WACE Health Studies ATAR exam-day guide
WACE Health Studies ATAR · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the form of ID your school or the examination authority requires. Confirm the exact accepted ID type and whether it must be current with your provider before exam day.
Admission or examination slip
If your school issues a personalised exam timetable or admission notice, print it or save it offline. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Approved calculator
Health Studies involves interpreting data such as statistics, rates and survey results, so a calculator can help. Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted and whether a memory reset is required.
Clear pencil case with pens, pencils, eraser and sharpener
Pack at least two black or blue pens and a spare pencil. Use a transparent case or no case if your provider enforces clear-bag rules.
Analogue watch
A simple non-smart watch helps you pace long written responses. Confirm whether smartwatches and phones must be switched off and stored away.
Water in a clear bottle with labels removed
Stay hydrated for a long writing session. Confirm the provider's rule on bottle labelling and whether drinks are allowed at the desk.
Know your seat, room and reporting time
Check your personalised timetable the day before. Arrive with time to spare; confirm with the provider how early candidates should report and what happens if you are late.
Review the syllabus content areas and command words
Skim your summary notes for the core content areas and practise interpreting directive words such as describe, explain, compare and evaluate. Confirm the current syllabus scope with your teacher.
Plan for special examination arrangements
If you have approved adjustments such as extra time or a separate room, confirm the logistics with your provider in advance and know where to report.
Leave prohibited items at home or in your bag
Phones, smart devices, notes and unauthorised materials must not be taken into the exam room. Confirm the provider's rules on bag storage and device collection.
Plan the day
Finish active revision rather than starting new content. Use summary sheets, flashcards and past-style questions to test recall of key concepts, and practise writing structured extended responses under timed conditions. Identify two or three weak areas and target them with short, focused sessions.
Complete one full practice paper or a set of extended-response questions under exam conditions, then mark your work against the marking criteria. Review how you structured answers, used evidence and addressed directive words. Tidy your notes into a one-page summary per topic.
Do a light review of summaries and key terms only. Pack your bag with ID, pens, calculator, watch and water. Check your timetable, room and reporting time. Confirm any special arrangements with your provider. Eat a normal meal, avoid late-night cramming and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Do a final ten-minute skim of your summary sheets, then put them away. Arrive at the venue early, switch off your phone and store it as required. Use the waiting time to settle your breathing rather than to cram new material.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions, marks and suggested times. Scan the whole paper to identify choice questions and extended responses. Allocate time per section and leave a few minutes at the end for checking.
Answer the questions you find most accessible first if the paper allows, then return to harder ones. Match the length and depth of each response to its mark value. For extended answers, plan briefly, use clear paragraphs and health-specific terminology, and refer to relevant determinants, evidence or strategies. Watch the clock at set checkpoints.
Check that every question has been attempted and that multiple-choice answers are transferred correctly. Proofread for incomplete sentences and missing units or terms. Make sure your name and candidate details are completed as instructed before you leave.
Rules to check
Bring the identification your provider requires and present it on request. Confirm the accepted forms of ID and what to do if you do not have them with your provider before exam day.
Follow all instructions from supervisors about seating, materials and starting or stopping writing. If you are unsure whether an item is permitted, ask a supervisor before the exam rather than assuming.
Keep phones, smartwatches and other devices switched off and stored as directed. Do not keep any device on your person during the examination.
If you need to leave the room for a break or toilet visit, raise your hand and wait for a supervisor. Confirm with the provider whether supervised breaks are permitted and whether extra time is granted.
Do not communicate with other candidates once reading time or writing time has begun. Any suspected misconduct should be reported to a supervisor, and you should confirm the provider's misconduct rules in advance.
If you feel unwell or unable to continue, tell a supervisor immediately. Confirm with the provider how illness or misadventure applications are made and what evidence is required.
Marks are awarded according to the marking criteria for each question, so address the directive word and give the depth of response the marks suggest. Do not pad answers with irrelevant content.
If you believe a question is ambiguous or contains an error, note it and answer as best you can, then inform a supervisor afterwards. Confirm the provider's process for raising concerns about the paper.