Schleswig-Holstein Abitur Physics exam-day guide
Schleswig-Holstein Abitur Physics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission document and photo ID
Bring the invitation/admission letter issued by your school and a valid photo ID. The exact accepted ID types and whether a school ID card suffices are set by your school; confirm with the provider (your Oberstufenleitung or Prüfungsausschuss) before exam day.
Confirm your exam room and start time
Room assignments and start times are organized locally by each school. Check the official notice board or your school's information channel in the final week; do not rely on hearsay from classmates.
Approved reference materials
In Schleswig-Holstein physics, a permitted formulary or collection of formulas (e.g. the officially introduced physical formula collection) and, where allowed, a non-programmable calculator and a Wörterbuch may be used. Which aids are actually permitted for your course level and task type must be confirmed with the provider; check the official regulations for the current Abitur year.
Calculator check
If a calculator is permitted, use a non-programmable model without communication capability. Verify the specific model against your school's approved list; confirm with the provider, since rules on graphing and CAS devices differ by course and year.
Writing and drawing tools
Bring several pens in blue or black, a pencil, a ruler, and an eraser. For circuit diagrams and graphs, a sharp pencil and ruler make clean, readable sketches that are easier to correct.
No unauthorized electronic devices
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and other networked or storage devices must be switched off and handed in or stored as your school directs. The exact procedure is set locally; confirm with the provider.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue watch helps you pace yourself if the room clock is hard to see. Smartwatches are not permitted; confirm with the provider whether any wristwatch restrictions apply.
Food, drink, and medication
Bring water and, if needed, a light snack and prescribed medication. Rules on drinks at the desk and on leaving the room vary by school; confirm with the provider.
Read the task selection rules in advance
Physics written tasks typically offer a choice among problems, and you must decide which to work on. The number of tasks to be chosen and any compulsory parts are specified in the official task instructions; read them carefully at the start.
Plan for timekeeping and breaks
Know the total working time and whether short breaks are permitted. Ask your invigilator at the start how to signal a question or a need to leave the room.
Rest and logistics the day before
Sleep adequately, plan your route to school including buffer time, and prepare your materials the evening before so the morning is calm.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Know whom to contact at your school if you are delayed or ill. Rules for illness and withdrawal are strict and time-bound; confirm with the provider immediately if something goes wrong.
Plan the day
Do not start new topics. Review your own summary sheets of mechanics, fields, induction, waves, and quantum physics, and re-derive the key formulas rather than memorizing them. Practise one full past task under timed conditions to rehearse task selection and time allocation. Check that your calculator, formulary, and pens are complete and permitted, and clarify any open question with your teacher.
Light review only: skim formula meanings, units, and typical error sources such as sign conventions in circuits and energy conservation. Prepare your bag with admission letter, ID, pens, ruler, calculator, water, and snacks. Confirm room and start time once more, set an alarm, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Avoid intensive cramming that erodes concentration.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive with buffer time, and leave your phone switched off and stored as directed. Before the start, check that your desk has the permitted materials only. Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions on time, task selection, and how to ask questions.
Read all task options and the official instructions before writing. Choose the tasks you can solve most reliably, not the ones that merely look familiar, and note the point values to budget time proportionally. Sketch a short plan for each chosen task.
Work in the order you planned, but keep an eye on the clock and reserve time for checking. Show your reasoning: state the physical principle, write the formula, substitute with units, and give the result with a sensible number of significant figures and a unit. For graphs and circuit diagrams, label axes and components. If you get stuck, move on and return later; partial working often earns partial credit.
Stop extending answers and check units, signs, significant figures, and whether every sub-question has been addressed. Make sure your name and candidate number are on all sheets and that your chosen tasks are clearly marked as required by the instructions.
Rules to check
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times; they govern seating, materials on the desk, and conduct in the room. If an instruction is unclear, ask before the working time begins.
Bring and display the admission document and photo ID as required. The exact identification requirements are set locally; confirm with the provider in advance.
Only permitted aids may be used. Place unauthorized devices and materials away from your desk as directed; using a non-permitted aid can lead to exclusion from the examination, so verify your calculator and formulary beforehand.
Communication between candidates during the examination is not allowed. Raise your hand if you need to speak to an invigilator, need materials, or feel unwell.
Leaving the room during the examination is normally only possible with permission and often accompanied; the exact procedure, including whether you may return, is set by the school. Confirm with the provider or ask the invigilator at the start.
Illness or other inability to sit the exam must be reported immediately and documented according to your school's rules; deadlines for medical certificates are strict. Confirm the procedure with the provider rather than assuming.
Scoring follows the official assessment criteria for the task, including correct physical reasoning, correct use of formulas and units, and clarity of presentation. Partial solutions can earn partial credit, so write down your approach even when the final result is uncertain.
Academic honesty applies: all submitted work must be your own. Suspected cheating or use of unauthorized aids is handled under the examination regulations of the state and school; the precise consequences should be confirmed with the provider.