European Baccalaureate Language 2 Advanced exam-day guide
European Baccalaureate Language 2 Advanced · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and exam admission documents
Bring the identity document your school or examination centre requires and any admission slip or convocation you have received. Exact accepted ID forms vary by centre, so confirm with the provider which documents are valid and whether a copy is acceptable.
Know your exact exam time and room
Write down the date, start time, room, and reporting time. Arrive with a margin before the reporting time; late-arrival rules differ between centres, so confirm with the provider how late entry is handled.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Bring more than one working pen of the colour your centre expects, plus a spare. Pencil may be needed only for rough work unless your centre says otherwise; confirm with the provider.
Approved dictionary status confirmed in advance
For a Language 2 Advanced paper, dictionary use is a common point of confusion. Check the current official instructions for your session and confirm with the provider whether a monolingual or bilingual dictionary is permitted, and whether it must be clean of annotations.
No unauthorised electronic devices
Phones, smart watches, and earbuds are normally prohibited in the exam room. Leave them at home or switch them off and store them where the centre directs. Confirm with the provider how confiscation or storage is handled.
Clear pencil case and permitted stationery only
Use a transparent case if you bring one. Bring a highlighter and eraser only if your centre allows them; confirm with the provider what stationery is permitted for this paper.
Water in a clear, label-free bottle
Many centres allow a plain transparent bottle; labels are often removed. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at your desk.
Watch without smart features (optional)
A simple analogue watch can help with timing if the room clock is not visible. Smart watches are normally banned. Confirm with the provider whether any watch is allowed.
Read the paper's structure before writing
Know in advance the number and type of tasks, the marks per task, and the suggested timing. The exact format is set by the current official programme, so check the specification and confirm with the provider.
Plan your response types
Practise the text types the paper may ask for, such as a formal letter, article, or argumentative essay, and the register each requires. Confirm with the provider which text types are in scope for your session.
Sleep, food, and transport plan
Plan your route and a backup, eat a normal breakfast, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Confirm with the provider any access arrangements you need, such as extra time, well in advance.
Access arrangements confirmed
If you have approved extra time, a separate room, or other arrangements, verify them with your centre before the day. These are not granted on request at the door; confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Review the paper structure and mark allocation, then do one timed practice under exam conditions. Focus on planning speed and on the text types you find hardest. Re-read your own past mistakes rather than starting new topics.
Prepare your materials: ID, admission documents, pens, and any permitted dictionary. Check the dictionary rules with the provider now, not on the morning.
Confirm the room, reporting time, and transport route. Check for any timetable change or venue notice from your centre.
Do light revision only: key vocabulary, connectives, and structures for formal register. Skim a model plan for each likely text type. Stop early enough to sleep well.
Pack your bag with ID, documents, pens, and permitted items. Set two alarms. Avoid heavy new grammar study, which tends to unsettle rather than help.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and keep away from last-minute group speculation about topics. Once seated, read all instructions and check the number of tasks and marks before writing.
Read the whole paper, note the marks per task, and allocate time proportionally. Start with the task you can plan fastest, but do not leave a high-mark task for the final minutes.
Spend a few minutes per task on a short outline: purpose, audience, register, and key points. A brief plan usually saves time and prevents drifting off-task.
Watch the clock at set checkpoints. Keep sentences controlled, use linking words, and match register to the text type. Leave space to correct rather than crossing out heavily.
Reserve time to check agreement, tenses, spelling, and that every task is answered. Confirm your name and candidate details are filled in as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document your centre requires and keep it on the desk if instructed. Accepted ID forms vary, so confirm with the provider what is valid.
Follow all instructions from invigilators. If an instruction is unclear, ask before the paper starts rather than guessing.
Do not use phones, smart watches, or other unauthorised devices. Possession in the exam room can be treated as misconduct even if the device is off; confirm with the provider how this is handled.
Use only permitted materials. Dictionary and stationery rules for this paper vary, so confirm with the provider before the day.
Breaks and leaving the room are normally restricted and supervised. Ask an invigilator if you need to leave; do not assume you may return to the paper freely.
Write legibly and in the language required by the task. Work that cannot be read or that is off-task may not earn marks.
Marks are awarded against the published criteria for content, structure, and language. Check the current criteria for your session and confirm with the provider how they are applied.
If you believe there was a problem with the paper or conditions, tell an invigilator immediately and follow your centre's procedure for reporting it.