Berlin Abitur English LK exam-day guide
Berlin Abitur English LK · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring your admission invitation and a valid photo ID
You will normally need the invitation (Einladung zur Prüfung) issued by your school or the Prüfungsausschuss plus an official photo ID such as a Personalausweis or passport. The exact ID requirements are set by your school; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a copy suffices.
Bring the permitted dictionaries and reference materials
In the English LK Abitur, a monolingual English dictionary (einsprachiges Wörterbuch) is typically allowed, and sometimes a bilingual dictionary for certain tasks. The exact list is fixed by the Berlin examination regulations and your school's instructions. Confirm with the provider which dictionaries and editions are permitted, and whether they may contain handwritten notes.
Bring pens, highlighters, and spare ink
Use waterproof blue or black ink for your final answers; pencil is normally only for notes or markings on the task sheet. Bring at least two working pens, a highlighter, and a pencil. Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid or erasable pens are allowed.
Leave phones and smart devices at home or switched off and stored
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices are generally not permitted in the examination room. If you must bring a phone, switch it off completely and hand it in as instructed. Confirm with the provider where devices must be stored and what happens if one is found.
Know the start time, room, and arrival deadline
Arrive well before the stated start; late arrival can reduce your writing time or, in serious cases, exclude you from the exam. Check your invitation for the room and the required arrival time. Confirm with the provider how late arrivals are handled.
Bring water and a small snack for the break
The written Abitur usually includes a supervised break. Bring water in a closed bottle and something quiet to eat. Confirm with the provider whether drinks and food are allowed at your desk or only during the break.
Bring a watch if clocks in the room may be hard to see
Time management is critical in a long written exam. A simple analogue watch is safer than a smartwatch, which is normally prohibited. Confirm with the provider whether wristwatches are permitted and what type.
Review the task types and the expected structure the night before
The English LK written exam typically combines comprehension, analysis, and a writing or composition task, often with a choice between tasks. Reread your own notes on structure (introduction, main body, conclusion) and on the conventions for the specific task types. Do not try to learn new content at this stage.
Check whether a medical certificate or special arrangement is needed
If you have a documented disability, chronic illness, or other circumstance requiring a Nachteilsausgleich (for example extra time or a separate room), this must normally be applied for in advance. Confirm with the provider what evidence is required and by when.
Confirm the scoring and weighting rules for your exam
The written Abitur result is usually weighted together with your performance in the qualifying phase (Qualifikationsphase) and possibly an oral component. The exact weighting is set by Berlin regulations. Confirm with the provider how your final grade is calculated so you know what matters.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Review your own summaries of the task types, useful phrases for analysis and argumentation, and the structure of a well-organized essay. Practise one timed task under realistic conditions, then mark it yourself against the criteria you know. Check the practical details on your invitation: room, start time, permitted materials, and ID. Sleep on a regular schedule.
Pack your bag: invitation, photo ID, permitted dictionaries, pens, highlighter, pencil, water, snack, and a simple watch. Reread the instructions on your invitation once, then stop. Avoid last-minute cramming, which raises anxiety without improving performance. Eat a normal meal, avoid excessive caffeine, and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive early. Leave your phone off and stored as instructed. Once seated, read the entire task sheet before writing: note the time available, the number of tasks, and any choice between tasks. Plan your time in blocks, for example roughly a quarter for reading and comprehension, half for analysis and writing, and the remainder for checking. Read each task's operator words carefully (describe, analyse, compare, evaluate) because they define what is expected.
Start with the task you understand best if there is a choice, but keep to your time plan. Write in structured paragraphs with clear topic sentences and link your analysis to evidence from the text. Watch the clock at each block boundary and leave time to check spelling, grammar, and whether you answered every part of every task. If you run out of time, write brief but complete notes rather than leaving a task blank. Use the supervised break to rest your eyes and drink water, not to discuss the exam with others.
Rules to check
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times; they control seating, materials, and timing. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask before the exam starts rather than risk a misconduct finding.
Bring and display the required identification and admission documents. The exact requirements are set by your school; confirm with the provider what counts as valid ID and what to do if you lose your invitation.
Only use materials explicitly permitted for the exam. Unauthorized aids, including notes, phones, smartwatches, or annotated dictionaries where annotations are not allowed, can lead to the exam being graded as failed or to exclusion from the examination.
Communication with other candidates during the written exam is not permitted. Talking, passing notes, or attempting to see another candidate's work is treated as a violation of examination rules.
Breaks are supervised and usually taken at fixed times set by the invigilator. Confirm with the provider whether you may leave the room, and expect that leaving early or during unscheduled times may not be allowed.
If you feel unwell or cannot continue, tell the invigilator immediately. Whether an illness during the exam can be recognized as grounds for a later retake or grade adjustment is decided under Berlin examination rules; confirm with the provider what documentation is needed and by when.
Your result is determined by the examination board against the official assessment criteria, and the written grade is combined with other components according to the applicable regulations. Confirm with the provider how the final grade is weighted and how to request a review of your result.
Academic honesty applies to all written work: do not copy from another candidate or from unauthorized sources, and do not present memorized essays as your own analysis of the given material. Suspected deception is investigated under the examination regulations.