IB Mandarin B HL exam-day guide
IB Mandarin B HL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring the same ID document used at registration; the name must match your registration record. Acceptable ID types vary by school or test centre, so confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a school-issued ID is allowed.
Admission or registration confirmation
Print or save the confirmation showing your candidate number, session time, and venue. Some centres require it at check-in; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Know the paper structure
IB Language B HL is assessed through external papers (Paper 1 written productive skills, Paper 2 receptive skills with listening and reading) plus an internal individual oral. Confirm the exact paper order, timings, and weightings for your session with your teacher or the provider, since these details are set in the current subject guide.
Black or blue pens and pencils
Bring several pens for written responses and pencils plus an eraser for any multiple-choice answer sheet. Check with the provider whether correction fluid or erasable pens are prohibited.
Approved dictionary status
Do not assume a dictionary is allowed. Language B papers generally do not permit dictionaries or reference materials, but confirm the current rule with your teacher or the provider and follow the invigilator's instructions.
No phone or smart device on your person
Leave phones, smartwatches, and earbuds outside the exam room or in the designated storage. Even a switched-off device in a pocket can be treated as misconduct; confirm the provider's storage rules in advance.
Clear water bottle and small snack
Bring a transparent bottle with no label if water is permitted at your desk, and a snack for between papers. Confirm with the provider whether drinks and food are allowed in the room.
Arrive early
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time to allow for ID checks and seating. Ask your centre for the exact reporting time and how late arrival is handled.
Oral component preparation
For the individual oral, review the themes and your prepared points on the stimulus or topic, but do not bring prepared scripts or notes unless your teacher confirms they are allowed. The oral is internally assessed and usually recorded; confirm arrangements with your teacher.
Watch or simple timer
A basic analogue watch helps you pace Paper 1 and the reading section. Confirm with the provider whether watches are permitted and whether smartwatches are banned.
Know the venue and route
Check the room number, building entrance, and travel time the day before. If your centre has multiple sites, confirm the exact location with the provider.
Rest and normal routine
Sleep, eat, and avoid last-minute cramming of new vocabulary. Review your own notes and past feedback instead of new material.
Plan the day
Confirm logistics: reporting time, venue, ID requirements, permitted materials, and oral scheduling with your teacher or the provider. Re-read the assessment outline so you know exactly which papers you sit and in what order.
Do timed practice under exam conditions. For Paper 1, write one full response to a prompt in the time limit and check it against the task requirements, register, and structure. For Paper 2, practise listening once without pausing and reading under time pressure.
Build a one-page review sheet: text types and their conventions, useful connectors and sentence patterns, and recurring errors from your teacher's feedback. Keep it short enough to reread in ten minutes.
Light review only: skim your review sheet, theme vocabulary, and oral talking points. Do not start new topics. Prepare clothes, ID, pens, water, and transport plan.
Confirm the next day's schedule and set two alarms. Avoid late-night study; sleep is more useful than extra vocabulary at this point.
Eat a proper meal, arrive early, and leave devices stored as instructed. Skim your review sheet once, then stop. During check-in, keep your ID and confirmation accessible and follow invigilator instructions.
Read all instructions and the task carefully, note the required text type, audience, and purpose, and plan for a few minutes before writing. Watch the clock, leave time to check register, grammar, and character or spelling accuracy, and make sure your response addresses every bullet of the task.
For listening, read questions before each audio segment where permitted, note key words, and answer every item even if unsure. For reading, skim for gist then scan for detail, and manage time so you reach the final section.
Listen to the teacher's questions, take a moment to structure your answer, and use the full time. Support opinions with reasons and examples, use varied vocabulary and structures, and stay in the target language throughout.
Do not discuss specific questions in a way that could affect others still to sit the paper, and do not post paper content online. Confirm with your teacher when results and any remark procedures are available.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID matching your registration; if you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Follow all invigilator instructions on seating, materials, timing, and leaving the room; ask before the paper starts if anything is unclear.
Do not bring phones, smartwatches, or other electronic devices into the exam room unless the provider explicitly permits them; possession can be treated as misconduct.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not share or request paper content online after the session.
Use only materials the provider permits; do not assume dictionaries, notes, or reference sheets are allowed and confirm in advance.
If you need to leave the room for a break, raise your hand and wait for instructions; some centres restrict breaks during timed papers, so confirm the policy.
Understand how your grade is determined: external papers plus an internally assessed oral contribute to the final grade, and internal assessment is moderated; ask your teacher for the current weightings.
If illness or an emergency affects your performance, tell the invigilator or your coordinator immediately and ask the provider about special consideration procedures rather than assuming an outcome.