HAVO Economie exam-day guide
HAVO Economie · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring your official ID and exam admission letter
In the Netherlands a valid ID is normally required at the door; the exact document types and whether a school pass suffices vary by school and by whether the exam is a school exam (schoolexamen) or the central exam (centraal examen). Confirm the accepted ID types and whether you need a printed admission letter with your school or the exam provider before exam day.
Bring pens, pencil, eraser and a ruler
Write answers in blue or black ink; use pencil for graphs, tables and drawings you may need to correct. A ruler is useful for drawing and reading supply-and-demand and cost curves accurately. Confirm with your school whether any materials are provided or prohibited.
Bring a permitted calculator
HAVO Economie allows a calculator, but the type must be on the permitted list for the central exam (simple, non-graphing, non-programmable). Check the current permitted-calculator list and your school's rules, and make sure the batteries are fresh. If you are unsure whether your model is allowed, ask your teacher before exam day.
Bring a watch or check the clock in the exam room
You need to pace yourself across open questions and calculations. Phones are not allowed, so a simple wristwatch is safer than relying on a phone. Confirm whether the room has a visible clock.
Know which reference material is provided
For the central exam, a formula overview (formuleoverzicht) is normally supplied with the paper. Do not assume you may bring your own; confirm with your teacher what is handed out and what you may bring.
Bring water and something to eat for after the exam
Exam sessions are long and concentration drops if you are hungry. Keep snacks out of sight unless the invigilator allows them; confirm the school's rules on food and drink in the exam room.
Leave your phone at home or switched off in your bag
Phones, smartwatches and other devices must be off and out of reach. Even having a phone on you can be treated as fraud; confirm your school's exact rule and where bags are stored.
Re-read the formuleoverzicht and key graph conventions
Know how to shift demand and supply curves, how to read consumer and producer surplus, and how to calculate percentages, index numbers, elasticity and break-even. Practise labelling axes and curves correctly, because unlabelled graphs lose marks.
Practise with the official question types and mark scheme
Work through past central exam papers under time pressure and mark yourself with the official correction model. Focus on how points are awarded for steps, units and explanation, not just the final number.
Prepare a one-page overview of calculation steps
Summarise the steps for elasticity, index numbers, real versus nominal values, break-even, surplus and multiplier-style calculations. Use it for the last revision, then put it away before the exam.
Check the start time and location the day before
Confirm the room, start time and how early you must arrive with your school. Arrive with margin for travel and for finding the room.
Plan your answer strategy for open questions
Decide in advance that you will read the whole paper, answer the questions you know first, and always show your calculation steps and units. For 'explain' questions, write a full causal chain rather than a single word.
Plan the day
Do one full past paper under timed conditions and mark it strictly with the correction model. List your three weakest topics and spend the remaining time on those rather than re-reading everything.
Check that your calculator is permitted and working, and gather your ID, pens, pencil, eraser and ruler in one place. Ask your teacher any open questions about permitted materials now, not on the day.
Review the formuleoverzicht and practise graph questions: shifting curves, labelling axes, reading equilibrium, and calculating surplus and elasticity. Write out the steps from memory, then check them.
Do light revision only: your one-page calculation overview and a few explanation questions. Confirm the room, start time and arrival time with your school. Pack your bag and set two alarms.
Sleep a full night. Do not learn new material late in the evening; tired reading of unfamiliar topics adds little and costs concentration.
Eat a proper breakfast, bring water, and arrive early. Leave your phone off and in your bag. Skim your one-page overview once, then put it away before entering the room.
Read the whole paper first and note the point values. Answer the questions you are confident about first, then return to harder ones. Watch the clock and keep a reserve of about ten minutes at the end for checking.
For every calculation, write the formula, substitute the numbers, give the outcome with the correct unit, and add a short conclusion sentence. For explanation questions, write a step-by-step causal chain. Label every graph fully.
If you get stuck, move on and come back. If time runs short, write the formula and the steps you would take; partial credit is often available for correct method even when the final number is wrong.
Do not compare answers in detail with classmates immediately; it raises doubt without changing your result. Note anything you found hard and mention it to your teacher if it affected your answers.
Rules to check
Bring valid identification and follow the school's admission procedure. The accepted documents and whether you need a printed admission letter vary; confirm with your school or the exam provider before the day.
Phones, smartwatches and other electronic devices must be switched off and out of reach. Using or even possessing a device during the exam can be treated as fraud, so confirm your school's exact rule and where bags are kept.
Use only permitted materials: the calculator must be on the permitted list, and you may not bring your own formula overview unless your school says otherwise. Confirm the permitted list with your teacher.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on starting, stopping and leaving the room. Do not start writing before the signal and stop immediately when time is called.
If you need the toilet or feel unwell, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Breaks are normally supervised; confirm the school's procedure.
Marking follows the official correction model: points are awarded for correct method, units and reasoning, not only for the final answer. Show your steps and write explanations as full causal chains.
If you believe there is an error in the paper, tell the invigilator and continue working; do not rely on a correction being made during the exam.
Rules on food, drink and leaving early differ by school. Confirm these with your school or the exam provider rather than assuming.