VWO Scheikunde exam-day guide
VWO Scheikunde · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring a valid identity document
Take a passport or identity card (or whatever document the school has specified). Confirm with the provider which document is accepted and whether it must be the original; do not rely on a copy or a photo on your phone.
Know your candidate number and the room and start time
Write down your candidate number (examennummer), the room and the exact start time the day before. Confirm with the provider where your number appears (usually on the school's exam schedule or invitation letter).
Bring several pens that write in blue or black ink
Take at least two spare pens that write clearly. Confirm with the provider which ink colours are permitted; work written in pencil or in an unusual colour may not be marked.
Bring a pencil, eraser and a small ruler
You need these for graphs, tables and any drawing. A sharp pencil and a clean eraser make corrections easier and keep your work legible.
Bring a simple, non-programmable calculator
Check the battery and, if it uses them, take spare batteries. Confirm with the provider which calculator types are allowed; graphing or programmable calculators are often restricted and may be refused.
Bring Binas (the official Dutch science reference tables)
The Binas tables are the standard reference for constants, molar masses and formulas in Dutch chemistry exams. Confirm with the provider which edition is permitted and whether the school supplies it.
Bring a watch or check that a clock is visible
You must be able to pace yourself without your phone, which is normally not allowed in the exam room. A simple wristwatch is safer than relying on the room clock.
Leave your phone and smart devices at home or switched off in your bag
Phones, smartwatches and other devices are usually not allowed at your table. Confirm with the provider exactly where they must be stored and what happens if one is found on you.
Bring water and, if allowed, a small snack
A drink helps during a long exam. Confirm with the provider whether drinks and food are permitted at the table and whether you may leave the room for a break.
Plan your journey and arrive early
Aim to be at the location well before the start time so that delays do not cost you reading time. Check travel information the evening before and allow extra margin for public transport.
Re-read the exam instructions and the Binas index the evening before
Read the general instructions once more and practise finding tables in Binas quickly. Knowing where the constants and formulas are saves minutes during the exam.
Confirm the exact rules with the provider
Rules on ID, permitted calculators, Binas edition, phones, breaks and late arrival can differ per school and per session. Check the official invitation or the school's exam regulations rather than guessing.
Plan the day
Make a short overview of the topics you find hardest and work through one or two past papers under timed conditions. Focus on the skills that earn marks: writing balanced equations, calculating with moles and molar mass, reading graphs and tables, and explaining trends in terms of bonding and structure. Do not start new material now; consolidate what you already know.
Practise using Binas efficiently. Look up the tables you use most often, such as molar masses, constants, solubility and the table of standard electrode potentials, and note the table numbers you need. Speed in finding data is worth real marks.
Check the practical arrangements: room, start time, candidate number, permitted calculator and Binas edition, and how you will travel. Confirm with the provider if anything in the invitation is unclear.
Do a light review only: key formulas, units, significant figures, and the difference between a description and an explanation. Write a one-page summary in your own words and read it twice. Stop studying early enough to sleep well.
Pack your bag: ID, several pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, calculator with spare batteries, Binas, water and your candidate number. Put the bag by the door so nothing is forgotten in the morning.
Eat a proper breakfast, leave early and arrive with time to spare. Do not try to learn new material on the way; at most glance at your one-page summary. Keep your phone switched off and stored as the provider requires.
Read the instructions on the cover, check the number of questions and pages, and note the end time. Read the whole paper briefly and plan your time per question. Start with questions you can do confidently to build momentum.
Show your working: write the formula, substitute the values with units, and give the answer with the correct unit and significant figures. For explanation questions, name the particles involved, describe what happens to them, and link this to the observation or property asked about. If a question is unclear, mark it and come back later.
Check that every question has an answer, that units and significant figures are correct, and that you have not left a calculation or explanation unfinished. Use the remaining time to check rather than to start a long new question.
Do not spend the break comparing answers in detail; it only creates doubt before the next paper. Note any points you found difficult for your own review later, and confirm with the provider when results are expected.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document the provider requires and keep it on the table if instructed. If you cannot show valid identification, you may be refused entry or your paper may not be accepted; confirm the exact requirement with the provider in advance.
Phones, smartwatches and other electronic devices must normally be switched off and stored away from your table. Using or even holding such a device during the exam can be treated as fraud, so confirm with the provider where devices must be kept.
Use only permitted aids: a non-programmable calculator and the permitted Binas edition, plus any other aid the school has announced. Confirm with the provider which types are allowed, because an unapproved device may be taken away.
Write your answers in the required ink and on the paper provided, and fill in your candidate number and name as instructed. Work that cannot be identified or read cannot be marked.
Follow the invigilator's instructions about start and finish times, toilet visits and leaving the room. If you need to leave the room, ask first; confirm with the provider whether breaks are allowed and whether you are supervised.
Late arrival, extra time and rest breaks are governed by the school's exam regulations. Confirm with the provider what applies to you, especially if you have an approved arrangement such as extra time or a separate room.
Scoring is based on the official marking scheme for the paper: marks are awarded for correct methods, units, significant figures and complete explanations, not only for the final answer. Show your reasoning so that partial credit can be given.
Any form of fraud, including copying, sharing answers or using unauthorised aids, can lead to invalidation of your result. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask the invigilator before the exam starts.