IB Lang Lit HL exam-day guide
IB Lang Lit HL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Candidate number and personal details
Know your candidate number and session details as issued by your school's IB coordinator. Your coordinator, not this guide, is the authoritative source for what identification and paperwork your test centre requires.
School-issued ID or required identification
Bring whatever identification your school or test centre requires. Exact ID rules vary by centre and session; confirm with your IB coordinator in advance rather than assuming.
Black or blue pens plus spares
Bring at least two pens that write cleanly, since Paper 1 and Paper 2 are handwritten. Check ink flow beforehand; a failing pen mid-essay is avoidable stress.
Pencils and eraser for planning
Useful for annotating and outlining. Confirm with your coordinator whether annotations on the question booklet are permitted and whether planning pages are collected.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many centres restrict what can be on the desk. Keep your stationery in a simple clear container and confirm permitted items with your coordinator.
Analogue watch
A simple non-smart watch helps you pace yourself if the room clock is hard to see. Smart watches and phones are normally prohibited at the desk; confirm your centre's device policy.
Water in a clear bottle, label removed
Stay hydrated for long writing sessions. Check whether drinks are allowed at the desk in your venue; rules differ between centres.
No notes, phones, or smart devices at the desk
Leave revision notes and all electronic devices outside the exam room or in the designated area. Carrying unauthorised material into the room can trigger academic misconduct procedures.
Pre-planned timing benchmarks
Write down your target checkpoints for each paper (for example, when to finish planning, when to start your second response). Practise these on timed past papers in the final week.
Know the paper structure and mark allocations
Be clear on how many questions you must answer, how the marks are weighted, and how long each section should take. Verify the current structure against the official subject guide or your teacher, as specifications change between sessions.
Confirm venue, start time, and arrival instructions
Check the location, reporting time, and any entry requirements with your coordinator. Do not rely on memory or on secondhand information from classmates.
Plan your transport and a backup
Arrive early enough to settle in without rushing. Identify an alternative route or contact in case of delay, and know who to call at the school if something goes wrong.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating technique. Reread your own annotated practice essays and note the recurring weaknesses your teacher flagged: thesis clarity, use of evidence, structure, or register. Do two or three timed sectional practices rather than full papers, focusing on whichever paper you feel least secure about. Rehearse your approach to unseen texts: read once for meaning, annotate for purpose, audience, and stylistic choice, then plan before writing. Skim your text and work bank for Paper 2 so key quotations and contextual points are fresh, but do not attempt to memorise new material at this stage.
Assemble your stationery and identification, confirm the venue and start time, and check the exam timetable for clashes or back-to-back sessions. Sleep on a normal schedule; late-night cramming costs more in concentration than it gains in recall.
Do light review only: your one-page-per-text summary sheets, your list of literary and stylistic terms you actually use, and your timing plan for each paper. Stop studying early enough to eat properly and sleep at your usual time. Pack your bag the night before so nothing is left to chance in the morning. Avoid comparing preparation with classmates, which tends to raise anxiety without improving performance.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive with time to spare. Do not attempt heavy new revision; a brief look at your summary sheet is enough. Once seated, check that you have the correct paper and any permitted materials, read the instructions on the cover carefully, and note the number of questions you must answer and the time allocation. Set your watch and write your checkpoints on the answer booklet if permitted.
Read all instructions and the full question set before committing. Choose your questions deliberately, based on what you can write about with specific evidence rather than on what looks easiest. Spend a defined few minutes planning each response: a clear thesis, a line of argument, and the evidence you will use. A short plan prevents the mid-essay collapse that comes from writing without direction.
Keep your argument visible in every paragraph. For textual analysis, integrate short quotations and comment on the effect of specific choices rather than retelling plot. For unseen texts, address purpose, audience, context, and register explicitly. Watch the clock at your pre-set checkpoints and be willing to move on with a slightly thinner section rather than run out of time on the last question. Leave space if you want to return and add material.
Reserve time to proofread for clarity, agreement, and legibility, and to check that you have answered the required number of questions and filled in all candidate details. Cross out rough work clearly if your centre requires it. Stop writing immediately when instructed; continuing after the end of the exam can be treated as misconduct.
Do not dissect the paper with classmates if you have another exam soon; it drains focus for no benefit. Note anything useful for future papers, then move on to the next subject's preparation.
Rules to check
Follow all instructions from the invigilator immediately and without discussion. If an instruction is unclear, raise your hand and ask before the paper begins rather than guessing.
Bring only permitted materials to the desk. Notes, phones, smart watches, and any other electronic devices should be left outside the room or in the area your centre designates; confirm the exact device policy with your coordinator.
Identification and candidate-number requirements vary by centre and session. Confirm exactly what you must present with your IB coordinator before exam day rather than relying on general advice.
Breaks, toilet access, and leaving the room during the exam are governed by your centre's procedures. Ask your invigilator in advance what the process is, since you may be escorted or supervised.
Any communication with another candidate during the exam, or access to unauthorised material, is treated as academic misconduct and can lead to disqualification from the subject or the diploma. Do not risk it, even for a single glance or whispered word.
Marks are awarded for what is written in your answer booklet, not for planning notes or annotations. Make sure your final responses are legible and clearly identified as the answers you intend to be marked.
If you believe there was a disturbance, a printing error, or a problem with your paper, report it to the invigilator at the time and inform your coordinator afterwards; complaints raised much later are harder to act on.
Scoring and grade boundaries are set by the IB and are not something your centre can negotiate. Confirm the assessment structure and weightings for your session against the official subject guide or with your teacher.