IB Psychology HL exam-day guide
IB Psychology HL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID and admission details
Bring the photo ID your centre accepts and any admission or session details issued to you. Accepted ID types and whether digital copies are allowed vary by centre; confirm the exact rule with your coordinator before exam day.
Candidate number and exam timetable
Know your candidate number, the order of papers and the start time for each paper. Keep a printed copy outside the exam room rather than relying only on your phone.
Spare pens and pencils
Bring at least two black or blue pens, plus pencils, an eraser and a sharpener. Confirm with your centre whether pencil cases, highlighters or correction tape are permitted.
Clear water bottle
A clear, label-free bottle is often allowed, but venue rules differ. Confirm before bringing one into the exam room.
Simple non-smart wristwatch
A basic watch can help you pace long essays, but some centres provide clocks and restrict watches. Confirm locally before relying on one.
No phone, smartwatch or connected device
Leave these at home or in the designated secure area. Having a device in the exam room can be treated as misconduct even if it is switched off.
Calculator only if explicitly approved
Psychology papers do not normally require a calculator. Do not bring one unless your coordinator confirms it is permitted for Paper 3.
One-page revision summary kept outside the room
Prepare a condensed sheet of key studies, command terms and paper structures for your final review, then leave it in your bag. Notes are not allowed at your desk.
Access arrangements confirmed
If you have approved extra time, rest breaks, a separate room or other access arrangements, confirm the practical logistics with your coordinator before the exam day.
Travel and arrival plan
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time and allow for transport delays and security checks. Confirm the entrance and arrival time with your centre.
Food, water and sleep plan
Eat a normal meal before the paper and keep hydration sensible. Avoid trying a new energy drink or changing your sleep routine on exam day.
Plan the day
Confirm venue, start times, ID rules and access arrangements with your coordinator. Re-read the command terms and the structure of Paper 1, Paper 2 and HL Paper 3. Make a one-page list of your strongest studies for each approach and option. Do timed planning drills rather than full essays: spend about 10 minutes planning a Paper 1 Section B essay and 10 minutes planning a Paper 2 option essay. Stop adding new studies after this point.
Check that you have enough stationery, that your transport plan works and that you know what you cannot bring. Protect your sleep; a late night spent cramming new content is usually a bad trade.
Pack your bag with ID, pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener and any approved items. Review your one-page summary and the command terms, then do one short planning drill per paper. Do not cram new content. Set two alarms and check travel updates.
Eat breakfast, take only approved items, arrive early and switch off and hand in your phone before entering the exam room. Avoid last-minute peer discussion that raises anxiety; if you review, read your summary quietly outside the room.
Read the front cover and instructions, check how many questions you must answer and how the marks are distributed, and complete your candidate details exactly as instructed. Use any reading time to choose questions and sketch a brief plan.
In Section A, answer short-answer questions precisely: define terms, make each point explicit and link it to a named study or example. In Section B, choose the essay you can support with two or three strong studies. Plan for a few minutes, write a clear introduction, integrate evaluation into the body and keep returning to the exact question.
At HL you answer two option questions. Divide your time between the options, choose questions that let you use specific studies, and build critical evaluation into each paragraph rather than saving it for the end.
HL Paper 3 focuses on research methodology. Read the question carefully and identify whether it asks about method, design, sampling, ethics, validity, reliability or interpretation. Use technical terms accurately and justify answers with the material given.
Check that every required question has an answer, that your candidate details are correct and that you have not left an essay plan as your only response. If time is short, add concise bullet points for missing evaluation rather than leaving a blank.
Follow centre rules on leaving and returning, and do not discuss answers in a way that breaches exam conduct rules. Use the break to eat, hydrate and reset, and confirm the start time for the next paper.
Rules to check
Bring and display the photo ID your centre requires. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day rather than assuming.
Do not take phones, smartwatches, earbuds or other connected devices into the exam room. Hand them in or leave them outside as directed. A device in your possession can be treated as misconduct even if it is switched off.
Follow all instructions from the invigilator, including seating, starting, stopping and leaving the room. Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has begun.
If you need the toilet or feel unwell, raise your hand and wait for permission. Breaks are supervised, and lost time is not normally added back; confirm your centre's break policy.
Do not bring notes, pre-written essays or unauthorised materials to your desk. Planning in the exam is expected; reproducing memorised text that does not answer the question earns few marks and may raise academic honesty concerns.
Marks depend on answering the exact question with accurate terminology, relevant research evidence and explicit critical evaluation. Extra length or unrelated studies do not compensate for a weak focus.
Your final grade is based on the weighted combination of the papers and internal assessment, with grade boundaries set after each session. Confirm the current weightings in the subject guide rather than calculating a grade from raw marks during exam day.