check-in procedures vary, confirm the exact requirement with your school's SACE coordinator or the SACE Board before exam day.
Follow all instructions from supervisors. Raise your hand if you need to speak, need materials or feel unwell, rather than leaving your seat or communicating with other candidates.
Electronic devices, including phones and smart watches, are generally not permitted at the desk. Confirm your venue's rules on storage and ensure devices are switched off before you enter the exam room.
Dictionaries, word lists and other reference materials may be restricted or prohibited. Do not bring or use any material unless your teacher or coordinator has confirmed it is permitted for this exam.
Ask about toilet breaks and supervised rest breaks in advance. Procedures differ between venues, so confirm with the provider how breaks are managed and whether they affect your finishing time.
Marks are awarded for communication, range and accuracy, so aim to use varied vocabulary and structures while keeping your message clear. Do not leave questions blank; a partial, relevant answer can still earn marks.
Write legibly in pen and cross out work you do not want marked. Follow any instructions about where answers must be written, such as answer booklets versus the question booklet.
If you believe there is an error in the paper or you are affected by an incident during the exam, tell a supervisor immediately and follow your school's procedures for reporting it, since outcomes depend on rules you should confirm with the provider.