SACE Stage 2 Indonesian (background speakers) exam-day guide
SACE Stage 2 Indonesian (background speakers) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and exam admission details
Bring current photo identification and any admission slip or candidate number the school or provider has issued. Exact ID requirements vary by venue, so confirm with the provider what counts as acceptable ID and whether a printed slip is required.
Know the exact time, room, and arrival cut-off
Confirm your personalised timetable, room number, and how early you must arrive. SACE exams commonly require early arrival, but do not rely on memory: check your official timetable and confirm with the provider.
Approved writing equipment in a clear case
Pack several black or blue pens, pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener. Transparent cases are commonly required; confirm with the provider which equipment and cases are permitted.
Approved calculator only if the syllabus permits
Indonesian exams may not require a calculator. Do not bring one unless the official subject outline and provider allow it, and confirm approved models with the provider.
No notes, dictionaries, or phones in the exam room
Unless the provider explicitly permits a dictionary or other aid for this subject, leave all notes, textbooks, smart devices, and phones outside or switched off and stored as instructed. Confirm the permitted-aids list with the provider.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
A plain bottle is often allowed, but rules vary. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are permitted and in what form.
Printed or reviewed summary of text types and structures
This is for study before the exam only, not for the room. Review formats such as formal letters, articles, reports, and dialogues, plus cohesive devices and register markers. Do not take notes into the exam unless the provider permits them.
Indonesian-only planning habits rehearsed
Practise planning responses in Indonesian under timed conditions so you can allocate minutes for planning, drafting, and checking. Confirm the exact section timings and task types with the provider.
Watch or simple timing method
Check whether a watch is allowed; smart watches are almost never permitted. Confirm with the provider before relying on one, and use the room clock if available.
Medical or special-provision arrangements confirmed
If you have approved adjustments such as extra time or a separate room, confirm the logistics and where to report with the provider in advance.
Transport and emergency contact plan
Plan your route, backup transport, and a contact number in case of delay. Know the provider's late-arrival policy by confirming with the provider.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Prepare a normal breakfast or meal and water, and protect sleep in the final days. Avoid trying new energy drinks or heavy caffeine on exam morning.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Re-read your summaries of text types, key vocabulary, and grammar points that recur in your errors. Do two or three timed practice tasks in Indonesian, mixing listening, reading, and writing or speaking as your syllabus requires, and mark them honestly against criteria you have confirmed with the provider.
Audit logistics: confirm room, start time, arrival time, ID, permitted equipment, and any special provisions with the provider. Prepare your bag and lay out clothes. Check that your transport plan has a backup.
Target weak areas rather than re-reading everything. For writing, rehearse a five-minute plan for a formal letter, an article, and a report, including register, opening, and closing formulas. For speaking, if your exam includes an oral component, record yourself answering typical questions and review fluency, accuracy, and range.
Do a light review only: skimming your one-page summary of structures, connectives, and common corrections. Stop intensive study early. Prepare stationery and ID, check the venue route, set two alarms, and go to bed at a normal time. Do not cram new vocabulary overnight.
Eat a normal meal and drink water. Do a short ten-minute warm-up in Indonesian, such as reading a short article or reciting useful sentence patterns, rather than testing yourself on unknown material. Arrive earlier than the required cut-off and check in as instructed.
Read all instructions and check the marks and suggested times for each section. Write a brief plan in Indonesian for extended responses, noting audience, purpose, register, and key points. Budget time for checking, and do not spend too long on any single question.
Answer in Indonesian unless instructed otherwise. Monitor time at set checkpoints. For writing, keep sentences controlled and use structures you know accurately rather than ambitious structures you cannot manage. For reading and listening, underline key words and eliminate clearly wrong options.
Use remaining time to check agreement, verb forms, spelling, punctuation, and whether you answered every required part. For extended writing, verify that the text type conventions and register match the task. If time is short, complete unfinished answers with clear, simple Indonesian rather than leaving blanks.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from supervisors. Raise your hand if you need to speak, leave the room, or have a problem; do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has begun.
Bring and display the identification the provider requires. If you are unsure what ID is acceptable or what to do if you forget it, confirm with the provider in advance rather than on the day.
Keep phones, smart watches, and any unauthorised devices switched off and stored as directed. Possession of unauthorised material can lead to serious consequences; confirm the provider's rules on devices and permitted aids.
Do not bring notes, textbooks, dictionaries, or prepared texts into the room unless the provider explicitly permits them for this subject. Confirm the permitted-aids list with the provider.
Use only approved equipment. If you need to leave for the toilet or another reason, follow the supervisor's instructions; supervision arrangements and whether time is added vary, so confirm with the provider.
Write your responses in the spaces or booklets the provider specifies and make sure your candidate details are correct. Ask a supervisor before the exam if you are unsure how to complete the front of your booklet.
Scoring is based on the provider's published criteria and marking scheme. Read the marks and instructions for each task and allocate effort accordingly; do not assume all questions carry equal weight.
If illness, misadventure, or another problem affects your performance, notify the provider as soon as possible and ask about their process. Do not assume a remedy will be applied automatically; confirm the provider's policy and deadlines.