← Guides · 3 min read · Updated 11 Nov 2026
Keep a Decision Log for Practical and Creative Projects
In folio and performance subjects, the finished product is only part of what is assessed. Markers often want to see how you got there: what you tried, why you changed it and how you judged the result. A decision log, kept as you work, makes that reflection far easier to write and far more convincing.
Begin with a criterion you can check
Pick something observable from your task brief. In a design project it might be stability or legibility; in a performance it might be clarity of delivery or timing. Write it in your own words and note what evidence would show progress.
Compare alternatives under the same conditions
When you test two options, test them the same way. Record what each one did well and badly before you choose. A photo of the final version alone does not show the trade-off you weighed.
Make each change traceable
Every entry should say three things: what you observed, what you changed and what happened next time. Retest under the same conditions before you claim an improvement.
Write the reflection from the log
When the reflection is due, pick one decision that worked and one limitation you did not fully resolve, and support both with entries from the log. Avoid claims you cannot support, such as "everyone preferred it", unless you actually gathered that feedback. Follow your school's rules on documenting help from others and the use of digital tools.
Australian Study Resources, a separate free site published by the same company that operates ATARMAxxing, has a fuller version with an original design example in how to document decisions in a practical project.
Related ATARMAxxing reading
VCE Art Making and Exhibiting students can connect their log to the vocabulary in art elements and principles. Check your subject's assessment requirements in the VCE study design guides or your state's equivalent, and browse your subject from the subject directory. Use the study planner to schedule regular log entries rather than reconstructing them at the end.
This log is a planning tool. It does not replace your school's required documentation or your teacher's instructions.
Common questions
How often should I write in a decision log?
Each time you test, change or review your work. Short, regular entries are more useful than a long one written at the end.
Can a decision log replace my folio documentation?
No. Follow your school's and curriculum authority's requirements. The log is a way to gather evidence for them.
Is Australian Study Resources run by ATARMAxxing?
It is a separate free website. Its disclosure page states it is published by the company that also operates ATARMAxxing.
Free study resources
Find official curriculum links and practice guidance in the Australian Study Resources directory. You can also use its free study guides and downloadable worksheets to plan your next attempt.