Berlin Abitur Geography LK exam-day guide
Berlin Abitur Geography LK · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission document (Einladung/Prüfungsanmeldung) and photo ID
Bring the invitation or registration confirmation issued for the Abitur examination and an official photo ID (Personalausweis or passport). Exact accepted ID forms and whether a copy suffices vary by school and Senatsverwaltung rules - confirm with the provider (your school's Oberstufenkoordination) before the exam.
Know the exact start time and room, plus arrival buffer
Confirm the start time, room number, and how early you must be present. Schools typically expect candidates on site well before the written start so that seating and announcements can be handled; the specific buffer is set by your school - confirm with the provider.
Approved dictionaries and reference materials
For Geography LK, check whether a monolingual or bilingual dictionary and an atlas (e.g., Diercke or Haack) are permitted and whether the school supplies the atlas or you must bring your own. Permitted aids are announced by the school - confirm with the provider which editions and annotations are allowed.
Approved calculator (if permitted)
Some geography tasks involve simple calculations (population density, growth rates, indices). Ask in advance whether a non-programmable calculator is allowed and which models are excluded; do not assume.
Writing and drawing equipment
Bring several pens (blue or black, as required), pencils, a ruler, coloured pencils for sketch maps and diagrams, and an eraser. Check whether you must write in a specific colour.
No smart devices on your person
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and other networked devices must normally be switched off and stored away. The exact rule and where to deposit devices is set by the school - confirm with the provider.
Water, snack, and any medication
Written exams run several hours. Bring water in a closed bottle and a light snack if permitted in the room. If you need medication or have an accommodation (Nachteilsausgleich), clarify in advance how it will be handled - confirm with the provider.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace yourself if the room clock is not clearly visible. Smartwatches are generally not allowed; confirm the rule with the provider.
Review the task structure and operator words
Know the meaning of the standard operators (beschreiben, erklären, analysieren, bewerten, erörtern, Stellung nehmen) and the expected depth for each, because they determine how much you must write.
Prepare a personal structure template
Have a memorised outline for material-based tasks: Einordnung, Beschreibung/Auswertung der Materialien, Erklärung mit Fachbegriffen, Bewertung/Erörterung, Fazit. This saves planning time on exam day.
Confirm choice rules for tasks
In many written Abitur subjects you must choose among offered tasks or parts. Check in advance how many tasks are offered, how many you must solve, and whether all parts of a chosen task are compulsory - confirm with the provider.
Plan your route and transport
Check connections and travel time, and identify a fallback. Arriving late can affect admission to the exam; the consequences of lateness are set by the school - confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Review your own summary sheets for the main LK topics: Landschaftszonen and climate, relief and geomorphology, population and migration, urbanisation and Stadtentwicklung, economic spaces and globalisation, resources and sustainability, and Germany/Europe in global context. Re-read the operator words and your structure template. Practise one timed task (about 20–30 minutes planning plus writing) to calibrate speed. Prepare and pack all permitted aids, check the dictionary and atlas rules, and confirm room, time, and ID requirements with your school.
Pack your bag: admission document, ID, pens, pencils, ruler, coloured pencils, calculator if allowed, dictionary/atlas if allowed, water, snack, watch. Lay out clothes. Do a light review of key Fachbegriffe and models (e.g., demographic transition, push-pull, Tragfähigkeit, Stadtmodelle, Wirtschaftssektoren) rather than new material. Set an alarm and plan the route. Avoid late-night cramming; sleep is more useful than one more chapter.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive with time to spare. Leave devices switched off and stored as instructed. Check that you have your ID and admission document before leaving. On arrival, find your seat, listen to the announcements, and note the official start and end time and any rules about leaving the room.
Read the instructions and all offered tasks carefully. Note the total time and subtract reading and planning time plus a reserve for checking. Choose your task(s) based on what you can do best, not on the first line. Skim the materials (maps, statistics, diagrams, texts) and mark key information.
Write a short outline: which materials, which concepts, which structure, and roughly how much space and time per part. Note the operator for each sub-task so you match the required depth. Budget time proportionally to the marks or weighting of each part.
Work through the sub-tasks in order. Use subject terminology precisely, refer explicitly to the materials (e.g., 'Material 2 zeigt ...'), and explain rather than merely describe where the operator requires it. For evaluation tasks, give a reasoned judgement with arguments for and against and a clear conclusion. Keep an eye on the clock and move on if a part is taking too long.
Check that every sub-task is answered, that you have referred to all required materials, that operators were followed, and that your handwriting and numbering are clear. Complete any unfinished concluding sentence. Do not start a new complex argument at this point.
Rules to check
Bring the admission document and official photo ID; without them admission may be refused. Exact requirements and exceptions are set by the school - confirm with the provider.
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices must be switched off and stored as instructed; using unauthorised aids is treated as an examination offence and can lead to the task being graded as failed or the exam being annulled.
Only use aids that have been explicitly permitted (dictionary, atlas, calculator, etc.). If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask before the exam starts - confirm the permitted list with the provider.
Follow the school's rules on leaving the room, breaks, and going to the toilet during the exam. These are set locally; ask at the start - confirm with the provider.
If you have a diagnosed condition or disability, a Nachteilsausgleich (e.g., extra time, separate room) must be applied for and approved in advance; it is not granted on the day. Confirm the procedure and deadlines with the provider.
If you are ill on exam day, report it immediately according to your school's procedure and obtain a medical certificate as required; do not sit the exam and hope to retake it later without following the official process - confirm with the provider.
Scoring follows the official Abitur assessment criteria: content quality, use of materials, methodological competence, and independent judgement, with the operator words determining the expected depth. Ask your teacher how the parts are weighted.
Academic honesty applies throughout: your work must be your own, and any attempt to use unauthorised material or communicate with others can invalidate the examination.