Hesse Abitur Economics GK exam-day guide
Hesse Abitur Economics GK · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring your admission document (Einladung zur Prüfung) and a valid photo ID
Hesse schools normally require the official invitation and a photo ID (Personalausweis or passport) for admission to the written Abitur exam. Confirm the exact ID requirements and whether a copy is acceptable with your school (the provider) beforehand.
Bring the permitted writing and drawing tools
Pack several blue or black ballpoint pens, pencils, a ruler, and a non-programmable calculator if your course allows one. Confirm with your teacher which aids are permitted for Economics (Wirtschaftswissenschaften), since calculator and formula-sheet rules vary by school and course.
Bring approved reference materials only
Some Economics courses allow an unannotated dictionary, a formula collection, or a statutory extract. Clarify with the provider exactly which texts are allowed and whether annotations, tabs, or sticky notes are prohibited.
Leave smartphones and smartwatches at home or switched off and stored
Electronic devices are generally not allowed at the exam desk. Confirm the school's storage rules; in most cases phones must be handed in or kept off and out of reach, and a ringing or visible device can be treated as an attempt to cheat.
Bring water and a small snack for longer exams
Written Abitur exams often run several hours. Confirm with the provider whether drinks and food are allowed at the desk and whether packaging must be removed.
Know the exact start time, room, and building entrance
Check the invitation for the room and arrival time; arrive early enough to find the room and complete seating. Confirm any changed room or entrance with the school office in advance.
Review the structure of the Economics exam and the task types
The written exam typically contains an analysis task (Analyse) and an evaluation or comment task (Erörterung/Stellungnahme) based on material. Confirm the exact task format and weighting with your teacher, since it can differ by school and course.
Prepare a mental outline of key Economics content areas
Typical topics include market models, price formation, competition and market failure, business objectives and cost structures, macroeconomic goals, and economic policy instruments. Confirm the specific curriculum focus for your course with the provider.
Bring a watch that is not a smartwatch
A simple analog or digital watch helps you manage time if the room clock is not visible. Smartwatches are generally prohibited; confirm with the provider what is allowed.
Plan your transport and a buffer for delays
Public transport delays or traffic can cause late arrival. Check connections the day before and aim to arrive well before the stated time; confirm with the school what happens if you are late.
Know the rules for illness or withdrawal
If you are ill, you usually need a medical certificate (ärztliches Attest) and must inform the school immediately. Confirm the exact deadlines and documentation with the provider, as these are set by regulation.
Check whether a dictionary is permitted for the exam language
If the exam involves foreign-language material or you are a bilingual candidate, confirm with the provider whether a monolingual or bilingual dictionary is allowed and whether it must be unannotated.
Plan the day
Review the task types and the weighting of analysis versus evaluation. Practice one full past-format task under timed conditions, then check your structure against the expected steps: describe the material, analyze with economic concepts, and evaluate with a reasoned judgment. Confirm with your teacher which content areas are most likely to appear.
Consolidate core models and definitions: supply and demand, price elasticity, market forms, cost and revenue curves, business objectives, and macroeconomic goals with their indicators. Write short summary cards in your own words and test yourself without notes.
Pack your bag with admission document, ID, pens, calculator if permitted, and approved materials. Confirm the room, start time, and transport. Do a light review of structures and key terms only; avoid learning new material. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive early, and locate the room. Keep your phone off and stored as instructed. Read the task instructions carefully before choosing tasks, and note the time budget and any required task combinations.
Read all tasks and the material once. Mark key data, sources, and dates. Choose the tasks you will answer according to the rules, and write a short outline with time allocations for each part.
Answer in a clear structure with headings and paragraphs. Use economic terminology precisely, refer explicitly to the material (with line or source references), and integrate models or diagrams where required. Watch the clock and leave time for the evaluation and a final check.
Check that all required tasks are answered, that your evaluation contains a reasoned judgment, and that references and calculations are consistent. Correct obvious errors and make sure your name and candidate number are on every sheet.
Rules to check
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times; ask before the exam starts if anything about the task selection or permitted materials is unclear.
Bring and display your admission document and photo ID; confirm with the provider what happens if a document is missing.
Electronic devices such as phones and smartwatches must be switched off and stored as instructed; visible or active devices can be treated as an attempt to cheat.
Only use the aids explicitly permitted for your course; confirm the list of allowed materials with your teacher beforehand.
Breaks during the written exam are usually only possible with supervision; confirm the school's procedure for toilet visits and leaving the room.
If you are ill or cannot attend, inform the school immediately and provide the required medical certificate; confirm deadlines and documentation with the provider.
Academic honesty applies: do not communicate with other candidates during the exam and do not use unauthorized notes; suspected cheating can lead to exclusion from the exam.
Scoring and grading follow the state and school regulations; confirm with the provider how the written exam is weighted and whether oral supplementary examinations are possible.