European Baccalaureate Mathematics (3-period course) exam-day guide
European Baccalaureate Mathematics (3-period course) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID
Bring the identity document your school or examination centre accepts for admission to the written and oral examinations. If you are unsure which document qualifies, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Admission convocation / exam schedule
Carry the document listing your candidate number, subjects, rooms, and session times. Verify the exact start time and room allocation with the provider, since these are set locally by the examination centre.
Permitted writing instruments
Bring several blue or black ballpoint pens, pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener. Use pencil only for diagrams or where the centre instructs; confirm any colour restrictions with the provider.
Approved calculator
The 3-period mathematics course permits a calculator, but the model and its capabilities must match what your school has approved. Check the exact permitted list with the provider and clear the calculator's memory if required.
Geometric instruments
Ruler, set square, protractor, and a pair of compasses are standard for construction and graph questions. Bring them even if you expect few drawing tasks.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many centres require stationery to be visible in a clear container. If your centre has a specific rule, confirm with the provider.
Water in a transparent bottle
Label removed and bottle unopened or transparent. Whether drinks are allowed at the desk varies by centre, so confirm with the provider.
No phone or smart device at the desk
Leave phones and smartwatches outside the examination room or in the designated storage. A device found at the desk can lead to invalidation of the paper.
Formula and method review sheet
Prepare a one-page personal summary of formulas, derivative and integral rules, and standard method steps for revision in the final hours. Do not bring it into the room unless the provider explicitly allows a formula booklet.
Rest and timing plan
Plan transport, arrival buffer, and sleep so you reach the centre calm and early. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider, as it is usually earlier than the start time.
Language and dictionary policy
If you are entitled to a translation dictionary or other access arrangement, verify in advance that it is approved and bring exactly the permitted item. Confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating. Work through one full past-style paper under timed conditions, then mark it honestly and list your three weakest topic areas. Spend the remaining time on targeted exercises in those areas, especially calculus technique, function analysis, and probability or statistics depending on your syllabus. Rewrite your one-page formula sheet from memory and check it against your notes. Confirm the exam room, start time, and permitted calculator with the provider. Protect sleep: do not trade the night before for extra revision.
Do a light review only: formula sheet, standard method steps, and a handful of short exercises to stay sharp. Prepare your bag with ID, convocation, pens, calculator with fresh batteries, geometric instruments, and water. Check transport and set two alarms. Avoid starting a new topic or a long unfamiliar paper, which raises anxiety without adding marks. Eat normally and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the centre with a comfortable margin. Keep revision to your formula sheet and a few method reminders. Switch off and hand in your phone before entering. Once seated, read the instructions on the paper carefully, note the total marks and the suggested time per section, and write your candidate details exactly as instructed.
Read the whole paper quickly to identify question types and mark allocations. Start with questions you can do confidently to secure marks and build rhythm, but do not spend disproportionate time on any single item. For multi-part questions, note how later parts may depend on an earlier result, and if you cannot get that result, state an assumption and continue.
Show method clearly: set out the formula, substitute, and state the result with units where relevant. For calculus, write the derivative or antiderivative explicitly before evaluating. For graphs, label axes, intercepts, asymptotes, and turning points. Keep an eye on the clock and move on when a question stalls; mark it and return later.
Stop starting new long questions. Check that every question has an attempt, that numerical answers are plausible in magnitude and sign, and that units and rounding match what was asked. Verify you have transferred answers to any answer sheet and that your candidate details are complete. Use remaining time to tidy reasoning on high-mark questions rather than to redo arithmetic you have already checked.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identity document required by your centre; without acceptable ID you may be refused admission. Confirm the accepted documents with the provider in advance.
Electronic devices, including phones and smartwatches, must be switched off and stored away from your desk. Possession of an unauthorized device during the examination can lead to the paper being cancelled.
Only use the calculator model and features approved for your course. Confirm the permitted list and any memory-clearing requirement with the provider.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on timing, breaks, and leaving the room. If you need to leave during the paper, raise your hand and expect supervision; whether extra time is granted is a local decision, so confirm with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the examination or attempt to view another candidate's work. Suspected collusion or copying is handled under the examination's misconduct procedures.
Marks are awarded for correct method as well as final answers. Show your working, and if a final answer is wrong but the method is sound, you may still earn partial credit depending on the marking scheme.
If you believe there is an error or ambiguity in a question, state your interpretation clearly in your answer and continue. Report it to the invigilator after the examination; do not rely on it being resolved during the paper.
Access arrangements, extra time, and separate rooms are granted only if approved in advance. Confirm your entitlements with the provider well before the exam day, as they are rarely granted on the day.