IB Global Politics SL exam-day guide
IB Global Politics SL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Know your Paper 1 and Paper 2 formats cold
Paper 1 is a source-based stimulus paper: you are given a set of sources on a global politics topic and answer structured questions, including an extended-response question that asks you to synthesise the sources. Paper 2 is the essay paper: you answer from a bank of questions organised around the four core units (power, sovereignty and international relations; human rights; development; peace and conflict). Confirm the exact question counts, marks, and time allocation for your session with your teacher or the IB coordinator, since these details are set in the current subject guide.
Bring your candidate number and official photo ID
You will be asked to write your candidate number on scripts and may be asked for identification. Bring the ID your school requires (passport or school-issued ID). Confirm with the provider what form of ID is accepted and whether the school holds your candidate number or you must bring it.
Bring black or blue pens, plus spares
Write in dark ink so scripts scan cleanly. Bring at least two pens and a pencil for any diagrams or planning. Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid or erasable pens are permitted, as rules vary by school and session.
Bring a clear water bottle and a small snack for between papers
Hydration and a quick energy source help on a long exam day. Keep the bottle label-free and clear if your centre enforces that rule, and check with the provider where snacks may be eaten.
Leave the phone and smart watch behind or switched off and stored
Any device that can connect to the internet or store data is a serious conduct risk. Confirm with the provider where devices must be stored and whether a bag drop is available.
Know your case studies and examples for each core unit
Paper 2 rewards specific, accurate examples: name the state, institution, treaty, or event and say what it shows about the concept in the question. Prepare at least two concrete examples per core unit and be ready to contrast them.
Practise source analysis for Paper 1
Rehearse origin, purpose, value, and limitation for the sources, and practise weaving two or more sources together in the extended answer rather than summarising them one by one.
Check the start time and room location the day before
Confirm the exam room, reporting time, and whether there is a seating plan. Arrive early enough to settle without rushing; confirm with the provider how late arrival is handled.
Plan your timing per question in advance
Roughly allocate minutes in proportion to marks, and reserve time for the extended response or essays. Write the plan on the question paper if allowed, and confirm with the provider whether question papers may be annotated and kept.
Bring a watch if the room clock may not be visible
A simple non-smart analogue watch helps you pace yourself. Confirm with the provider whether wristwatches are allowed in your centre.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Reread your own notes on the four core units and your case-study list, then do one timed Paper 1 and one timed Paper 2 under exam conditions. Mark them against the criteria and write down the two or three habits that cost you most marks, such as describing instead of analysing or failing to evaluate.
Drill the command terms. Know the difference between 'describe', 'explain', 'analyse', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent'. For each, practise a one-sentence opening that states your line of argument, because examiners reward a clear thesis and a sustained judgement.
Build a one-page case-study sheet per core unit: for each example, note the actors, the concept it illustrates, and one counter-example or limitation. Keep it short enough to reread in ten minutes.
Check logistics: confirm room, start time, ID requirement, and permitted equipment with the provider. Sort out transport and sleep schedule so the last two nights are not short.
Do light review only: skim your case-study sheets, the command terms, and your list of past mistakes. Do not attempt a full new past paper. Prepare your bag with pens, ID, water, and any permitted items, and lay out clothes.
Eat a normal meal, avoid cramming past midnight, and set two alarms. If you feel anxious, write down your three biggest worries and one concrete action for each; this reduces rumination and frees working memory for the exam.
Eat breakfast, arrive early, and use the waiting time for a five-minute skim of your case-study sheet rather than a full reread. Once seated, read the instructions on the cover and check the number of questions and marks before you start writing.
Read the whole paper or question bank first. For Paper 2, choose your essay questions deliberately, picking ones where you have two strong examples and a clear argument. For Paper 1, read all sources before answering so the extended response can draw on several of them.
Write to the marks. Use a short plan for each essay: thesis, two or three developed arguments with evidence, a counter-argument, and a conclusion that answers the question directly. Define key concepts briefly where the question uses them, and keep linking evidence back to the question rather than narrating events.
Check you have answered the required number of questions and that every question has a clear judgement where one is asked. Fix legibility problems, make sure your candidate number is on every script, and do not leave an essay unfinished if a short conclusion can be added.
Rules to check
Write only in the script booklet or answer document provided, and put your candidate number on every sheet. Confirm with the provider how extra sheets are attached and labelled.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has begun, and do not read or write after the invigilator says to stop. Even continuing to write after time is called can be treated as misconduct.
Keep all electronic devices switched off and stored as instructed. If a device is found on you during the exam, report it to the invigilator immediately rather than hiding it; confirm with the provider how such incidents are handled.
If you need to leave the room for a break, raise your hand and wait to be accompanied. Confirm with the provider whether supervised breaks are available and whether the clock stops.
If you are ill or something disrupts your exam, tell the invigilator at the time and ask your coordinator about special consideration or adverse-circumstances procedures. Confirm with the provider what evidence is required and the deadline.
Scoring rewards analysis and evaluation, not length. Answers that describe events without linking them to the concept in the question, or that give no judgement, will not reach the top bands even if they are long.
Use only permitted equipment. Confirm with the provider whether calculators, dictionaries, or annotation of question papers are allowed for your session, as these rules differ between centres and papers.