SACE Stage 2 Tourism exam-day guide
SACE Stage 2 Tourism · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID your school or venue requires for admission. Acceptable forms and exact requirements can vary, so confirm with the provider before exam day and keep the ID in your bag the night before.
Admission notice or exam timetable slip
Bring any printed or digital confirmation of your exam session that your school issues. If you are unsure whether one is needed, confirm with the provider.
Approved writing equipment
Pack several black or blue pens, pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener. Check whether your school supplies answer booklets or whether you must bring anything specific; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Clear water bottle
A small clear bottle with no label is usually acceptable, but container rules differ between venues. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are permitted at your desk.
Approved calculator (only if permitted)
Tourism exams are largely qualitative, but some tasks may involve simple figures. Do not bring a calculator unless your subject outline or provider explicitly allows one; confirm with the provider.
Wristwatch
Many exam rooms have a clock, but not always in clear view. A simple non-smart watch helps you pace long responses. Check whether watches are permitted in your venue.
No prohibited devices
Leave phones, smart watches, and earphones switched off and stored as directed, or leave them at home. Rules on where devices must be kept vary, so confirm with the provider.
Review the exam format and length
Know the total time, reading time, number of sections, and whether questions are compulsory or offer a choice. Confirm the format with your teacher or the provider rather than relying on memory.
Prepare summary notes on core topics
Condense your notes on destination geography, tourism types, visitor markets, sustainability, and industry operations into a few pages you can review in the final days.
Plan transport and arrival time
Know the venue, room, and required arrival time, and plan to arrive early enough to settle in without stress. Confirm reporting time with the provider.
Sleep and eat sensibly
A normal night's sleep and a proper meal before the exam support sustained writing far better than last-minute cramming.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Know who to call if transport fails or you are unwell, and confirm the provider's process for illness or misadventure before the day.
Plan the day
Confirm the venue, room, start time, and reporting time with your school or the provider. Check transport arrangements and any equipment rules you are unsure about.
Finish condensing your notes. Build short summaries of key content: types of tourism, destination features, visitor motivations, economic, social and environmental impacts, sustainability principles, and the roles of industry operators.
Practise under time pressure. Complete at least one full practice response or past-style task, then mark it against the syllabus dot points to find gaps.
Target your weakest areas. Re-read case-study material you plan to use, and memorise a small set of specific examples with real places, markets, or operators rather than vague generalisations.
Pack your bag: ID, pens, pencils, eraser, water bottle, and any approved items. Lay out clothes and confirm your route and wake-up time.
Do a light review only: skim your summary sheets and the structure of longer answer types. Avoid learning new content late, as it rarely sticks and raises anxiety.
Stop studying early enough to sleep well. Set two alarms and keep your phone away from the bedside if it distracts you.
Eat breakfast, drink water, and arrive at the venue with time to spare. Avoid crowded discussions of content that may make you doubt what you know.
Read the whole paper first. Note the marks for each question, identify any choice questions, and decide the order in which you will answer.
Allocate time by marks, not by question order. Spend roughly one minute per mark as a guide, and keep a few minutes at the end for checking.
For extended responses, plan briefly before writing: define the command word, state your position, and organise paragraphs around a clear argument with specific examples.
Watch for directive words such as describe, explain, evaluate, and justify. Match the depth of your answer to the mark allocation and the command word.
Check that every required question is answered, that choice questions are clearly identified, and that your name and details are correctly recorded on all booklets.
Rules to check
Bring the photo identification required by your school or venue and keep it accessible. If you are unsure what form of ID is accepted, confirm with the provider before the day.
Follow all instructions from supervisors about seating, materials, and timing. Ask a supervisor quietly if an instruction is unclear rather than guessing.
Keep phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices switched off and stored as directed. Unauthorised devices at your desk may be treated as a breach of rules, so confirm the venue's policy with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates once you enter the examination room, and do not look at another candidate's work. Raise your hand if you need assistance.
If you need to leave the room for a break, raise your hand and wait for a supervisor. Rules on leaving and returning during the exam vary, so confirm with the provider.
If you feel unwell during the exam, tell a supervisor immediately. Do not wait until the end, as there may be processes for illness or misadventure that require timely notification.
Write legibly and cross out work you do not want marked. Presentation expectations and whether extra booklets are available should be confirmed with the provider.
Marks are awarded for what you write, so answer the question asked, use specific tourism examples, and avoid padding. Confirm the weighting of sections with your teacher so you can prioritise accordingly.