IB Biology HL exam-day guide
IB Biology HL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring photo ID
Your school may act as the venue and check candidates against the IB registration list rather than ask for separate ID; carry a current photo ID anyway and confirm with your DP coordinator which document is accepted.
Bring black or blue pens and pencils plus an eraser and sharpener
IB written papers are normally answered in black or blue ink, with pencil permitted for diagrams and graphs. Bring spares; a ruler is often useful for drawing tables and axes.
Bring an approved calculator
A calculator is required for Paper 1B, Paper 2, and Paper 3 in Biology HL. Use a model your school has approved for IB use, and confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted at your venue.
Know your candidate number and session details
Write down your candidate number, the paper start times, and the room. Confirm with your DP coordinator whether any additional session code or login is needed.
Check your formula and data booklet access
The IB biology data booklet is normally provided for the papers that need it. Confirm with your coordinator whether it is supplied at your venue or whether you should bring your own copy, and whether annotations are allowed.
Bring a clear water bottle and a small snack for after the session
Water is usually allowed if it is in a clear container with the label removed. Eat snacks outside the exam room and only between papers, not during a paper.
Leave phones and smart devices outside the room
Any phone, smartwatch, or wearable must be switched off and stored as directed before you enter. Possession during a paper is normally treated as malpractice, so confirm the venue's storage rules with the provider.
Plan your arrival time and route
Arrive well before the scheduled start, allowing for registration and seating. Confirm the required arrival time with your coordinator; late arrival may mean you are not admitted or that you receive no extra time.
Prepare for the practical or data-based Paper 3
Paper 3 includes questions on the prescribed practicals and a data-analysis section. Review your lab notebook, graph-drawing conventions, uncertainty, and statistical tests rather than only theory.
Check accommodations in advance
If you have approved inclusive assessment arrangements such as extra time or a separate room, confirm the logistics with your DP coordinator before exam day. Do not assume they will be applied automatically.
Bring a watch if the room clock is not visible
A simple analogue watch is normally acceptable; smartwatches are not. Confirm with the provider whether a watch may be worn or must be placed on the desk.
Know the paper structure and timing
Biology HL has Paper 1A multiple choice, Paper 1B data-based questions, Paper 2 extended response, and Paper 3 practicals and data analysis. Check the current timings and weightings with your teacher and confirm details with the provider, since these can change between sessions.
Plan the day
Do a final pass over the syllabus, focusing on topics you have flagged as weak. Complete one timed Paper 2 and one timed Paper 3 under exam conditions, then mark them against the mark scheme and write down the command terms and assessment statements you missed. Review the prescribed practicals and the data booklet layout so you know where the equations and constants are. Stop learning new content 48 hours out and switch to consolidation.
Review your summary sheets, command-term definitions, and recurring errors from your marked papers. Practise sketching the standard graphs and diagrams: error bars, axes labels, units, and lines of best fit. Pack your bag with pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, ruler, approved calculator with fresh batteries, ID, water bottle, and any permitted materials. Confirm the start time and room with your coordinator. Go to bed at a normal hour rather than cramming.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive early. Do a short, calm review of command terms and the data booklet rather than a full topic. Hand in or store your phone and any smart device as instructed. Check that your calculator works and that you have spare writing equipment. Use the reading time, if your venue provides it, to scan the paper and plan question order.
Read the whole paper first and note the mark allocation so you can budget time per section. Answer in the format the question asks for: state, describe, explain, compare, or evaluate. Show working and units in calculations, and give uncertainties where required. For extended-response questions, plan a short outline, use correct terminology, and include named examples. For data questions, read the axes and units carefully. If time runs short, write brief point-form answers for remaining questions rather than leaving them blank, and check that you have answered every part.
Rules to check
Bring only permitted equipment into the exam room. Phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices must be switched off and stored as directed; possession during a paper is normally treated as malpractice. Confirm the venue's specific rules with the provider.
Follow all instructions from the invigilator, including seating, timing, and when you may open the paper. Do not communicate with other candidates once the session has begun, and do not look at another candidate's work.
Do not take any paper, answer booklet, or data booklet out of the room. All materials are collected at the end of the session.
If you need to leave the room during a paper, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. You will normally be supervised, and you may not receive extra time; confirm the venue's policy with the provider.
If you have approved inclusive assessment arrangements, they must be arranged before the exam. Confirm with your DP coordinator and the provider that they are in place; they are not granted on the day.
Marks come only from what is written in your answer booklet. Write legibly, label diagrams, and show working. Answers written outside the designated areas or on additional paper may not be marked.
Report any problem, such as a misprinted paper or a faulty calculator, to the invigilator immediately rather than trying to resolve it yourself.