VCE French exam-day guide
VCE French · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID document the exam authority requires, such as a passport or another accepted photo ID. Check well in advance which forms of ID are accepted and whether it must be current; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Admission or entry document
Print or download whatever admission slip, timetable confirmation, or candidate number the provider issues. If you are unsure whether your school supplies it or you must bring it yourself, confirm with the provider.
Black or blue pens and a spare
Bring at least two pens that you have already written with, so the ink flows well. Pencil and eraser are useful for planning and for any multiple-choice answer sheet.
Clear water bottle
A small bottle with the label removed is usually allowed at your desk. Check the venue's rules on drinks and snacks; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Watch
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace the reading, listening, and writing sections. Do not rely on a smartwatch, which is normally banned; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Approved dictionary status
Some French examinations permit a monolingual or bilingual dictionary in certain sections and ban it in others. Do not assume; confirm with the provider which dictionary, if any, is allowed and whether it must be unannotated.
Listening equipment check
If the listening component uses headsets or a language lab, find out in advance how to adjust volume and what to do if the audio fails. Confirm with the provider if unsure.
Know your timing and section order
Write down the order of sections, their lengths, and the reading time allowed before each one. Practise moving on when time is up rather than over-polishing one answer.
Plan your arrival
Rehearse the route and aim to arrive well before the start time, allowing for transport delays. Late arrival rules vary, so confirm with the provider if unsure.
Leave prohibited items at home
Phones, smartwatches, notes, and annotated texts are normally banned from the exam room. Know the venue's storage arrangements; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Final vocabulary and phrase review
Prepare a short one-page list of connectives, tense endings, and useful expressions to skim the morning of the exam, not to cram new material.
Sleep and breakfast
Treat the night before as rest, not revision. A normal breakfast and steady hydration support concentration during a long language paper.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Reread your summaries of tenses, agreement, and subjunctive triggers, and do one timed practice of each section type you will face. Review past mistakes in your own writing and note the three or four errors you make most often. Check the exam timetable, venue, and ID requirements, and confirm any uncertain rule with the provider now rather than on the day.
Do light revision only: skim your vocabulary list, reread model answers, and practise a short spoken or written warm-up. Pack your bag with ID, pens, water, and any permitted materials, and lay out clothes. Confirm your transport plan and set two alarms. Avoid intensive study late at night so that you sleep properly.
Eat breakfast, skim your one-page phrase sheet, and arrive early. Once seated, read all instructions carefully, note the time allocation for each section, and check whether there is reading time before the paper begins. Take a few calming breaths and start with the section you find most predictable if the rules allow a choice of order.
Follow the announced timings and keep an eye on your watch. In listening, read questions before the audio starts and answer as you listen, filling gaps afterwards. In reading, skim for gist then scan for detail, quoting or paraphrasing as the task requires. In writing, spend a few minutes planning, watch word counts and register, and reserve time to check agreement, tense, and accents. If you finish early, proofread rather than leave.
Rules to check
Bring only the ID and materials the provider permits, and place any banned items, especially phones and smartwatches, where instructed before entering the room. If you are unsure what counts as banned, confirm with the provider in advance.
Follow all instructions from invigilators about seating, timing, and starting or stopping writing. Writing after time is called can lead to penalties; confirm the provider's policy if unsure.
Breaks and supervised toilet visits are governed by venue rules and may not be permitted during certain sections. Ask before the exam begins; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Dictionaries, notes, and annotated texts are allowed only where the specification says so, and only in the sections named. Check the current specification; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Answer in the language and format the task requires, respect word limits, and write legibly. Marks can be lost for answers that do not address the task or fall outside the required length.
Scoring is based on the published criteria for each section, such as content, range and accuracy of language, and appropriateness of register. Read the criteria so you know what examiners reward.
If you believe there is a problem with the paper, audio, or your conditions, raise it with an invigilator immediately rather than after the exam. Special consideration procedures vary; confirm with the provider if unsure.
Keep any rough work clearly labelled and separate from your answers, and hand in all materials as directed at the end of the session.