IB Chemistry SL exam-day guide
IB Chemistry SL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission statement and photo ID
Bring your statement of entry/exam schedule and the photo ID your school accepts. Exact ID rules vary by venue, so confirm with your IB coordinator/provider which document is required and whether a school ID is acceptable.
Approved calculator
Bring a calculator permitted by your school/IB rules, clear its memory, and carry spare batteries. Calculator rules can differ between Paper 1 and Papers 2–3, so confirm the exact permitted model list and which papers allow calculator use with your provider.
Pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener and ruler
Pack black or blue pens for written answers, plus pencils for diagrams or answer sheets if required. Confirm locally whether Paper 1 answers must be in pencil and whether correction fluid is banned.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many exam venues require stationery in a clear container and may ban pencil cases with writing or logos. Check your venue’s rules before packing.
Non-smart analogue watch
A simple watch can help you pace Papers 1–3. Smartwatches and communication-enabled devices are normally prohibited; confirm whether any watch may be worn at the desk.
Water in a clear bottle
Remove labels and keep the bottle on the floor or where invigilators allow. Bottle and drink rules vary by venue, so confirm with the provider.
Tissues and necessary medication
Tell the invigilator before the exam if you need tissues or medication. Some medication or access arrangements require prior approval, so confirm the procedure with your coordinator.
No personal notes or annotated data booklet
Do not bring chemistry notes, formula cards or your own annotated data booklet. IB chemistry exams supply the data booklet containing the periodic table; confirm locally what materials are provided and what must remain on the desk.
Review command terms and core calculation types
Revise command terms such as state, deduce, explain and evaluate, plus stoichiometry, energetics, equilibrium, kinetics, redox, organic functional groups, and uncertainty/error treatment for Paper 3.
Practise Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 timing
Do at least one timed set for each paper style: Paper 1 multiple choice, Paper 2 structured/extended response, and Paper 3 practical skills and data analysis. Check your answers against mark schemes and note recurring errors.
Confirm venue, start time and transport
Check the exam room, arrival time and entry route. Allow extra time for security checks and unexpected delays; contact the provider if you are unsure about access arrangements.
Plan your exam-day food and sleep
Eat a normal breakfast or meal and avoid trying a new energy drink. Pack your bag the night before so the morning is calm and you arrive alert.
Plan the day
Finish active revision rather than starting new topics. Use the IB chemistry syllabus as a checklist, review the data booklet sections you actually use, and do timed practice for Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3. Correct errors by writing the correct method, not just the answer.
Prepare your equipment: confirm ID, admission statement, approved calculator, spare batteries, pens, pencils, ruler, eraser and clear case. Check calculator memory and confirm any venue-specific rules with your coordinator.
Pack your bag and lay out clothes and transport details. Do a light review of command terms, common formulas, organic reaction types, significant figures and units. Stop heavy revision early and sleep at a normal time.
Avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Re-read your own summary of common mistakes in stoichiometry, equilibrium calculations, enthalpy cycles, electrode potentials and Paper 3 uncertainty analysis.
Eat breakfast, drink water, and arrive early. Hand in or switch off your phone and smartwatch as instructed. Use the toilet before entering the exam room and check that you have ID and stationery.
Read the front cover and instructions before writing. Check the number of questions and marks, then divide your time so you can attempt every question. Write your candidate details clearly.
Work steadily through the multiple-choice questions, mark uncertain items and return to them. Eliminate impossible options, watch units and significant figures, and transfer answers exactly as instructed. Confirm the calculator rule for Paper 1 with your provider before exam day.
Show working and units for calculations; method marks are often available even if the final answer is wrong. Use the data booklet efficiently. For extended responses, plan briefly, use correct chemistry terminology and link claims to evidence.
Read the practical-skills question carefully and identify the variable, control, safety issue or data trend being tested. Show uncertainty and error analysis clearly, use appropriate significant figures and comment on the reliability or validity of the method.
Check that every question has an answer, units and significant figures are consistent, and calculations are transferred correctly. Do not leave early unless permitted; use remaining time to check flagged items.
Rules to check
Bring only permitted materials. Phones, smartwatches and other communication devices should be switched off and stored as instructed; if you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask your coordinator before the exam.
Present the ID and admission documents required by your venue. Exact ID requirements vary, so confirm with your provider what to bring and what happens if you forget it.
Follow invigilator instructions at all times. Raise your hand if you need to speak, need tissue, feel unwell or need to leave; do not communicate with other candidates during the exam.
Breaks and supervised toilet visits are usually at the invigilator’s discretion and the clock may not stop. Confirm your venue’s break policy before exam day so you can plan hydration and timing.
Academic honesty applies to all components. Do not bring in notes, annotate provided materials beyond instructions, share answers or remove exam papers from the room.
Scoring is based on total marks across the assessment components, not on a class curve. Confirm the current component weightings and grade-boundary information with your provider rather than relying on memory.
Use the data booklet and periodic table supplied for the exam. If you are unsure what is provided, ask your coordinator before the exam; do not assume personal reference materials are allowed.
If you have access arrangements, confirm them well before the exam day. Extra time, separate rooms or rest breaks usually require prior approval and may not be arranged on the day.