Abitur English exam-day guide
Abitur English · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission document and photo ID
Bring the invitation/admission notice issued by your school or the examining authority plus an official photo ID (for example a national ID card or passport). Rules on which ID is accepted and whether a copy suffices vary by Bundesland and school; confirm with the provider which documents are mandatory.
Permitted dictionaries
Many Abitur English exams allow a monolingual English dictionary (sometimes a bilingual one for certain task types), but the exact allowance differs by Land and course level (Grundkurs/Leistungskurs). Check your school's written instructions and confirm with the provider whether a dictionary is allowed and which type.
Permitted text edition or reading list
If your exam covers a set novel, play, or short-story collection, some schools allow an unannotated copy of the text. Whether you may use it, and which edition, is set locally - confirm with the provider and do not bring annotated or loose-leaf notes unless explicitly allowed.
Approved calculator (only if permitted)
Calculators are generally not needed for English, but if your specific task type (e.g., a statistics-based listening or analysis task) allows one, use only the model approved by your school. Confirm with the provider before relying on it.
Black or blue pens, spare pens, pencil and eraser
Write in indelible ink unless told otherwise; keep a spare pen and a pencil for planning and underlining. Highlighters may be restricted on answer sheets - ask your invigilator before using one on the official paper.
Wristwatch (no smart features)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch without connectivity is usually fine, but smartwatches and phones are typically banned from the desk - confirm the provider's device policy.
Transparent water bottle and a snack
Hydration helps in a long written exam. Bring a clear bottle with the label removed and a quiet snack for the break if your exam has one; food rules are set locally, so check with the provider.
Printed exam timetable and room number
Note the start time, room, and any separate listening or oral component. Arrive early enough to find the room and settle; late-arrival rules differ by school, so confirm the provider's cut-off.
Know your task structure in advance
Written Abitur English typically combines comprehension, analysis, and a writing/comment or creative task, sometimes with a listening or mediation (Sprachmittlung) element. Re-read your course's official task types so you can allocate time before you see the paper - the exact combination is set by your Land and school.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or switched off and stored
Devices with connectivity are normally collected or must stay in your bag away from the desk. Confirm the provider's rule on where devices must be kept; a ringing phone can lead to disqualification.
Plan for the listening section
If your exam includes listening, check whether audio is played once or twice and whether notes are allowed during playback. These details are announced by the invigilator - confirm with the provider beforehand so nothing surprises you.
Emergency contact and transport plan
Know how you will get to the exam and who to call if transport fails. If you are ill, you generally need a medical certificate and must contact the school immediately - confirm the provider's illness procedure and deadline.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidation: review your own summaries of the set texts and topics, the structure of each task type, and a bank of useful linking phrases and analytical vocabulary. Do one timed practice task under exam conditions so you know your pace, then stop adding new material.
Check logistics: confirm start time, room, permitted aids (dictionary, text edition, calculator), and whether any component (listening, oral, presentation) happens on a different day. Confirm with the provider anything unclear rather than guessing.
Rehearse your time plan for each section of the paper (for example comprehension, analysis, writing) and decide how many minutes you will spend planning, writing, and checking. Practise writing one introduction and one conclusion from memory to fix a reliable structure.
Do a light review only: key terms, quotation recall for set texts (short, accurate phrases you can paraphrase), and the task instructions. Pack your bag with admission document, ID, pens, permitted aids, water, and timetable. Set out clothes and transport details.
Protect your sleep. Avoid late-night cramming and screens; a rested brain performs better on a long written paper than one more hour of revision. Eat a normal evening meal and set two alarms.
Eat breakfast, arrive at the school well before the start time, and check you have your admission document and ID. Leave your phone stored and switched off. Use the waiting time for calm review of task structures, not for panicked last-minute reading of new material.
Read the invigilator's instructions and the whole paper before writing. Choose your task carefully if there is a choice, note the time allocation on your paper, and start with a short plan (thesis, main points, evidence) for each writing task.
Work in the order you planned, keep an eye on the clock, and leave time to check grammar, spelling, and task coverage. If you get stuck, move to another section and return. Write legibly and keep answers within the space or booklet indicated.
Before the audio starts, read the questions so you know what to listen for. Take brief notes during playback, then transfer and complete answers afterwards. Do not rely on memory alone for details such as numbers, names, or times.
Check that you have answered every required task, that your name and candidate details are on the answer booklet, and that your handwriting is readable. Use remaining time for language accuracy rather than adding new arguments.
Do not discuss answers in a way that unsettles you before other components; note anything you want to review later. If you believe there was a procedural problem, tell the invigilator or school immediately - confirm the provider's procedure for objections.
Rules to check
Bring the admission document and the photo ID required by your school; without them you may be refused entry. The accepted forms of ID and any exceptions are set locally - confirm with the provider.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times. Do not start writing before you are told to and stop immediately when time is called; continuing to write after the stop signal can be treated as a breach of exam rules.
Keep phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices switched off and stored away from your desk. Using or even possessing an unauthorized device during the exam can lead to the paper being graded as failed or to disqualification - confirm the provider's exact device rule.
Use only permitted aids. A monolingual dictionary, set text, or calculator is allowed only if your school's instructions permit it; bringing annotated texts or unauthorized notes is an examination offence. Confirm with the provider what is allowed for your course.
Breaks and supervision: if the exam includes a break, you will usually be supervised and may not access notes, phones, or other candidates. Whether and how breaks are granted is set by the provider - ask in advance if you have a medical need.
Scoring: written Abitur papers are marked by teachers according to the Land's official assessment criteria, covering content, structure, and language accuracy, and may be reviewed by a second examiner. The exact weighting and any oral component are set by your Land and school - confirm with the provider rather than relying on second-hand claims.
If you are ill or cannot attend, contact the school immediately and follow the official procedure, which usually requires a medical certificate. Rules on missed exams and re-sitting are set by the provider - confirm the deadlines and documentation required.
Academic honesty: all work must be your own. Do not copy from another candidate, and do not bring pre-written essays to reproduce. Suspected cheating is handled under the school's examination regulations; the exact sanctions are set by the provider.