IB French B HL exam-day guide
IB French B HL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and admission documents
Bring the government-issued photo ID the school requires, plus any admission statement or candidate number slip. Confirm with the provider which exact documents are accepted and whether a printed copy is needed.
Know your session times and venue
IB French B HL is assessed across external papers and an internal oral assessment, and the schedule differs by school. Confirm the date, start time, and room for each component with your coordinator rather than assuming they run on the same day.
Black or blue pens plus spare
Written papers are handwritten. Bring two or three reliable pens and a pencil for any multiple-choice answer sheet; check with the provider whether pencil is permitted for Paper 1 responses.
No electronic devices at your desk
Phones, smart watches, and earbuds must be switched off and stored away per your school's rules. Confirm the provider's exact device policy, since possession of a phone can be treated as malpractice even if unused.
Clear water bottle and simple snack
A transparent bottle with no label is generally acceptable; keep snacks for before or after the paper. Confirm with the provider what is allowed at the desk.
Review the format of each component
Be clear on which paper you are sitting: Paper 1 is a written productive task, Paper 2 is reading and listening comprehension plus a written response, and the individual oral is conducted separately. Confirm the current structure and timings with your teacher.
Prepare oral talking points, not a script
For the individual oral you will typically describe and discuss a visual stimulus and then a topic from the course. Memorised scripts are risky and can be penalised; prepare flexible vocabulary and structures instead.
Timing strategy rehearsed
Practise allocating minutes across reading, planning, and writing under exam conditions so you do not overrun on the productive task. Confirm the duration of each paper with the provider.
Leave travel margin
Arrive with buffer time; late arrival may mean you cannot sit the paper. Confirm the provider's late-arrival and lateness policy in advance.
Check permitted reference materials
Assume no dictionaries or notes unless your coordinator confirms otherwise in writing. Confirm with the provider which materials, if any, are allowed for each component.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Rehearse the oral format aloud with a partner or recording, timing both the description and the discussion. Review your strongest and weakest text types for the written task, and re-read your own marked work to spot recurring errors in gender, agreement, and verb tense.
Do one timed practice of the reading and listening components, then mark it honestly. For listening, practise extracting key information from a single hearing rather than replaying. List five to ten useful connectives and opinion phrases you can deploy reliably under pressure.
Confirm logistics: venue, start times, ID, and travel. Prepare your pen, pencil, and bottle the night before. Do a light review only, focusing on a short list of high-frequency vocabulary and structures, then stop early and sleep. Avoid cramming new grammar the night before.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and skim a short summary sheet of text-type conventions and useful phrases. Do not attempt to learn new material. Keep phones switched off and stored as soon as you enter the exam area.
Read the instructions and the task requirements carefully before writing. For the productive task, spend a few minutes planning structure, audience, and register, then write, then reserve time to check agreement, tenses, and spelling. For comprehension, answer in the language and format the question demands and do not leave blanks.
Use the preparation time to note keywords, not full sentences. Speak clearly, structure your description logically, and engage with the teacher's follow-up questions rather than reciting. If you do not understand a question, ask for clarification in French; keep going rather than falling silent.
Rules to check
Bring the photo ID your school requires and be ready to show it on request. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a candidate number slip is also needed.
Electronic devices must be off and out of reach during all components. Confirm with the provider the exact policy, as unauthorised material can lead to malpractice proceedings.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on when to start, stop, and leave. Do not communicate with other candidates once the paper has begun, and do not turn back to a paper after time is called.
For the oral, speak only in the target language during the assessed discussion unless told otherwise. Confirm with the provider the language expectations and whether clarification in another language is permitted.
Breaks between components, if any, are governed by your school's schedule. Confirm with the provider whether you may leave the room, access notes, or use a phone between papers.
All work must be your own. Do not bring prepared scripts, notes, or unauthorised aids into any component; confirm with the provider what counts as permitted material.
Grades combine externally assessed papers with the internally assessed oral, weighted according to the current subject guide. Confirm the exact weighting and boundaries with your teacher, as these can change between sessions.
If illness or an emergency affects your performance, notify your coordinator immediately. Confirm with the provider the deadline and evidence required for any special consideration request, as late claims may not be accepted.