IB Business Management HL exam-day guide
IB Business Management HL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration
Bring the same ID document you registered with. If your name differs across documents, or you are unsure which ID the school accepts, confirm with the provider (usually your IB coordinator or exam centre).
Admission slip / exam timetable confirmation
Many centres issue a statement of entry or personal timetable. Print or download it if instructed; if you have not received one, ask your coordinator rather than assuming.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two) plus a spare
All written answers should be in ink. Pencil is normally only for multiple-choice answer sheets or diagrams if your centre instructs it - confirm with the provider.
Pencil, eraser, and a clear pencil case
Use a transparent case or none at all; opaque cases are commonly disallowed. Confirm with the provider whether cases must be left outside the room.
Simple calculator with no stored program or communication capability
Paper 1 and Paper 2 involve quantitative work (ratios, break-even, cash flow, investment appraisal). Check your model against your centre's permitted-calculator rules; graphing/programmable models are often restricted. Confirm with the provider.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
A small practical comfort for a long session. Label-free bottles are commonly required; confirm with the provider.
Wristwatch (non-smart, no alarms set)
Some rooms lack a visible clock. Smartwatches and phones are not permitted at your desk - confirm with the provider where devices must be stored.
No notes, no phone at your desk
Leave revision notes outside the exam room. Phones go into the storage arrangement your centre specifies, switched off. Confirm with the provider.
Know your seat number, room, and start time the day before
Check the noticeboard or your coordinator's message. Arrive early enough to complete any sign-in and seating process - confirm the required arrival time with the provider.
Plan transport with a buffer
Aim to arrive well before the published start. If you are delayed, contact the centre immediately; do not assume you will be refused entry - rules vary. Confirm with the provider.
A working knowledge of the case study for Paper 1
Paper 1 is based on a pre-released case study. Re-read it and know the business, its stakeholders, and its strategic options. Confirm with your teacher which case study applies to your session.
Pre-planned answer structure for each paper
Decide in advance how you will allocate time per section and how many points you will write for each mark tariff. This is preparation, not something to bring - but it is the highest-value item on this list.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Re-read the Paper 1 case study and produce a one-page map: business context, key stakeholders, main issues, possible strategies, and relevant tools (Ansoff, stakeholder analysis, ratio analysis, investment appraisal). For Paper 2, list the syllabus units you are least confident in and review only those.
Do one timed section under exam conditions - for example a 10-mark and a 20-mark question back to back - and mark it against the assessment criteria you have been taught. Identify whether you lose marks through missing application, missing evaluation, or running out of time.
Build a one-page 'toolkit' sheet from memory: formulas for gross and net profit margin, ROCE, current and acid-test ratios, gearing, stock turnover, payback, ARR, NPV, break-even, contribution, and cash-flow forecasting. Check it against your notes and re-learn only the gaps.
Practise two 'evaluate' or 'discuss' questions. Force yourself to write a judgement that answers the question directly, states short-run versus long-run effects, and names the stakeholder or context that drives the conclusion. Evaluation is where the top marks sit.
Confirm logistics: room, seat, start time, arrival time, ID, calculator, transport. Pack your bag. Check your calculator works and has no case or instruction booklet that could be mistaken for notes.
Light revision only: skim your case-study map, your toolkit sheet, and a list of common command words (define, explain, analyse, discuss, evaluate, recommend) with what each demands. Then stop. Sleep is worth more than another past paper.
Eat properly and avoid cramming new material. Skim your case-study map and toolkit sheet for 15–20 minutes, then put them away. Arrive early with ID, pens, calculator, and water.
Read the front cover and instructions. Check the number of questions and sections, note the marks per section, and write your time allocation on the paper if permitted. Read the case-study stimulus or data before the first question.
Answer in the order that suits you, but start with questions you can do confidently. Match length to marks: a 2-mark 'define' needs a precise definition, not a paragraph; a 4-mark 'explain' needs a point plus mechanism; a 10-mark 'analyse' needs several developed chains of reasoning; a 20-mark 'evaluate' needs analysis plus a reasoned judgement.
Anchor every point in the stimulus: name the business, quote figures, refer to the specific market or stakeholder. Generic theory scores poorly on application marks. Before moving on, ask 'have I used the case?'
Check you have answered every required question and that no answer is left half-finished. Add a short evaluative sentence to any analysis answer missing a judgement. Check units and that calculations show working. Correct clearly; do not rewrite whole answers.
Rules to check
Bring the ID document your centre requires and present it on request. Which documents are accepted is set by your school or exam centre - confirm with the provider before exam day, and raise any name mismatch in advance.
Keep phones, smartwatches, and any wearable with communication or storage capability out of the exam room or in the storage your centre designates, switched off. Do not keep one in a pocket at your desk.
No notes, textbooks, or unauthorised materials at your desk. If you are found with unauthorised material or a device, the consequences are set by the awarding body's malpractice rules - confirm with the provider what applies to your session.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on start, finish, and leaving the room. If you need to leave temporarily, raise your hand and wait to be accompanied; rules on supervised breaks vary - confirm with the provider.
If you are ill, have a clash, or need access arrangements (extra time, a separate room, a reader or scribe), these must normally be requested and approved well before the exam. Contact your coordinator as early as possible - confirm with the provider.
Calculators must be of a permitted type, with no stored programs and no communication capability. If you are unsure whether your model is allowed, ask your coordinator before the exam - confirm with the provider.
Mark allocation drives answer length and depth. Do not spend 20 minutes on a 4-mark question. If you run short of time, write brief but complete points for the remaining questions rather than leaving them blank - partial answers can still earn marks.
Write your candidate number and any other required details exactly as instructed, and do not write anything that could identify you beyond what is asked. Your work is marked against published assessment criteria, and final grades follow the awarding body's grade boundaries - confirm with the provider how results and enquiries about results are handled.