Master Checklist

Print this page and tick as you go. The night before the exam, every box should be ticked.

📚 Two weeks before (around 22 June)

• [ ] Read Macbeth (P.1–6) carefully — twice
• [ ] Read Romeo and Juliet (P.7–11) carefully — twice
• [ ] Read The Merchant of Venice (P.12–15) carefully — twice
• [ ] Filled in a Story Note Sheet for each book
• [ ] Decided my main book () and backup book ()
• [ ] Annotated the booklet with margin notes (1 theme per page)
• [ ] Updated my Logbook with point-form notes (no full sentences)

🎙️ One week before (around 29 June)

• [ ] Read all four Skills pages: Pronunciation · Communication · Vocabulary · Ideas
• [ ] Memorised the 8 key phrases from Useful Phrases Cheatsheet
• [ ] Memorised 5 power words per theme from Vocabulary & Language
• [ ] Did one solo P.E.E.L drill every night
• [ ] Practised pronouncing all 10 character names using Word's Read Aloud
• [ ] Did at least 1 group practice session (3 rounds, 90 min)
• [ ] Recorded one practice session and listened back at 1.5×

🗓️ Three days before (around 3 July)

• [ ] Read Common Mistakes and identified my top 2 weaknesses
• [ ] Did 2 group practice sessions this week
• [ ] Drafted my Notecard template — short bullets only
• [ ] Re-read main book's Themes section
• [ ] Re-read backup book's Themes section
• [ ] Listened to my own recordings — confirmed I no longer "read from notes"

🌙 Night before (5 July)

• [ ] Re-read the Master Checklist (this page)
• [ ] Re-read On the Day
• [ ] Whisper-read my notecard draft out loud once
• [ ] Read my main book's themes one final time
• [ ] Packed my bag (see below)
• [ ] Set 2 alarms for tomorrow morning
• [ ] Drank water; ate a light dinner
• [ ] Did 5 cycles of box breathing (4 in / 4 hold / 4 out / 4 hold)
• [ ] Slept by 23:00

Bag check

• [ ] ✅ SBA Logbook (with point-form notes)
• [ ] ✅ Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare booklet (annotated lightly)
• [ ] ✅ 2 pens (different colours)
• [ ] ✅ Pencil + eraser
• [ ] ✅ Highlighter
• [ ] ✅ Tissues
• [ ] ✅ Water bottle
• [ ] ✅ Throat lozenges (optional)
• [ ] ✅ Useful Phrases Cheatsheet printed and in Logbook
• [ ] ❌ NO phone, smartwatch, tablet, earphones
• [ ] ❌ NO full-script answers / model essays
• [ ] ❌ NO annotated translations

☀️ Morning of (6 July)

• [ ] Woke up on first alarm (no snoozing!)
• [ ] Ate a light, warm breakfast (no cold milk)
• [ ] Did 5-min voice warm-up (hum, tongue twisters, read a paragraph aloud)
• [ ] Pronounced all 10 character names once correctly
• [ ] Whispered my opening sentence 3×
• [ ] Wore school uniform; hair tied back
• [ ] Left home 30 minutes earlier than usual
• [ ] Arrived at school by 08:00 (regardless of slot)

🚪 At the school

• [ ] Toilet break before reporting
• [ ] Reported to reception on 4/F at T–15 min
• [ ] Followed steward to prep room (401 or 402)

⏱️ In the 15-minute preparation room

• [ ] Drew vertical line down centre of notecard
• [ ] Labelled "Book 1" and "Book 2 / Phrases"
• [ ] (Minute 0–3) Did group huddle — agreed on main + backup book + opener
• [ ] (Minute 3–10) Wrote 3–4 main-book bullets + 2 page-numbered quotes
• [ ] (Minute 3–10) Wrote 2 backup-book bullets
• [ ] (Minute 10–13) Wrote 4 building phrases + 3 rescue phrases + 1 wrap-up
• [ ] (Minute 13–15) Whisper-read the card, took 3 deep breaths

🗣️ During the discussion (8–12 min)

• [ ] Made eye contact with groupmates (not just the examiner)
• [ ] Glanced at notecard — never read from it
• [ ] Used at least 3 "building" phrases
• [ ] Invited at least one quieter groupmate
• [ ] Used at least 5 theme vocabulary words
• [ ] Made at least one Link to today's world
• [ ] Did at least one full P.E.E.L answer
• [ ] Helped with the wrap-up sentence

🎉 After the exam

• [ ] Handed back the notecard
• [ ] Thanked the examiner briefly
• [ ] Walked out in silence (no leaking content)
• [ ] Drank water
• [ ] Celebrated — you earned it

Final self-assessment (after the exam)

Tick honestly:

• [ ] I spoke at least 3 turns
• [ ] I listened actively (at least 3 visible reactions/build-ons)
• [ ] I made at least 1 Link to today
• [ ] I cited at least 1 page number
• [ ] I never read full sentences from notes
• [ ] I invited at least 1 quieter person
• [ ] I helped close the discussion

6–7 ticks → you likely scored 5+ across the board.

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🌟 You've prepared. You've practised. You've got this.

Whatever happens, the work is done. The SBA is just one piece of a long journey. You will be fine.

"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow…" Tomorrow is just another day after this one — go shine.

加油！💪