European Baccalaureate Music exam-day guide
European Baccalaureate Music · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo identification
Bring the ID document your school or examination centre has registered for you. For the European Baccalaureate the practical music examination is organised by your school under the supervision of the Baccalaureate bodies, and invigilators must be able to match you to the candidate list. If you are unsure which document is accepted (national ID card, passport, or school-issued candidate card), confirm with the provider before the day.
Your candidate number and examination timetable
Know your candidate number, the exact start time, and the room or studio assigned to you. Practical music sessions are often scheduled individually or in small groups, so arrival times can differ from the written examination timetable. Confirm your slot with your music teacher or the examination secretary in advance.
Instrument, sticks, bows, reeds, and personal accessories
Bring everything you need to perform on your chosen instrument, including spares where sensible (reeds, strings, drumsticks, capo, tuner, rosin, valve oil). Do not assume the centre supplies instruments other than a piano or keyboard. Confirm with the provider whether a piano, music stands, amplification, or a drum kit will be available and whether you may bring your own.
Printed scores and any required written materials
Bring clean, legible copies of the music you will perform, including a copy for the examiner if the regulations require it. If you are performing from memory, still bring the score in case the panel asks to see it. Check whether the syllabus requires a programme note, a composition portfolio, or a written commentary to be submitted on the day; confirm the submission format with the provider.
Accompanist arrangements confirmed
If your programme includes an accompanied piece, confirm who is playing for you, when you will rehearse together, and whether the accompanist is allowed into the warm-up room and the examination room. Some centres provide an accompanist; others require you to bring your own. Confirm the policy and any page-turn or rehearsal rules with the provider.
Warm-up plan and permitted practice space
Ask in advance whether a practice or warm-up room is available and for how long. Plan a short warm-up that fits the time you will actually have, and know what you can do silently (breathing, lip buzzing, finger patterns, mental rehearsal) if no instrument space is provided.
Water and a small snack
Dry mouth and low energy affect performance more than most candidates expect. Bring water in a container that complies with the centre's rules and a light snack for before or after your slot. Confirm whether food and drink are allowed in the waiting area.
Any approved technical equipment
If your programme involves music technology, backing tracks, a laptop, a tablet, a pedal, or a click track, confirm in advance what is permitted, what the centre can supply, and how files must be delivered (format, storage medium, deadline). Do not rely on being able to connect to the internet or install software on the day.
Watch or silent timer
A simple watch helps you keep track of your programme and any preparation time. Smart watches and phones are usually restricted in the examination room, so bring a basic watch if you need one. Confirm the centre's rule on personal devices with the provider.
Comfortable, appropriate clothing
Dress as you would for a formal performance, but choose clothing that lets you play freely: no restrictive sleeves, no noisy jewellery, and footwear you can pedal or move in. Consider the room temperature, since studios and halls can be cold or over-warm.
A calm, rehearsed programme order
Decide the order of your pieces and how you will introduce them if an introduction is expected. Practise starting each piece from silence and recovering from a slip, because stopping and restarting is usually penalised. Write the order on a small card if allowed.
Confirmed answers to your open questions
Before the final week, get written or clearly stated answers on: total time allowed, whether you may choose the order, whether repeats are permitted, how sight-reading or aural tests are conducted, whether you may use a metronome or tuner, and how marks are split. If any answer is unclear, confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Plan the day
Move from learning to performing. Run your full programme in the order you will play it, at performance tempo, without stopping, and record it. Listen back once and note at most three things to fix; resist the urge to rebuild pieces at this stage. Confirm your slot time, room, accompanist, and equipment with the school, and confirm any open policy questions with the provider.
Check your instrument: replace worn strings, check reeds, test pedals and stands, and make sure cases and accessories are complete. If you are relying on centre-provided equipment such as a piano or drum kit, confirm it is available and ask whether you can try it beforehand.
Do a timed run of the whole session, including walking in, setting up, tuning, any spoken introduction, and the pieces themselves. If sight-reading or aural tests are part of the examination, do two or three short practice rounds under time pressure rather than a long session. Finish with a light technical warm-up, not a heavy practice.
Reduce playing to a short, gentle session: slow scales, long tones, or easy passages to keep the instrument and your ears fresh. Do a final check of scores, ID, candidate number, clothing, water, and equipment. Rehearse your programme order mentally. Confirm travel arrangements and aim for a full night's sleep; fatigue costs more marks than one missed practice hour.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate, but avoid heavy food close to your slot. Do a short warm-up appropriate to your instrument and the space available, then stop well before you are called. Arrive at the centre with time to spare, register, and locate the waiting area, warm-up room, and toilets. Keep conversation light and avoid last-minute score changes.
Enter calmly, set up without rushing, and tune or adjust as needed. Take a breath before the first note and treat a slip as part of the performance rather than restarting. Follow the panel's instructions on order, repeats, and stopping; they may cut a piece short to hear other items, which is normal and not a judgement on your playing. If sight-reading or aural tests follow, listen to instructions carefully and ask for clarification once if something is unclear. At the end, thank the panel, collect your belongings, and leave quietly without discussing the examination with candidates who have not yet performed.
Rules to check
Bring the identification your centre has registered for you and be ready to show it at registration. If you are unsure which document is accepted, confirm with the provider before the examination day.
Follow the centre's instructions on arrival time, waiting areas, and movement around the building. Practical music sessions may run individually or in small groups, so do not assume you can arrive at the same time as candidates for written papers.
Personal devices, including phones and smart watches, are usually restricted in the examination room and warm-up areas. Confirm the centre's device policy with the provider and keep devices silent and stored unless you have been given explicit permission to use them for your programme.
Only use equipment, backing tracks, or technology that has been approved in advance. If you intend to use a laptop, tablet, pedal, or click track, confirm the format and permissions with the provider well before the day.
Do not discuss the content of your examination with candidates who have not yet performed, and do not record the session unless you have been explicitly authorised to do so.
Breaks and warm-up time are set by the centre, not by the candidate. If you need a short break, water, or an adjustment to the room (for example, a different chair or stand height), ask the invigilator or panel politely; do not leave the room unaccompanied.
Scoring is carried out by the examiners against the published assessment criteria for the practical component. Ask your teacher to show you how the marks are divided between performance, technique, musicianship, and any sight-reading, aural, or composition elements, and confirm any detail you are unsure about with the provider.
If something goes wrong on the day, such as a broken string, a faulty stand, or a late accompanist, tell the invigilator or panel immediately. Do not attempt to resolve it silently, and do not assume special consideration will be applied automatically; confirm the procedure with the provider.