IB Philosophy SL exam-day guide
IB Philosophy SL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission details: candidate number, session time, room/seat
Write these down the day before and keep them with your bag. Confirm with your school exams office whether you need a printed statement of entry or a digital pass; formats vary by school. needs_review - confirm with your coordinator.
Photo ID in the form your school accepts
Do not assume any card will be accepted. Ask your coordinator which forms of ID are valid (school ID, passport, national ID) and whether the ID must be on the desk. needs_review - confirm with your coordinator.
Two or three black or dark-blue ink pens plus a spare
Write with dark ink so scanned scripts are legible. Test each pen before exam day and avoid gel pens that smudge or bleed through the page.
Pencil, eraser and sharpener for planning
Use these for essay plans, timing notes and crossing out. Keep final answers in ink unless your school instructs otherwise.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many exam rooms require transparent storage so invigilators can see contents quickly. Confirm whether your school enforces this. needs_review - confirm with your coordinator.
Analogue wristwatch, no smartwatch
A simple watch helps you divide time by marks. Smartwatches and watches with communication or storage features are normally prohibited; check the room clock as a backup. needs_review - confirm your school's device rules.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Bring water only if your school allows it at the desk. Remove the label and avoid noisy bottles or snacks that distract you and others.
Leave phone and all smart devices at home or in designated storage
A phone in your pocket, even switched off, can be treated as unauthorised material. Confirm your school's storage procedure before the session. needs_review - confirm with your coordinator.
No notes, revision cards or prescribed text in the exam room
IB Philosophy papers are normally closed-book. Leave summaries outside the room and review them only before you enter. If you believe an open-book arrangement applies, confirm it in writing. needs_review - confirm with your coordinator.
Know the paper structure and how many questions to answer
For SL, expect a Paper 1 linked to the core theme and prescribed text, and a Paper 2 on your optional theme. Confirm the exact choice structure, timings and weightings with your teacher against the current subject guide. needs_review - confirm with your teacher.
A final one-page essay skeleton for each theme
Before entering, review only your own short plan: key concepts, two or three arguments, counterarguments and examples. Do not try to learn new content in the last hour.
Confirm answer-booklet and labelling rules
Ask whether you will write in a booklet, on lined paper or on a answer document, and how to label extra sheets. needs_review - confirm with your coordinator.
Plan the day
Stop adding new content. Make a one-page map of the core theme: key concepts, at least two competing positions, standard objections and examples. Do the same for your optional theme. Then complete one timed essay under exam conditions and mark it against the command term.
Review the prescribed text extracts and your notes on the optional theme. Practise choosing between questions in two minutes: underline the command term, identify the philosophical issue and note the position you will defend. Check that you can explain, not just name, each theory.
Pack your bag: pens, pencil, eraser, ID, admission details, water and watch. Confirm the start time, room and arrival margin with your coordinator. Do light review only - skim your essay skeletons and command terms - then stop and sleep.
Eat normally, arrive early and avoid group cramming that raises anxiety. Skim your one-page plans outside the room, then put them away. Switch off and store your phone according to school rules before entering.
Read the instructions and all question choices before writing. Check how many questions you must answer and the marks available. If reading time is given, use it to select questions and sketch a plan; do not start writing until instructed.
Divide your time by marks, not by question order. Spend five to eight minutes planning each essay: thesis, argument sequence, counterargument and conclusion. Write legibly, use paragraph breaks and leave a few lines between sections in case you need to add a point.
Check that you have answered the required number of questions, filled in the cover details and numbered extra sheets. Correct obvious errors but do not rewrite whole paragraphs. Stop writing immediately when instructed.
Rules to check
Academic honesty is absolute: use only your own knowledge and the permitted materials. Do not communicate with other candidates once the session begins, and do not share question content afterwards in a way your school prohibits.
Keep your ID and admission details with you and place them on the desk if instructed. Follow every instruction from the invigilator; if you are unsure about a rule, raise your hand and ask before acting.
Do not bring phones, smartwatches or any device into the exam room unless your school has explicitly approved storage outside the room. An unauthorised device can lead to invalidation even if you did not use it.
Breaks are normally not permitted during a written paper. If you need to leave the room for a medical or urgent reason, attract the invigilator's attention and follow their instructions; do not simply walk out. needs_review - confirm your school's break and toilet policy.
Answer only the required number of questions. Extra answers are not marked and will waste time; if you have prepared more than one optional theme, check which one the paper actually asks you to answer.
Marks reward accurate philosophical knowledge, analysis and evaluation, not length or name-dropping. A shorter, tightly argued response with clear counterargument usually scores better than a long list of thinkers.
If you arrive late, follow the school's late-arrival procedure rather than rushing in; the invigilator will tell you whether extra time is allowed. needs_review - confirm with your coordinator.
Do not invent quotations or attributions. If you cannot recall an exact phrase, paraphrase accurately and attribute the position, not a fake quotation.