IB Digital Society SL exam-day guide
IB Digital Society SL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Exam admission/session details
Bring any admission notice or timetable your school issues, and confirm the exact Digital Society SL paper(s), start time, and room with your IB coordinator. needs_review: provider procedures vary.
Valid photo ID
Bring the photo ID your school requires for admission to the exam room. needs_review: confirm the accepted ID type with your coordinator before exam day.
Candidate/session number
Know your candidate number or session identifier and use it only where instructed on exam materials. needs_review: confirm the exact format and where it must be written.
Two dark-ink pens
Bring at least two black or blue pens that write clearly; use dark ink for written responses unless the paper instructs otherwise.
Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
Bring these for diagrams, rough work, or multiple-choice answer sheets if your paper uses them. Confirm with your coordinator whether they are permitted in your exam room.
Clear water bottle
Bring a plain, spill-resistant water bottle with labels removed if your school allows drinks at desks. needs_review: confirm local rules on drinks and bottle labelling.
Simple analog watch
A non-smart analog watch can help you pace yourself if the room clock is hard to see. needs_review: confirm whether watches are allowed and whether smartwatches are banned.
Small clear pencil case or pouch
Use a transparent pouch so invigilators can see permitted equipment quickly. needs_review: confirm whether pencil cases are allowed at your centre.
Phone and smart devices left outside
Do not bring a phone, smartwatch, or any connected device into the exam room. Switch devices off and store them as directed by your school before entry.
Transport and arrival plan
Plan your route and aim to arrive with enough time for ID checks and settling. needs_review: confirm the required arrival time and late-arrival policy with your coordinator.
Confirmed permitted equipment
Digital Society SL is normally closed-book, but confirm whether a calculator, ruler, or any other equipment is allowed for your paper. needs_review: do not assume; ask your coordinator.
Read the school/IB candidate notice
Read any notice to candidates supplied by your coordinator, especially rules on conduct, devices, and academic honesty, before exam day.
Plan the day
Confirm the paper schedule, room, arrival time, ID requirement, and permitted equipment with your IB coordinator. Resolve any access or timetable questions now, not on the morning of the exam.
Do one timed practice paper or section under exam conditions, focusing on command terms and mark allocation. Review your own case-study examples and definitions; do not try to learn new topics at this stage.
Prepare your exam bag and clothes, check transport, and start moving toward your normal sleep schedule. Keep review sessions short and active rather than rereading notes passively.
Pack ID, pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, water bottle, watch, and any confirmed permitted equipment. Put your phone and other devices away so they are not accidentally taken into the room.
Do a light review of key concepts, command terms, and two or three flexible case studies. Stop studying early enough to eat and sleep well; avoid cramming new material.
Eat breakfast, drink water, and arrive early enough for ID checks. Switch off and store your phone and smartwatch before entering the exam area, and use the bathroom before the paper starts.
Listen carefully to invigilator instructions, check that you have the correct paper, and fill in candidate details exactly as directed. If reading time is provided, use it to scan the whole paper and plan timings; confirm reading-time rules locally.
Allocate time by marks, answer every required question, and use specific examples or case studies rather than generic claims. Watch the clock, leave a few minutes to check that no question or page has been missed, and follow all instructions about where to write.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from your IB coordinator and invigilators. If any conduct, equipment, or timing rule is unclear, ask before the exam starts rather than guessing.
Bring and display the ID and registration documents required by your school. needs_review: confirm accepted ID and admission documents with your coordinator before exam day.
Do not bring unauthorized electronic devices into the exam room. Phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices must be switched off and stored outside the room as directed; confirm local storage arrangements with your coordinator.
Academic honesty applies throughout the exam: do not use unauthorized notes or materials, and do not communicate with other candidates during the paper.
Arrive on time. Late arrival, extra time, and rest-break rules vary by provider and centre; confirm them in advance and do not assume you will be admitted after the scheduled start.
Answer every required question. Do not assume negative marking; marks are awarded for what you write, so use the full time and check for missed questions. needs_review: confirm the marking approach with your teacher or coordinator.
If you leave the exam room for a break, expect supervision and no access to notes, devices, or other candidates. Confirm break and leaving-room rules with your invigilator.
Do not remove exam papers or materials from the room unless an invigilator explicitly allows it, and leave only when dismissed.