Languages (national continuers)

External Assessment | Paper

Stage 2 Assessment Type 3: Examination (30%)

The Languages (national continuers) examination consists of two assessments: an oral examination and a written examination that are assessed externally.  

Oral examination  
Specifications for the oral examination varies across languages depending on the host state responsible for conducting the oral examination. 

  • Students studying nationally assessed languages hosted by the SACE Board will undertake their oral exam in accordance with the specifications outlined in this subject outline. 

  • Students studying nationally assessed languages hosted by the New South Wales Standards Authority (NESA) will undertake their oral exam in accordance with the NESA syllabus and specifications

  • Students studying nationally assessed languages hosted by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) will undertake their oral exam in accordance with the VCAA syllabus and specifications

Written examination  
The written exam will consist of two sections: 

  • Section 1: Responding to texts 

  • Section 2: Creating texts  

Section 1: Responding to texts 
Question 1: Listening in [Language] and responding in English 

  • Text 1 - one listening text in [Language] 

Question 2: Listening and responding in [Language] 

  • Text 2 - one listening text in [Language] 

Question 3: Reading and listening in [Language] and responding in English 

  • Text 3A - one reading text in [Language] 

  • Text 3B - one listening text in [Language] 

Section 2: Creating texts 
Question 4: Reading and responding in [Language] 

  • Text 4 - one reading text in [Language] 

Students choose one of the following: 

Question 5: Writing in [Language] 

OR 

Question 6: Writing in [Language]. 

 

The total length of one reading of the three listening texts will be 4 1/2 - 5 minutes.

The total length of the two reading texts will be approximately 450 words.

There will be one or two visual texts in the exam. The visual text(s) may appear in any of questions 3, 4, 5, or 6. 

 

The timetable for nationally assessed languages at continuers level written examinations will be published in June. 

There are many ways to prepare for an exam. Language specific resources made available by SACE, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

  • Oral examination drop-down

    • Library

  • Past exams drop-down

    • Past exam papers and assessment reports for the 2025 exams will be available on the NESA website.

       

      Past exam papers and assessment reports for the 2025 exams will be available on the VCAA website.
  • Sample exams drop-down

    • Library