CCSLC Digital Literacy exam-day guide
CCSLC Digital Literacy · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm test format and delivery mode with the provider
CCSLC Digital Literacy is delivered through your school or registered centre, and the practical component may be on a computer or on paper depending on the centre. Confirm the exact format, duration, and software you will use with your teacher or the exam coordinator before exam day. Do not assume the format from a past paper.
Bring your entry slip or candidate number
Your centre issues a candidate number and often an entry slip or timetable. Bring whatever your coordinator tells you is required for identification. If you are unsure what ID is accepted, confirm with the provider.
Bring valid photo identification as instructed by your centre
Requirements vary by centre and territory. Ask your coordinator which document is acceptable (for example a school ID, national ID, or passport) and whether a photocopy is allowed. If you cannot confirm, mark this as something to verify with the provider rather than guessing.
Know your login or candidate credentials
If the practical is computer-based, you may be given a username, password, or candidate code. Practise logging in beforehand if possible, and know what to do if a password fails on the day, such as raising your hand for the invigilator. Never share credentials with another candidate.
Practise the software skills the syllabus lists
Re-read your syllabus or subject guide and rehearse the practical operations it names: file management, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, internet and email use, and basic digital safety. Work through each skill once on the actual software you will use, not just by reading notes.
Rehearse saving, naming, and submitting files
Many marks are lost to file-handling errors. Practise saving to the location your centre specifies, using the file name format required, and submitting or printing as instructed. Know how to check that a file has actually saved before you close it.
Prepare permitted stationery
Bring pens, pencils, and an eraser in case you need to plan on paper or complete a written section. Check with your coordinator which items are allowed in the practical room. Do not bring unauthorised notes, storage devices, or phones unless told otherwise.
Plan your travel and arrival time
Arrive with enough time to be seated and logged in before the start. Confirm the room and start time with your centre, since practical sessions can be scheduled in shifts. Late arrival rules vary, so confirm with the provider.
Rest, eat, and hydrate before the session
A practical test rewards steady hands and clear attention. Sleep well the night before and eat a normal meal. Avoid last-minute cramming of unfamiliar software features that could confuse the operations you already know.
Know the break and restroom procedure
Rules on leaving the room during a practical session differ by centre. Ask in advance whether breaks are allowed and whether you must be escorted. Confirm with the provider if this is not stated in your timetable.
Plan the day
Work through the syllabus skill list one final time and tick off each practical operation you can perform unaided. Spend most of your time on your two weakest areas, and do one full timed practice task on the same software you will use in the exam so the menus and shortcuts feel familiar.
Confirm the logistics with your centre: exact date, start time, room, delivery mode, permitted equipment, and what identification to bring. Resolve any uncertainty now rather than on the morning, and write the details down.
Check that your login or candidate credentials work if the centre has issued them, and note the file-saving and submission instructions your teacher has given. If you have no practice access to the exam software, say so to your teacher and ask what will be available on the day.
Do a light review only: skim your notes on file management, formatting, formulas, and safe online behaviour. Stop studying early enough to sleep properly. Pack your stationery, entry slip, and identification in one place so nothing is hunted for in the morning.
Re-read the instructions your centre gave about the practical, especially anything about saving work, printing, or submitting files. Confirm your travel plan and set an alarm that leaves a margin for delays.
Eat breakfast, dress as required by your centre, and take only permitted items. Arrive early enough to be seated and settled. Leave phones and any unauthorised devices behind or hand them in as instructed.
If you feel nervous, remind yourself of the routine you practised: read the task, plan briefly, save often, and check your work. Do not try to learn a new software feature at this point.
Read the whole task or paper before starting so you can judge how to divide your time. Do the parts you are confident about first, then return to harder sections, keeping an eye on the clock.
Save your work frequently and use the file names and locations specified. If something goes wrong with the computer, a file, or a login, raise your hand and tell the invigilator immediately rather than trying to fix it silently, and note what happened.
Before submitting, check that every required file is saved in the right place, that your name or candidate number is entered where asked, and that nothing is left unsaved or open. Follow the invigilator's instructions for finishing and leaving the room.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from the invigilator and your centre. If an instruction conflicts with something you read elsewhere, ask the invigilator before acting, and confirm any unclear policy with the provider.
Bring and present the identification your centre requires. Acceptable documents vary by territory, so confirm with the provider in advance rather than assuming a particular document will be accepted.
Do not bring unauthorised materials or devices into the practical room. This includes notes, phones, and removable storage unless your centre explicitly permits them. Ask your coordinator what is allowed for your software-based tasks.
Work only on your own machine and your own files. Do not share logins, copy another candidate's work, or communicate with other candidates during the session. Raise your hand if you need help from the invigilator.
If you need to leave the room, follow the centre's procedure, which may require an escort or may not permit breaks. Confirm the break policy with the provider beforehand so you are not caught unprepared.
Report any technical problem immediately. A crash, a lost file, or a failed login is not your fault, but leaving it unreported may cost you marks. Tell the invigilator and follow their instructions.
Submit or save your work exactly as instructed, using the required file names and locations. Work that is not saved or submitted correctly may not be marked, so verify before you finish and confirm the submission method with your centre.
Scoring and grading arrangements are set by the examining body and your centre. If you want to know how the practical is weighted or what the pass requirements are, confirm with the provider rather than relying on rumour.