WACE Italian Second Language ATAR exam-day guide
WACE Italian Second Language ATAR · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the ID document your school or the exam authority requires. Accepted forms and exact requirements can change, so confirm with the provider which ID is valid and whether it must be current.
Exam admission or attendance notice
If your school issues a personalised exam timetable, admission slip, or candidate number, bring it. Confirm with the provider whether it must be printed or may be shown on a device.
Several black or blue pens
Written responses and essays are normally completed in ink. Bring two or three reliable pens of the permitted colour and check the current instructions on pen colour before the day.
Pencils, eraser, and sharpener
Useful for multiple-choice answer sheets or planning. Confirm with the provider whether a separate multiple-choice sheet is used and which pencil type is required.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Staying hydrated helps concentration during a long reading and writing paper. Bottle rules vary between venues, so confirm with the provider what is permitted at your desk.
Approved translation or monolingual dictionary
Some second-language exams permit a printed dictionary under set conditions. Do not assume this is allowed: confirm with the provider whether a dictionary is permitted, which type, and whether it must be inspected beforehand.
Wristwatch
A simple watch helps you manage time if the room clock is hard to see. Smart watches and devices with communication features are almost always prohibited, so confirm with the provider.
A practised timing plan
Know roughly how many minutes you will spend on each section and on planning, writing, and checking. Write the plan on your practice papers so it becomes automatic.
Vocabulary and phrase revision notes
Bring concise notes for the final review: connective phrases, verb tense tables, and topic vocabulary. Review them before entering the room, then store them as directed.
Written confirmation of venue, room, and start time
Check the location and reporting time the day before. Session times and entry cut-offs are set by the provider, so confirm the exact details with the provider rather than relying on memory.
Transport and backup plan
Plan to arrive with a margin before the reporting time and identify a backup route. Late entry rules vary, so confirm with the provider what happens if you are delayed.
A calm pre-exam routine
Decide in advance how you will settle yourself: a short breathing exercise, a final skim of your notes, and a deliberate check that you have read every instruction.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating what you already know. Re-read your summary sheets on tenses, pronouns, and common connectives, and review feedback on past written responses. Complete one timed practice paper under exam conditions, then mark it and list two or three specific fixes rather than trying to fix everything. Confirm the venue, reporting time, and permitted equipment with the provider. Protect your sleep schedule and avoid late-night cramming.
Do a light review only: skim vocabulary lists, model sentence structures, and your essay plan template. Prepare your bag with ID, pens, and any permitted materials, and lay out clothes. Check transport arrangements and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at your usual time. Avoid comparing preparation with classmates, which tends to increase anxiety without improving performance.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive early. Do a short, calm review of key phrases and your timing plan rather than opening new material. Follow all instructions about phones and bags, and confirm with the provider where these must be stored. Once seated, read the front-page instructions carefully and note the marks and suggested time for each section before you begin writing.
Read the whole paper or at least the section instructions before writing. Identify which questions carry the most marks and allocate time accordingly. For reading sections, skim the questions first so you know what information to look for, then read each text purposefully.
Write in the target language and keep checking agreement, verb endings, and register. For writing tasks, spend a few minutes planning structure and key vocabulary before drafting. Leave space to add or correct ideas. If a question stalls you, mark it, move on, and return with remaining time.
Stop writing new content with enough time to proofread. Check for missing answers, verb tense consistency, adjective agreement, spelling of common words, and whether you have addressed every part of each task. Make sure your answers are numbered correctly and that any answer sheet is completed as instructed. Confirm with the provider how answer sheets and rough work are handled.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from supervisors and the exam authority. If an instruction is unclear, ask a supervisor before the exam begins rather than guessing, and confirm any specific rule with the provider.
Bring only permitted materials to your desk. Phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices are normally prohibited in the exam room; confirm with the provider where such items must be stored and what happens if one is brought in by mistake.
Keep your identification and admission documents accessible for checking. The exact ID requirements and any late-entry cut-off are set by the provider, so confirm them in advance.
Breaks are usually limited and supervised. Confirm with the provider whether any supervised rest breaks are available and what the procedure is if you need to leave the room, as rules differ between venues.
Write your own responses. Any communication with another candidate, use of unauthorised notes, or attempt to access prohibited material can lead to penalties under the provider's rules.
Use the target language where the task requires it. Responses written in the wrong language or failing to address the required text type and audience may lose marks under the marking criteria.
Marks are awarded against published criteria, including content, range and accuracy of language, and appropriateness of register. Spend your time where the marks are, and confirm the weighting and criteria with the provider.
If something goes wrong during the exam, such as illness or a disturbance, tell a supervisor immediately and follow the provider's process for reporting it. Do not assume it will be handled automatically.