IB Economics HL exam-day guide
IB Economics HL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your exam session time and arrival window with your school's IB coordinator
Schools set the exact start time within the IB's scheduled session windows, and may require earlier arrival for seating. Your coordinator's instructions override anything generic you read online. If you are unsure about your personal timetable, confirm with the provider (your coordinator).
Photo ID and any school-issued admission slip
Bring the identification your school has told you to bring. IB regulations require candidates to be identifiable, but the specific document your school accepts (passport, national ID, school card) is a local decision. Confirm with the provider which document is valid for you.
Black or blue ballpoint pens, plus spares
Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 are handwritten. Bring at least two reliable pens of the same colour; do not switch ink colour mid-script. Pencil is for diagrams only if your school permits it, so check locally.
Pencil, eraser and a clear ruler
You will draw and label diagrams (AD/AS, market equilibrium, tariff, externality, Lorenz curve, etc.). A ruler helps keep axes and shift arrows clean. Use pencil for diagrams so you can correct them without messy crossings-out.
A non-programmable calculator you know how to use
Calculations appear in elasticity, multiplier, GDP, inflation, unemployment, tax and subsidy incidence, and terms-of-trade questions. IB rules prohibit programmable or graphing calculators and require that memory be cleared; the exact permitted model list and any school checks should be confirmed with the provider.
A clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many exam venues require all equipment to be visible. Check your school's rules on what may be on the desk; water bottles usually must be unlabelled and transparent. Confirm with the provider if you need to bring anything unusual, such as medication.
Analogue watch, if you want one
Some venues do not provide a visible clock, and phones are not allowed at the desk. A simple non-smart analogue watch is the safest option; smart watches are typically prohibited, so leave them at home or in your bag.
No notes, no phone, no smart device at the desk
Leave revision notes outside the exam room. Phones must be switched off and stored away, not merely silenced. Possession of unauthorised material during the exam can lead to disqualification, so clear your pockets before you enter.
Plan your route and a backup transport option
Arriving late can mean you are not admitted or that you lose reading time. Know the room number in advance and allow buffer for traffic or transport disruption. If something goes wrong, contact your coordinator immediately rather than arriving unannounced.
Sleep, food and water routine
Papers are long and writing-heavy; fatigue shows up in evaluation marks. Eat a normal breakfast or lunch, bring water if permitted, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material the night before.
Know the paper structure before you sit down
For HL, Paper 1 is extended-response essay questions, Paper 2 is data-response, and Paper 3 is a policy paper with quantitative work. Internalise the mark allocations and time per section so you do not overrun on one question. Confirm the current structure and weighting with the provider, as syllabi change.
Bring a positive, exam-ready mindset and a rough plan for each paper
Decide in advance how many minutes you will spend reading, planning, writing and checking for each paper. Have a default structure for evaluation (stakeholders, short vs long run, assumptions, magnitudes, trade-offs) so you can start writing quickly.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Build a one-page summary per unit: definitions, key diagrams, and two or three evaluation points you can deploy anywhere. Practise drawing every required diagram from memory, fully labelled, in under two minutes each.
Do at least one full timed paper under realistic conditions, including handwriting, no notes and no phone. Mark it against the mark scheme, focusing on where you lost evaluation or application marks rather than content you already know.
Check the practical logistics: exact session time, room, ID requirements, permitted calculator and equipment rules. If anything is unclear, confirm with the provider (your coordinator) now rather than on the day.
Do light revision only: skim your unit summaries and diagram sheet, and rehearse the structure of a Paper 1 essay and a Paper 2 data-response answer. Stop by early evening. Pack your bag with pens, pencil, ruler, eraser, calculator, ID and any permitted items.
Set two alarms, confirm your transport plan, and get a full night's sleep. Avoid cramming new topics; it raises anxiety and rarely adds marks. If you feel underprepared, pick two high-frequency topics (e.g. elasticity, market failure, macroeconomic policy) and review only those.
Eat a proper meal and hydrate. Do a 15-20 minute warm-up: redraw three diagrams and recall five definitions. Arrive at the venue with time to spare, switch off and stow your phone, and check you have everything on the desk before the start.
Read the instructions and the whole paper before writing. Note the marks per question and allocate time proportionally, leaving 5-10 minutes at the end to check. Choose optional questions deliberately, based on which diagrams and evaluation points you can execute best.
Answer the question asked, use economic terminology precisely, and always anchor analysis in the specific case or data given. Draw diagrams large, fully labelled, and integrated into the text. For evaluation marks, weigh both sides, consider short vs long run, stakeholders, assumptions and magnitude, and reach a judgement.
Check that every question has an answer, that diagrams are labelled and referred to in the text, and that units and calculations are correct. Make sure you have not left an evaluation question without a conclusion. Do not erase working you might still get credit for.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identification your school requires. The exact accepted document is a local decision, so confirm with the provider before exam day and keep the ID on your desk if instructed.
Do not bring unauthorised material into the exam room. Notes, phones, smart watches and any device with stored data must be left outside or switched off and stored as directed; possession during the exam can lead to disqualification.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on timing, seating, leaving the room and communication. During the exam you may not communicate with other candidates in any form, and you may not leave and re-enter without permission.
Use only permitted calculators. Programmable and graphing calculators are generally prohibited, and memory must be cleared; confirm the permitted models and any school checks with the provider.
Write in the required ink and keep diagrams clear and labelled. Cross out work you do not want marked rather than tearing pages out, and do not write in margins or on question papers if instructed not to.
If you need a break, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Toilet breaks are usually supervised and may not extend your writing time; confirm your school's specific arrangements with the provider.
If you feel unwell or something goes wrong during the exam, tell the invigilator immediately. Special consideration or rescheduling is handled through your school and the IB, not by the invigilator on the spot, so report it and follow up with your coordinator.
Marks are awarded against the mark scheme for the specific assessment objectives: knowledge and understanding, application, analysis and evaluation. Evaluation marks require a reasoned judgement, not just listing points, so plan for them explicitly in every extended answer.