IB Spanish B SL exam-day guide
IB Spanish B SL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration
Bring the same ID type and name you registered with. Acceptable ID types vary by school or test centre, so confirm the exact requirement with your provider or coordinator before exam day.
Admission or registration confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, session, and venue. Some centres ask to see it at the door; confirm whether a printed copy is required.
Know your session start time and arrival time
Arrive before the stated reporting time. The exact cut-off for late arrival and whether you will be admitted is set by the centre, so confirm it with the provider.
Approved stationery in a clear container
Bring several black or blue pens and pencils, plus an eraser. Use only stationery the centre permits; confirm whether pencil cases must be transparent.
No unauthorised electronics
Phones, smart watches, and other devices must normally be switched off and stored as instructed. Confirm the centre's device policy, including whether phones may be left in a bag at all.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Many centres allow a plain bottle, but rules differ. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are permitted in the exam room.
No notes, dictionaries, or prepared materials in the room
Spanish B is not a dictionary exam. Do not bring prepared notes or cue cards into the room; check with your teacher whether any materials are provided by the centre.
Plan your route and a backup
Check transport timetables and identify a fallback route. Aim to be at the venue well ahead of the reporting time to absorb delays.
Know which papers are on which day
The written papers and any oral assessment may fall on different days or sessions. Confirm your personal timetable with your coordinator rather than relying on general schedules.
Rest, food, and hydration before the session
Eat a normal meal and sleep adequately. Avoid heavy caffeine if you are prone to nerves; the exam is long enough that steady energy matters.
Read the instructions on the cover of each paper
Check the paper code, time allowed, number of questions, and any choice requirements before you begin writing. Ask an invigilator only about procedure, not content.
Prepare for the oral component separately
If your oral assessment is on a different day, confirm the format, timing, and any preparation period with your teacher. Do not assume the written-paper rules apply unchanged.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to consolidating. Review your own summary sheets of vocabulary, connectors, and text-type conventions, and re-read feedback on past written tasks. Do one timed practice of each written paper under exam conditions, then mark it against the criteria your teacher has shared. For Paper 1, practise reading the question, identifying the required text type, audience, and register, and planning for two to three minutes before writing. For Paper 2, practise choosing between the options quickly and sticking to your choice. If you have an oral assessment, rehearse describing a visual stimulus and defending an opinion aloud, ideally with a partner, and record yourself once to check fluency and pronunciation. Confirm your venue, reporting time, and ID requirement with your coordinator now, not later.
Do a light review only: skim your vocabulary and connector lists, re-read one model answer you wrote, and stop. Prepare everything you will take: ID, confirmation, pens, pencils, eraser, water if allowed, and the correct address written down. Charge your phone but plan not to use it at the venue. Check transport for the morning and set two alarms. Eat a normal dinner, avoid last-minute cramming of new material, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. If you feel anxious, write down your three biggest worries and one concrete action for each; this reduces rumination.
Eat breakfast and drink water. Re-check your bag against the checklist: ID, confirmation, stationery, and nothing unauthorised. Leave earlier than you think necessary. Once at the venue, follow signage and invigilator instructions, switch off and stow devices as directed, and use the washroom before entering the room. In the final minutes outside, do not try to memorise new vocabulary; instead, remind yourself of the structure you will use for each text type and the timing plan for each paper.
Read the cover instructions and check the time allowed. Allocate time deliberately: for Paper 1, skim the texts, then read the questions before answering in detail; for the writing task, spend a few minutes planning audience, purpose, register, and structure, write, then reserve time to check agreement, accents, verb endings, and connectors. For Paper 2, read all options before choosing, then plan briefly and write. If you run out of ideas, move to another question and return. Watch the clock at the halfway point and near the end. Leave nothing blank if partial credit is possible, and use remaining time to proofread rather than to add risky new content.
Listen carefully to the teacher's questions and ask for clarification in Spanish if needed. Use the preparation time, if any, to note key vocabulary and a structure rather than a full script. Speak clearly, keep going even after mistakes, and support opinions with reasons and examples. Manage your own time so you address the whole task rather than dwelling on one point.
Rules to check
Bring photo ID and your admission confirmation, and be ready to show them on request. If you are unsure which ID is accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam.
Arrive by the reporting time. Late-admission rules are set by the centre, so confirm the cut-off and consequences with your coordinator rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Do not bring unauthorised materials or devices into the exam room. Switch off and store phones and watches exactly as instructed; if you are unsure whether an item is permitted, ask before the exam begins.
Follow all invigilator instructions immediately, including on seating, timing, and leaving the room. Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has started.
Breaks and washroom access are at the invigilator's discretion and may be escorted. Confirm the centre's policy in advance if you have a medical need, and ask about access arrangements early.
Scoring is based on the assessment criteria for the relevant component, including comprehension, text-type appropriateness, range and accuracy of language, and interaction in the oral. Ask your teacher for the current criteria rather than relying on memory.
Do not attempt to remove question papers, answer booklets, or notes from the room unless an invigilator explicitly permits it.
If you believe there was a problem with the conduct of the exam, report it to the invigilator or your coordinator promptly; procedures and deadlines for special consideration vary, so confirm them with the provider.