SACE Stage 2 Psychology exam-day guide
SACE Stage 2 Psychology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and SACE student/registration details
Bring current photo identification and any student or registration documentation your school has told you to present. The exact ID requirement is set by your school/provider, so confirm with the provider what is accepted.
Admission slip or exam timetable confirmation
Carry the official confirmation of your exam session (time, room, seat if allocated). Confirm with the provider whether a printed slip is required or whether school staff handle this.
Approved pens, pencils and eraser
Bring at least two black or blue pens, several pencils, a sharpener and eraser. For multiple-choice sections you will usually need pencils; for extended responses, dark ink is safer for legibility. Check the equipment list issued by your school.
Clear pencil case or pouch
Use a transparent case so supervisors can check contents quickly. Confirm with the provider whether any pencil case is allowed or whether all items must be loose on the desk.
Non-programmable, non-graphing calculator if permitted
Psychology exams can include data interpretation or simple calculations, and some providers permit a basic calculator. Do not assume it is allowed - confirm with the provider and check the approved model list before relying on it.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
A plain transparent bottle is normally acceptable. Remove or cover commercial labels, and confirm whether bottles must be on the floor rather than the desk.
No phone, smartwatch or wearable device
Leave these at home or hand them in as directed. If you must bring a phone for transport, switch it off and store it exactly where supervisors instruct - keeping it in a pocket or bag at your seat can be treated as a breach of rules.
Nothing written on hands, arms, or stationery
Check your hands, wrists, pencil case and calculator cover for notes or formulas before entering. Anything that looks like unauthorised material can be confiscated and investigated.
Know your room, seat and arrival time
Visit the venue beforehand or check a campus map. Aim to arrive well before the stated start so you are seated and settled; confirm the exact arrival time with the provider.
Plan food, water and medication for the session
Eat a normal meal beforehand and bring any prescribed medication you may need. If you have a condition that requires food, drink or medication access during the exam, confirm approved arrangements with the provider in advance.
Confirm approved adjustments in writing
If you have extra time, a separate room, a reader/writer, or rest breaks, verify the arrangements and where to report. These must be approved beforehand and cannot be arranged on the day.
Rest and a realistic study cut-off
Stop new-content study the night before and protect sleep. A rested brain retrieves concepts and research studies far better than a fatigued one, especially for extended responses.
Plan the day
Build a one-page summary sheet organised around the six or so big topics (e.g., cognition, learning, social influence, personality, health, research methods). For each topic, list key definitions, two or three named studies with aim-method-result-conclusion, and one real-world application. Practise retrieving the sheet from memory rather than rereading it.
Do one full timed practice paper under exam conditions - no notes, phone away, correct time limit. Mark it honestly, then list your three weakest areas. Confirm with the provider what the paper structure and time allocation are, since sections and weighting vary by year.
Target the weak areas with active recall: write definitions from memory, draw study designs, and rehearse how you would evaluate a study's methodology (sample, design, controls, ethics, validity, reliability). Prepare a reusable evaluation scaffold you can apply to unseen studies.
Rehearse extended-response structure once or twice: a clear introduction defining terms, a body that integrates evidence and evaluation, and a conclusion that answers the question. Practise writing under time pressure so you know how many words you produce per minute.
Do a light review only: reread your summary sheet and the list of studies, and skim key terminology. Avoid learning brand-new content, as it tends to displace well-established material and increase anxiety.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, clear case, water, and any approved items. Lay out clothes. Check the venue, start time and travel plan, and set two alarms.
Confirm any special arrangements (extra time, separate room, rest breaks, medication access) and know where to report. Confirm with the provider if anything is unclear - do this now, not on the morning.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. A brief glance at your summary sheet is fine; deep panic-reading is not.
Arrive early with time to spare, leave devices stored as instructed, and use the waiting time for calm breathing rather than group speculation about predicted questions.
Read all instructions and check the marks per question and any choice requirements. Skim the whole paper to identify the questions you will answer and the ones requiring the most planning. Allocate time proportionally to marks, and set a mental cut-off for each section.
Answer the questions you know best first to build momentum, but keep to your time budget. For each extended response, spend a minute planning: define the terms, select the studies you will use, and decide your evaluation points before writing.
Match the depth of your answer to the marks available - a two-mark question needs a definition and an example, not an essay. Use psychological terminology precisely, and name studies with enough detail (author, year, method, finding) to show real knowledge.
Check that every required question is attempted, that multiple-choice answers are transferred correctly, and that your name/ID details are filled in. Fix obvious errors but avoid large rewrites that could introduce new mistakes.
Rules to check
Follow all supervisor instructions immediately. Raise your hand if you need to speak, need materials, feel unwell, or need to leave the room; do not communicate with other candidates once you enter the exam room.
Bring only permitted items to your desk. Bags, phones, smartwatches, notes and any unauthorised material must be stored where supervisors direct. Possession of unauthorised material, even if unused, can be treated as a breach - confirm with the provider what is permitted.
Present the identification and any documentation your school requires. The exact ID and admission requirements are set by the provider, so confirm with the provider in advance rather than assuming.
Do not begin writing until instructed and stop writing immediately when told. Writing after the signal, or before the start, can lead to penalties; confirm with the provider how such incidents are handled.
Breaks and toilet visits are usually supervised and may not be permitted in all sessions. Confirm with the provider what the break policy is and whether rest breaks form part of any approved adjustments.
If you have approved adjustments (extra time, separate room, reader/writer, rest breaks), use them only as authorised. Unapproved arrangements cannot be granted on the day - confirm with the provider well beforehand.
Maintain academic integrity: no copying, no communication with others, no concealed notes, and no attempt to access unseen material. Suspected breaches are reported and investigated under the provider's rules.
Scoring and marking: marks are awarded per question as indicated on the paper, and partial credit is normally available for accurate definitions, correct use of evidence and sound evaluation. Confirm with the provider the exact structure, weighting and any multiple-choice versus extended-response balance for your year.