WACE exam day is not the day to discover your calculator battery is flat or that you forgot your ID. This is the printable packing list. Use it the night before every external exam.
Must bring
- [ ] SCSA Student Number (printed copy or memorised). You will need it on every paper.
- [ ] Photo ID (driver's licence, passport, or school student card with photo).
- [ ] Personalised exam timetable printed from the SCSA student portal.
- [ ] 2 to 3 black or blue pens. Bring spares; pen failure during an exam is a real risk.
- [ ] 2 sharpened HB pencils (for diagrams, multiple-choice answer sheets).
- [ ] Eraser and sharpener.
- [ ] Ruler and protractor (for Maths, Physics, Chemistry).
- [ ] Approved scientific calculator (or CAS calculator for Methods/Specialist/Apps).
- [ ] Spare batteries for any battery-powered calculator.
- [ ] Clear plastic water bottle (no labels; clear plastic only).
- [ ] Watch (analogue or digital, not smart). Most exam rooms do not have visible clocks.
Subject-specific extras
| Subject | Extras |
|---|---|
| Mathematics Methods, Apps, Specialist | CAS calculator (TI-Nspire CX CAS or ClassPad). Backup non-CAS scientific calculator. |
| Physics, Chemistry | Scientific calculator (non-CAS). |
| Languages | Approved language dictionary if permitted (check exam materials list). |
| Visual Arts | Sharpened pencils for sketching. Eraser. No reference materials. |
Do NOT bring
- Phones (off and out of the room; some schools require them in lockers).
- Smart watches (analogue/digital only).
- Headphones.
- Personal notes, formula sheets, study cards.
- Highlighters (most subjects do not allow them).
- Drink bottles with labels still on.
- Bags inside the exam room (most schools require them at the front of the room).
The 5 things students forget
- Photo ID. Some students bring just their school card and discover at the desk it does not have a photo.
- Spare pen. One pen running out 30 minutes into the exam is unbelievably stressful. Bring 3.
- Calculator batteries. CAS calculators run out of power during 3-hour exams. Bring spares.
- Watch. Phones are banned. Wall clocks are not always visible. Without a watch you have no time reference.
- Personalised exam timetable. Reading what room and start time on a printed copy beats trying to remember.
Night-before routine
- Pack your bag using this list. Tick every item as you put it in.
- Set the bag by the front door.
- Set 2 alarms (your phone alarm + a backup, e.g., parent or alarm clock).
- Go to bed 9 hours before your wake-up time. Even if you cannot sleep, lying in the dark works.
- Do not study new content. Light review of cheat sheet only.
Morning-of routine
- Eat breakfast. Real breakfast: protein, complex carbs, water. No energy drinks; the crash hits during the exam.
- Arrive 30 minutes early. Late arrival burns reserve time before you start.
- Use the bathroom before entering the exam room.
- Skim your formula or cheat sheet one more time. Do not study new content.
- Hand in your phone if required.
What to actually do tonight (if exam tomorrow)
- Print this list. Tick every item as you pack.
- Charge your CAS calculator and pack spare batteries.
- Locate your photo ID. Put it in your bag.
- Set 2 alarms. Sleep at 10pm.
For the broader Year 12 exam strategy, see our WACE exam day checklist post. Best of luck.