Hamburg Abitur English exam-day guide
Hamburg Abitur English · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring an official photo ID (Personalausweis or passport). Schools normally require identification at the start of the written Abitur examination; if you are unsure which document your school accepts, confirm with the provider (your school's Oberstufenkoordination) before the exam.
Admission slip / registration confirmation
If your school issues a written invitation or registration confirmation listing your examination subjects and rooms, bring it. If you have not received one, ask your school office in advance whether you need to bring anything to be admitted.
Permitted dictionaries
For English, a monolingual English dictionary (and, where your school allows it, a bilingual dictionary) is often permitted, but the exact rules differ by school and by task type. Confirm with the provider which dictionaries are allowed and whether they may contain annotations.
Approved writing tools
Bring several blue or black ballpoint pens, a pencil, an eraser, and a ruler. Check with your school whether correction fluid or erasable pens are prohibited, as some schools ban them for examinations.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Exam rooms do not always have a visible clock. A simple analogue or digital watch without smart features is usually acceptable; smartwatches and phones are normally not allowed at the desk. Confirm with the provider if you rely on a watch.
Water and a light snack
Written Abitur exams can run several hours. Bring a clear bottle of water and a small snack for any permitted break. Ask in advance whether drinks are allowed on the desk.
No phone or smart devices at the desk
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices must normally be switched off and stored away according to your school's rules. Clarify the exact storage arrangement with the provider beforehand.
Know your room, seat, and start time
Confirm the building, room, and reporting time in advance. Arrive early enough to find your seat and settle; schools typically expect you well before the official start. Exact reporting times must be confirmed with the provider.
Review the task format and timing strategy
Know which task types your exam includes (for example comprehension, analysis, and comment or re-creation tasks) and how many points each carries, so you can allocate writing time. Confirm the exact structure with your teacher, as it depends on your course and the current state requirements.
Prepare permitted reference material
If your course allows an unannotated copy of a set text or other reference material, prepare it exactly as permitted. Whether such material is allowed and in what form must be confirmed with the provider.
Plan your route and backup transport
Check travel time and have a backup plan. If you are delayed, contact the school immediately; procedures for late arrival vary and must be confirmed with the provider.
Rest and normal routine the day before
Avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Review your own summaries and task-type strategies, sleep adequately, and prepare your bag the evening before so the morning is calm.
Plan the day
Consolidate rather than expand: review your own notes on the task types your exam uses, practise one timed task under exam conditions, and check the formal requirements (dictionaries, set texts, writing tools) against your school's instructions. Confirm room, reporting time, and ID requirements with the provider now, so there is time to resolve open questions.
Do a short, light review of structure and useful phrases for analysis and comment writing, then stop. Prepare your bag: ID, pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, watch, water, permitted dictionaries and materials. Check your route and set two alarms. Avoid new topics and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive at the building with buffer time, and switch off and stow your phone and smart devices as required. Once seated, read the cover page and all task options carefully before choosing, note the point values, and write a brief time plan on your planning sheet.
Read each task fully before writing, underline the operative verbs (for example analyse, compare, comment), and plan briefly. Watch the clock against your time plan, leave time to check your work for language accuracy and task coverage, and write legibly. If a task seems unclear, re-read the wording before deciding; follow your school's procedure for asking the invigilator.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identification your school requires. If you are unsure what counts as acceptable ID, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Follow the school's rules on electronic devices: phones and smartwatches are normally switched off and stored away, not kept at the desk. Confirm the exact arrangement with the provider.
Use only permitted aids. Dictionaries, set texts, and reference materials are allowed only in the form your school specifies; unpermitted or annotated material can lead to consequences. Confirm with the provider.
Observe the announced start and end times and the invigilator's instructions. Procedures for late arrival, early departure, and extra time (for example for documented special needs) are set by the school and must be confirmed with the provider.
Breaks during the written exam are usually limited and supervised according to school rules; ask the invigilator rather than leaving the room unannounced. Exact break arrangements must be confirmed with the provider.
Write your answers independently. Any attempt to use unauthorized material or communicate with others during the exam is treated as an examination offence under the school's rules; the specific consequences must be confirmed with the provider.
Scoring follows the official assessment criteria for the course, covering content, structure, and language. Ask your teacher in advance how the tasks are weighted so you can allocate time accordingly.
If something goes wrong (illness, a disturbance, a missing page), tell the invigilator immediately and follow the school's documented procedure; do not try to resolve it after the exam without notifying anyone.