SACE Stage 2 German (continuers) exam-day guide
SACE Stage 2 German (continuers) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID document your school or the supervising authority requires for external assessments. Confirm the exact accepted forms with your school's SACE coordinator before the day.
Admission or attendance slip
If your school issues a personalised exam timetable or admission slip, bring it. Confirm with the provider whether it must be presented at the door.
Black or blue pens (at least two)
Written responses and the written component of the assessment are completed in ink. Bring spares and check they work beforehand.
Pencils and eraser
Useful for multiple-choice or short-answer sections completed on a separate answer sheet. Confirm with the provider whether pencil is permitted for these sections.
Clear water bottle
Labels must usually be removed. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk.
Approved dictionary
Check with your teacher which print or electronic dictionaries are permitted for German. Do not assume a bilingual dictionary is allowed; confirm with the provider.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Many venues do not guarantee a visible clock. Smartwatches and any device with communication capability are normally prohibited; confirm with the provider.
No phone or smart device at the desk
Leave phones switched off and stored as directed. Bringing an unauthorised device into the exam room can lead to a breach of rules, so confirm storage arrangements with the provider.
Arrive early
Plan to reach the venue well before the scheduled start so you can be seated and settled. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider.
Know the structure and timing
Review the section breakdown, marks per section, and recommended time allocation for the listening, reading, and writing components with your teacher.
Rest and eat beforehand
A normal night's sleep and a proper meal support sustained concentration across a long language exam.
Confirm venue and seat allocation
Check the room and any seat number in advance. Confirm details with the provider if they have not been communicated.
Plan the day
Work through one full past-style paper under timed conditions, then mark it and list your three weakest areas. Spend remaining time on targeted vocabulary and grammar review rather than re-reading everything. Confirm the exam venue, start time, and permitted materials with your teacher. Prepare your bag and ID the night before so the last morning is calm.
Do light review only: key connectives, verb forms, and phrases for structuring an argument or a formal letter. Rehearse a short spoken summary of a familiar topic to keep German active. Check the dictionary you plan to bring is the approved type. Set out clothes, ID, pens, and water. Aim for a full night's sleep rather than late cramming, which costs more in concentration than it gains in knowledge.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive early. Skim only a short summary sheet, not new material. Once seated, read the front cover instructions carefully, check the total time and section marks, and note the finish time. Take a few calm breaths and set your time plan before starting.
Read the whole paper's instructions first, then allocate minutes per section in proportion to marks. In listening, preview questions before each recording and write keywords immediately. In reading, skim for gist then scan for detail, answering in German where required. In writing, spend a few minutes planning structure and check register, verb position, and endings. Leave time to proofread for agreement, tense, and spelling, and never leave a question blank.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from supervisors and invigilators, including seating, start and stop signals, and rules on leaving the room. Ask a supervisor if anything is unclear rather than guessing.
Bring only permitted materials to the desk. Bags, phones, and smart devices must be stored as directed; confirm with the provider what counts as permitted equipment.
Present the required identification if asked. If you do not have it, tell a supervisor immediately; confirm with the provider what alternatives are accepted.
Raise your hand if you need to leave for the toilet or feel unwell. Movement during reading time or while instructions are being given may be restricted; confirm with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has begun, and do not share or seek information about the paper until the published release time.
Marks are awarded for communication and accuracy appropriate to the task; answer in German unless a question explicitly invites English, and confirm the expected response language with your teacher beforehand.
If you believe there is an error or ambiguity in a question, note your interpretation and continue; report it to a supervisor after the exam rather than losing time.
Check with the provider for the exact policy on late arrival, illness, and misadventure, and report any issue affecting your performance through the official process as soon as possible.