Sachsen-Anhalt Abitur Mathematics exam-day guide
Sachsen-Anhalt Abitur Mathematics · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission document and photo ID
Bring the invitation/admission letter issued by your school for the written Abitur examination together with an official photo ID. The exact accepted ID forms and whether a copy is sufficient should be confirmed with your school before exam day, as practice can vary between schools.
Approved calculator
Sachsen-Anhalt permits a scientific calculator in the written mathematics Abitur, but not every model is allowed. Confirm with your teacher which calculator model is approved for your school and check that it is in working order with fresh batteries. Programmable or CAS-capable devices may be restricted depending on the course level, so verify this explicitly.
Approved formula/reference materials
Some tasks come with official formula collections or tables supplied by the school; in other cases specific printed aids are permitted. Ask your teacher in advance exactly which printed materials you may bring and which are provided, and whether annotations in them are allowed. Do not assume any particular policy without confirmation.
Spare pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener
Bring several dark blue or black pens for written work, a pencil for sketches and constructions, an eraser, and a sharpener. Avoid red or green ink, which may be reserved for marking.
Geometric drawing tools
Bring a ruler, set square, protractor, and a pair of compasses for geometry and vector tasks. Confirm with your teacher whether these are expected or provided, and check that your compasses hold a sharp pencil lead.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital watch without communication or smart features helps you manage time if the exam room clock is not visible from your seat. Smartwatches and phones are not permitted at the desk; confirm the school's rules on where devices must be stored.
Drinks and a snack
Bring water in a closed bottle and a light snack, since the written mathematics exam is long. Confirm with your school whether drinks and food are allowed at the desk and whether the bottle must have no label.
Know the start time and room
Confirm the exact start time, room, and reporting time with your school at least a week in advance. Arrive early enough to settle in; late arrival rules vary and should be confirmed with the provider.
Review the task structure and time allocation
Before exam day, re-read the official task types for your course (Grundkurs or Leistungskurs) and the number of tasks you must choose from. Practise allocating roughly proportional time per task and leaving time to check answers.
Prepare a personal formula and method sheet for revision
For your own revision, create a concise summary of key formulas, derivative and integral rules, trigonometric identities, vector operations, and probability rules. This is a study aid only; whether you may bring notes into the exam must be confirmed with your teacher.
Sleep and logistics plan
Plan your route and transport, set two alarms, and aim for a normal night's sleep. Cramming the night before is less useful than a rested mind for a long, demanding paper.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Know who to contact if transport fails or you fall ill. If you cannot attend, the rules for illness and medical certificates must be confirmed with your school immediately, as documentation deadlines are strict.
Plan the day
Do a full timed mock under exam conditions using an official-style task set for your course level. Mark it strictly against the solutions, list every recurring error type, and rank topics by weakness. Spend the remaining days on the two or three weakest areas rather than starting new material.
Review your formula summary and redo a selection of representative tasks from each topic: analysis (curves, derivatives, integrals), analytic geometry and vectors, and stochastics. Check that your calculator is set to the correct mode (degrees or radians as required) and that you can use its key functions fluently.
Pack your bag with admission letter, ID, calculator, spare batteries, pens, drawing tools, watch, water, and snack. Confirm the room and start time once more. Do a light review of formula sheets and common pitfalls only, then stop early and sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive at the school well before the reporting time, and keep the morning calm. Do not attempt new topics. Check your calculator and pens one last time before entering the room.
Read the instructions and the full task list carefully. Note which tasks are compulsory and which are optional, count the total marks, and write a short time plan on your answer sheet. Read each chosen task completely before starting calculations.
Work through tasks in your planned order, showing all intermediate steps, since method marks are awarded. If a task stalls, note your approach, move on, and return later. Keep an eye on the clock and reserve the final ten to fifteen minutes to check units, rounding, and whether every sub-question has been answered.
Number your pages, make sure your name and candidate details are on every sheet, and check that no answer is left blank where partial credit could be earned. Hand in all materials as instructed by the invigilator.
Rules to check
Bring the admission document and an official photo ID; the specific accepted forms and whether a copy suffices must be confirmed with your school.
Electronic devices such as phones and smartwatches must be switched off and stored away from the desk according to the school's instructions; confirm where they must be placed.
Only approved aids may be used. The permitted calculator model, formula collections, and any annotated materials must be confirmed with your teacher in advance; unapproved aids can lead to exclusion from the examination.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, starting and finishing, and handing in papers. Do not communicate with other candidates during the examination.
Breaks and supervised toilet visits are usually possible but are regulated by the school; confirm the procedure and any time compensation rules with the provider.
If you fall ill before or during the exam, inform the school immediately and follow the official procedure for medical certificates; the exact deadlines and consequences must be confirmed with your school.
Assessment is based on the official marking scheme for the written Abitur, with points awarded for correct method and reasoning as well as final answers, so show your working clearly.
Any suspicion of cheating or use of unauthorised aids is handled under the examination regulations of Sachsen-Anhalt; the precise consequences should be confirmed with your school rather than assumed.