WBCHSE Journalism exam-day guide
WBCHSE Journalism · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admit card / hall ticket
Print or collect the WBCHSE admit card issued through your school. Check that your name, roll number, registration number, subject and paper code are correct. If anything is wrong, ask your school immediately rather than correcting it yourself. Carry more than one copy if your school advises it.
School ID card or photo ID
Bring the identity document your school or the Council has told you to carry, plus a spare passport-size photograph. The exact list of accepted IDs for the practical examination should be confirmed with the provider or your school head, since rules can change year to year.
Practical answer script / laboratory notebook
For Journalism practical work, bring your project file, field-report notebook or portfolio if your school has asked for it to be submitted on the day. Confirm with your subject teacher exactly what is collected, whether it is submitted before the examination begins, and whether it needs a signature or attestation page.
Writing materials and a clipboard
Carry two blue or black ball pens, a pencil, an eraser and a sharpener. A plain clipboard or writing board is useful for field-based tasks such as note-taking or interview exercises. Do not carry loose sheets unless your school permits them.
Simple watch
A basic wristwatch helps you pace timed tasks such as writing a report or preparing questions. Smart watches and phones with apps are usually not allowed in the examination hall; confirm the device policy with the provider.
Reporting time and venue
Note the exact reporting time and the room or lab where the Journalism practical is held. Reach the centre well before the reporting time, because attendance and seating are usually completed before the paper starts. Verify the venue with your school, not from memory.
Dress code and school uniform
Wear the uniform or dress code specified by your school for practical examination days. If you are unsure, confirm with your class teacher. Neat, formal clothing is the safe default for a viva or presentation component.
Refreshment and water
Carry a transparent water bottle and a light snack if the centre allows it. Practical examinations can run long, especially if there is a waiting period for the viva or a batch-wise schedule. Check whether food is permitted inside the hall.
Revision sheet for practical skills
Prepare a one-page sheet with the structure of a news report, the inverted pyramid, the 5Ws and 1H, headline writing tips, types of leads, interview question formats and basic media terminology. Read it in the final hours instead of trying to learn new topics.
Knowledge of your own project
Be ready to explain what you did in your project or field assignment: the topic, why you chose it, how you gathered information, who you interviewed and what you learned. Examiners commonly ask about your own work, so rehearse a two-minute summary.
Recording of submission deadlines
Confirm in writing whether the project file or journal must be submitted before the practical date or handed over on the day. Late submission rules vary, so confirm with the provider or school rather than assuming.
Plan the day
Collect or print the admit card and confirm the venue, date, reporting time and batch or slot. Ask your teacher what exactly must be brought, including whether the project file is submitted in advance. List every item on paper and tick it off as you pack.
Review the practical syllabus rather than the whole theory course. Focus on report writing, headline and lead writing, interview technique, editing and proofreading symbols, press release format, and any media law or ethics topics your school has flagged as viva areas. Write one practice report and one set of five interview questions under timed conditions.
Rehearse your project explanation aloud. Prepare short answers to likely viva questions: why you chose the topic, your sources, how you verified facts, what you would do differently, and which news values your story reflects. Ask a classmate or teacher to quiz you.
Pack the bag: admit card, ID, pens, pencil, notebook or project file, water bottle and watch. Lay out the uniform. Check travel time and any transport disruptions, and plan to arrive early. Confirm whether you need a separate file cover, attestation or teacher signature on the project.
Do light revision only: read your one-page sheet and your project summary. Sleep early. Avoid learning new definitions or formats at this stage, because it increases anxiety without improving recall.
Eat a proper breakfast, carry water, and leave with enough margin to reach the centre early. Do a final check of the admit card, ID and project file before leaving. Switch off or hand over your phone according to the centre's rules.
Locate your room and seat, complete attendance and any signature formalities, and listen carefully to instructions about timing and permitted materials. If a task or schedule is unclear, ask the invigilator before the paper begins, not after.
Read all questions and instructions first and note the marks or time for each section. Attempt the task you are most confident about first. For report writing, plan the lead, structure and headline for a minute before writing. Keep handwriting legible and leave space for corrections. Watch the clock and reserve the last few minutes for proofreading names, spellings and facts.
Enter with your project file if permitted, greet the examiners, and answer clearly. If you do not know something, say so honestly and offer what you do know. Speak about your own work confidently and keep answers brief and specific rather than filling silence.
Collect your belongings, confirm you have received back anything you submitted if the rules require it, and note any instructions about future papers. Do not discuss answers loudly outside the hall.
Rules to check
Carry only permitted items into the examination hall. Mobile phones, smart watches and unauthorised notes are generally prohibited; confirm the exact device and materials policy with the provider or your school before the examination day.
Bring the admit card and the identity document specified by the Council or school. If you are unsure which IDs are accepted, confirm with the provider. Candidates without the required documents may not be allowed to sit the paper.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, attendance, timing and submission. Do not begin writing before the signal to start and stop immediately when time is called.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the examination or exchange materials. Any suspected unfair means can lead to disciplinary action under the Council's rules.
If you need to leave the hall for water or a washroom break, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Break rules during practical examinations vary, so confirm the centre's arrangement rather than leaving on your own.
Submit your project file or practical record exactly as instructed, with any required signatures or attestations. Keep a copy or photograph of your submission if your school allows it, as proof of timely submission.
Marks for the practical component are awarded by the examiner against the Council's scheme, which may cover the project or record, the practical task and the viva. Ask your teacher to explain the weighting for your subject so you know where to focus.
If you fall ill or face an emergency, inform the invigilator or centre authorities immediately and ask your school to guide you on the Council's procedure. Do not assume that a missed practical can be retaken; confirm the rules with the provider.