If you've got a kid heading into exams, you already know the drill. No pencil case allowed. Everything has to go in a clear pouch so invigilators can see exactly what's in there. And if you haven't sorted one out yet, chances are your kid is currently eyeing off the sandwich bags in the pantry.
We've been there. Actual mums, actual exam season, actual scrambling through the kitchen drawers at 7am looking for something, anything, see through enough to pass inspection. A soggy zip lock bag with a snapped zip and a pencil poking through the corner is not the vibe you want on exam morning. So we made something better.
The problem with using a zip lock bag as a pencil case
A zip lock bag was built to keep a sandwich fresh, not to survive a full exam block. Here's what tends to go wrong:
- The zip splits halfway through the year and stops sealing properly
- Pens and highlighters puncture straight through the thin plastic
- There's one pocket, so everything from calculators to spare erasers ends up in a jumbled pile
- It looks exactly like what it is: a bag you grabbed from the kitchen in a hurry
None of that matters much on a normal school day. It matters a lot when your kid has fifteen seconds between one exam finishing and the next one starting, and they're digging through a torn bag trying to find their calculator while everyone else is already seated.
Why clear pencil cases exist in the first place
Exam rules exist for a reason: schools need to be able to see at a glance that nothing's hidden in a pencil case. That's fair enough. But "must be clear" doesn't mean "must be flimsy." A proper clear pouch set gives invigilators the visibility they need while actually surviving more than one exam period.
What we built instead
Our Clear Zip Pouch Bundle (x3 sizes) was designed with one goal: when time is tight, you want to locate things fast, not fossick around at the bottom of a bag hoping your calculator turns up. That means:
- See through everything, instantly. Made from clear TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), not the thin cling-wrap plastic of a sandwich bag. No hunting. No tipping the whole thing out on the desk.
- Three sizes, not one sad bag. Tiny (11cm x 20cm), Mini (18cm x 25cm), and Large (28cm x 40cm) zip pouches in one bundle, so pens, calculators, rulers and spare stationery each get their own spot instead of being jammed in together.
- A proper zip closure. Built to survive an entire exam block, not just the first paper.
- Wipe clean. Because pens leak and kids are kids.
- Looks like it belongs to them. Each set has bold "Project Ten" style handles so that they know which set is theirs.
It's a small thing in the scheme of exam season. But when your kid sits down, clock ticking, and can put their hand straight on a pen without pulling a plastic bag apart at the seams, that small thing matters.
Who this is for
Anyone with a kid facing exams where a clear pencil case is compulsory: VCE, HSC, NAPLAN, uni exams, you name it. If your school's letter says "clear pencil case or bag only," our Clear Zip Pouch Bundle ticks that box properly, without the sandwich bag energy.
Shop the Clear Zip Pouch Bundle
Ready to swap the zip lock bag for something that'll actually survive exam season? Shop the Clear Zip Pouch Bundle (x3 sizes) at Project Ten.
Quick answers
Are clear pouches allowed for exams? Most schools and exam bodies (VCAA, NESA, and similar) require pencil cases to be clear or transparent so invigilators can check contents at a glance. A clear pouch set meets that requirement while keeping items organised.
What's the difference between a clear pouch and a zip lock bag for exams? A zip lock bag is disposable and single compartment, with a thin plastic zip that wears out fast. A purpose built clear pouch bundle has a proper zip closure, sturdier TPU material, and is wipe clean, so it survives more than one exam period.
How many pouches come in the Clear Zip Pouch Bundle? Three. A Tiny Zip Pouch (11cm x 20cm), a Mini Zip Pouch (18cm x 25cm), and a Large Zip Pouch (28cm x 40cm), so you can split stationery, calculators, and spare gear into separate, easy to find pouches instead of one crammed bag.