VCE Industry and Enterprise exam-day guide
VCE Industry and Enterprise · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission notice and photo ID
Bring the admission notice or enrolment confirmation your school or provider issued, plus the photo identification it specifies. Which ID types are accepted is set by the provider, so confirm the exact list with your teacher or the VCAA before exam day.
Approved writing equipment
Pack several black or blue pens, pencils, an eraser and a sharpener. For Industry and Enterprise you will mostly write extended responses, so use pens you have already trialled in practice essays and that do not smudge.
Clear water bottle and simple snack
A transparent, label-free water bottle is generally permitted; check the current rules with the provider. Bring a quiet snack for before or after the session if your school allows it, since the exam is long and energy matters.
Approved calculator or device check
Industry and Enterprise is a written, non-calculator subject in most years, but confirm the permitted-equipment list for your year with the provider rather than assuming. Leave phones and smart watches at home or switched off and stored as directed.
A one-page case-study recall sheet
Summarise your two or three strongest business case studies: what the business is, its industry, a problem it faced, the strategy it used, and measurable outcomes. Revise from this sheet, not from it in the exam room, since notes are not permitted at your desk.
A structure template for extended answers
Memorise a repeatable structure: identify the issue, explain the concept, apply it to the case, evaluate the outcome, and recommend. Practise writing it from memory so you can plan any eight-mark or ten-mark question quickly.
Command-word glossary in your head
Know the difference between describe, explain, analyse, evaluate and justify. The number of marks signals how much depth is needed; a two-mark question needs a definition plus one link, while a higher-mark question needs application and judgement.
Timing plan for the paper
Work out minutes per mark from the paper's total marks and reading time, then write your target finish times on the front of the answer booklet. Aim to leave five to ten minutes for checking names, numbering and unfinished parts.
Plan for the reading period
Use reading time to scan every question, note which case study fits which question, and identify your choice in any section that offers options. Do not start writing until instructed.
Transport and arrival plan
Confirm the venue, start time and arrival cut-off with your school, and plan to arrive well before the doors close. Check transport disruptions the day before and have a backup route.
Sleep, food and medication routine
Keep the night before normal rather than cramming. Eat a proper breakfast, bring any prescribed medication, and tell the supervisor in advance if you have a condition that may need consideration.
Special provisions confirmation
If you have approved special examination arrangements, such as extra time or a separate room, confirm the details and room with your coordinator before the day. Arrangements cannot be organised on the morning of the exam.
Plan the day
Shift from learning content to rehearsing it. Write at least two full timed responses or one full practice paper under exam conditions, then mark them against the command words and mark allocations. Build your one-page case-study recall sheet and a list of concepts you keep misapplying, such as market segmentation, cash flow, or corporate social responsibility. Re-read your summaries rather than the textbook cover to cover.
Do light revision only: read your recall sheet, the command-word glossary and your timing plan aloud. Check your equipment, ID and admission details, confirm the venue and travel route, and set two alarms. Avoid learning new case studies now, because half-learned examples are more dangerous than well-known ones. Aim for a normal night's sleep.
Eat breakfast, dress in layers, and arrive early with your ID and equipment. Do not join last-minute group debates about likely questions; instead skim your recall sheet once, then put it away. Once seated, complete the cover details carefully, listen to supervisor instructions, and use reading time to map questions to case studies and to plan your first extended answer.
Follow your timing plan but stay flexible. Answer every question, starting with ones you know best to build momentum. For extended responses, spend a minute planning, use the case study by name, explain the mechanism rather than just naming a concept, and finish with a short judgement or recommendation. If you run short on time, write dot-point plans for remaining high-mark questions so you can earn structure and application marks. Leave the last few minutes to check numbering, spelling of key terms, and that no page is blank.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identification and admission documents the provider requires; if you are unsure what is accepted, confirm with the provider before the day, because you may be refused entry without correct ID.
Electronic devices, including phones and smart watches, must be switched off and stored as directed. Keeping a device on your person during the session can be treated as a breach of examination rules.
Notes, textbooks and unauthorised materials must not be at your desk. Only equipment on the approved list for your subject and year may be used, so confirm that list with the provider.
Follow all supervisor instructions about seating, starting and stopping writing, and leaving the room. Writing after the signal to stop can lead to a penalty or an investigation.
If you need to leave the room for illness or a toilet break, raise your hand and wait for a supervisor to accompany you; time lost is generally not added back, though rules vary, so confirm with the provider.
Raise a hand immediately if you are affected by noise, illness or a problem with your paper, and ask the supervisor to record it. Reporting issues at the time is far more useful than raising them later.
Marks are awarded for what is written in the answer booklet, so show working, label question numbers clearly, and write legibly. Answers written on the question book or in the wrong section may not be assessed.
Academic honesty applies throughout: do not communicate with other candidates during the session and do not share or seek question content afterwards until the provider permits discussion.