SACE Stage 2 Workplace Practices exam-day guide
SACE Stage 2 Workplace Practices · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID your school or exam supervisor has told you to use. SACE external assessments generally require photo ID, but confirm the exact accepted forms and any school-specific requirement with your teacher or the provider before exam day.
Exam admission slip or timetable confirmation
Some providers issue an admission slip or seating confirmation. Check whether your school requires one and keep it with your ID. If you are unsure whether one is issued, confirm with the provider.
Black or blue pens plus spares
Pack at least two working pens and a spare. Confirm the permitted writing instruments and any ban on pencil for final answers with your teacher, since stationery rules vary by provider.
Pencils, eraser and sharpener
Useful for planning, diagrams or multiple-choice sections if permitted. Check whether pencil answers are accepted for any section of your paper.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Many venues allow a plain, label-free water bottle on the desk. Confirm the venue's drink rules with the provider, as some centres restrict bottles entirely.
Approved calculator, if permitted
Workplace Practices papers may include calculation tasks. Confirm whether a calculator is allowed and which models are approved for your assessment before relying on one.
Analogue watch
A simple watch helps you pace long responses. Many venues ban smartwatches and phones at the desk, so confirm what timekeeping devices are allowed.
Review your case-study and workplace evidence notes
Workplace Practices rewards specific, accurate references to workplace practices, legislation and your own investigation. Reread your summaries and key terms rather than trying to memorise new material the night before.
Plan your travel and arrival time
Know the venue, room and reporting time, and aim to arrive early enough to settle without rushing. Confirm reporting time and venue access with your school or provider.
Check the assessment conditions in advance
Confirm the length of the paper, the number of sections, whether there is reading time, and whether any materials are provided. Ask your teacher or the provider if the instructions are unclear.
Prepare for permitted breaks and needs
If you may need a toilet break or have an approved adjustment, confirm how it works at your venue beforehand so you are not negotiating it during the exam.
Leave prohibited items at home or in your bag
Phones, smart devices and unauthorised notes should not be at your desk. Confirm the venue's rules on where bags and devices must be stored.
Plan the day
Build a one-page summary of the syllabus: key workplace practices concepts, relevant legal and ethical obligations, communication and teamwork principles, and the structure of your investigation or case study. Then work through practice questions under timed conditions, focusing on the question types you find hardest. Mark your answers against the criteria and note recurring weaknesses rather than rereading everything.
Confirm logistics: venue, room, reporting time, ID requirements and permitted equipment. Contact your teacher or the provider about anything unclear, including calculator use, stationery rules and any approved adjustments. Do not leave these questions until the morning of the exam.
Do a light review only: key terms, frameworks and a few model answer structures. Prepare your bag with ID, pens, pencils, water and any approved equipment, and lay out clothes. Check travel arrangements and set two alarms. Aim for a normal night's sleep rather than a late cramming session.
Eat a proper breakfast, drink water and arrive at the venue with time to spare. Avoid last-minute discussion of content that might increase anxiety. Once seated, read all instructions, check the number of questions and marks, and note the finishing time so you can allocate minutes per section.
Skim the whole paper first, then start with the sections you can answer confidently. Read each question for the directive word and the marks available, and match the length and depth of your answer to the marks. Use specific workplace examples and correct terminology. For extended responses, spend a minute planning before writing, and leave time at the end to check that every question has been attempted and that your details are correct.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from the exam supervisor. If an instruction conflicts with what you expected, ask before the paper starts rather than assuming.
Bring and display the identification your provider requires. If you are unsure which forms of ID are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Keep only permitted items at your desk. Phones and smart devices should be switched off and stored as directed; confirm the venue's rules on bags, devices and notes.
Raise your hand if you need to leave the room. Toilet breaks are usually supervised and may be recorded; confirm the venue's break procedure and any limits in advance.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the assessment, and do not take question papers, answer booklets or notes out of the room unless the supervisor explicitly permits it.
Write in the format the paper requires and show working where marks are allocated for process. If you make a mistake, cross it out clearly rather than trying to erase it illegibly.
If you feel unwell or unable to continue, tell the supervisor immediately. Do not wait until the end of the paper; the provider will explain your options.
Ask your teacher or the provider about the scoring and grading arrangements for your assessment rather than relying on second-hand information, as these details can vary between tasks and years.