European Baccalaureate Other National Language (ONL) exam-day guide
European Baccalaureate Other National Language (ONL) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID
Bring the identity document your school or the examination centre requires for admission to the written and oral tests. The exact accepted documents and any signature/photo requirements should be confirmed with your school's Baccalaureate coordinator before exam day.
Examination timetable and room/seat allocation
Print or save the personalised convocation showing dates, start times, rooms, and any candidate number. Verify the ONL written and oral slots separately, since oral scheduling can differ from the written timetable.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (spare)
Bring at least two working pens plus a spare. Confirm with the provider whether pencil, erasable ink, or correction fluid is permitted for your subject, as rules on correction products vary.
Permitted dictionary
For a language examination a monolingual or bilingual dictionary may be allowed, but whether dictionaries are permitted, which type, and whether they may contain annotations must be confirmed with the provider. Do not assume; check the official instructions for your language and level.
Clear pencil case or transparent pouch
Many centres require transparent storage for stationery. Confirm with the provider whether a clear pouch is mandatory and whether pencil cases must be left outside the room.
Water in a transparent bottle, labels removed
Bring a small clear bottle with no label. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk during the written test and whether this applies to oral preparation rooms.
Watch (non-smart, no alarms)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace the reading, writing, and listening sections. Smartwatches and phones are normally prohibited at the desk; confirm the centre's policy on wrist devices.
No phone or smart device at the desk
Leave phones, smartwatches, and earbuds switched off and stored as instructed. Confirm with the provider where devices must be deposited and what happens if one is found on you.
Revised personal notes and past-paper practice
Bring only material you are allowed to consult; most language exams are closed-book. Focus final revision on your own summaries of set texts, vocabulary lists, and essay structures, and confirm with the provider what may be brought into the preparation room for the oral.
Oral preparation materials per instructions
For the oral component, find out in advance whether you may bring notes, a dictionary, or set texts into the preparation room and how long preparation lasts. Confirm these details with the provider or your teacher.
Arrival time and route plan
Plan to arrive well before the stated start time; centres typically require candidates to be present ahead of the doors opening. Confirm the exact arrival time and late-arrival policy with the provider.
Medical or access arrangements documentation
If you have approved access arrangements (extra time, separate room, use of a computer), bring any confirmation letter. Confirm with the provider what documentation to present and to whom.
Plan the day
Re-read the official instructions for the ONL written and oral tests: duration, number of sections, permitted materials, and scoring weights. Confirm with the provider any point you cannot answer from the official documents, especially dictionary rules and oral preparation conditions.
Do one full timed practice paper under exam conditions, including the listening section if your language exam includes one. Review your errors and note the two or three question types that cost you most marks.
Consolidate your own revision sheets: key vocabulary, connectives, essay and summary structures, and short quotations or references for any set texts. Keep them concise enough to reread in the final hours.
Check logistics: travel route, room numbers, start times, and whether the oral is on a different day or at a different site. Tell your school promptly about any clash or illness.
Pack your bag: ID, convocation, pens, permitted dictionary if allowed, clear pouch, water bottle, and watch. Put everything by the door so nothing is forgotten.
Do light revision only: skim your summaries, practise a short oral introduction or a few speaking prompts, and stop early. Protect your sleep; a rested candidate performs better than a cramming one.
Check the weather and transport, set two alarms, and confirm the exact arrival time with the provider if it is not clearly stated on your convocation.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and keep away from last-minute group discussion of content, which tends to raise anxiety. Have your ID and convocation ready for inspection.
Switch off and store your phone and any smart device exactly as instructed before entering the room. Use the toilet before the test begins, since breaks may be limited.
Read the whole paper or task sheet first, note the marks per section, and allocate time proportionally. Start with the section you can do most confidently, but keep to your time budget.
For writing tasks, plan briefly, answer the exact question asked, and leave time to check agreement, tenses, spelling, and word count. For listening, read the questions before each recording where the format allows.
If you run out of time, write brief but complete answers rather than leaving blanks, and make sure your candidate details are filled in correctly. If something is unclear, raise your hand and ask an invigilator rather than guessing at a rule.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document required by your centre and place it on the desk if asked. The exact accepted forms of ID and any additional verification should be confirmed with the provider before exam day.
Phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices must be switched off and stored as instructed. Possession of a device at the desk is normally treated as a serious breach; confirm the centre's specific policy with the provider.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on start and finish times, filling in your details, and leaving the room. Do not begin writing before you are told to start or continue after you are told to stop.
Use only the materials permitted for your language and level. Whether a dictionary, set texts, or notes may be used in the written or oral test varies, so confirm the rule with the provider rather than relying on hearsay.
Breaks and toilet access are usually restricted during the written test and may be supervised. Confirm the centre's policy in advance, and ask an invigilator if you need to leave the room.
Scoring follows the official Baccalaureate framework for the ONL component, including the weighting of written and oral parts and any internal assessment element. Check the current weightings and pass conditions with your school or the provider, as these can change between sessions.
Access arrangements and special consideration must be approved in advance. If you are ill or something goes wrong on the day, tell the invigilator and your school immediately and confirm the procedure for reporting it with the provider.
Academic honesty applies to both written and oral work. Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and submit only your own work; the consequences of malpractice should be confirmed with the provider.