FAQ’s about IB ExamsFAQ’s about IB Exams

Dates: May 2-22, 2013Dates: May 2-22, 2013

Q. How do I know when Q. How do I know when my exams are?my exams are?

A. You received a personalized A. You received a personalized exam schedule and your exam schedule and your pincodes . Let Ms. Groeneman pincodes . Let Ms. Groeneman know if you did not receive an know if you did not receive an exam schedule. exam schedule.

Q. Where do I go for my Q. Where do I go for my IB Exams?IB Exams?

A. All IB exams are held at B-A. All IB exams are held at B-CCCC

Q. What time do I need to Q. What time do I need to be there?be there?

A. You need to be at the A. You need to be at the exam site at 7:15 am for exam site at 7:15 am for

morning exams, and morning exams, and 11:30 for afternoon 11:30 for afternoon

exams. exams.

Q. Where do I wait?Q. Where do I wait?

A. Exam room assignments A. Exam room assignments will be posted alongside the will be posted alongside the main office. The lobby area main office. The lobby area outside the main office is a outside the main office is a

fine place to wait.fine place to wait.

Q. What should I bring for Q. What should I bring for exams?exams?

A. You should bring blue or black A. You should bring blue or black ink pens(pencils only for marking up ink pens(pencils only for marking up text, and writing graphs and text, and writing graphs and diagrams, and for Paper 1 of science diagrams, and for Paper 1 of science exams, which have multiple choice). exams, which have multiple choice). A ruler is handy. Earbuds for IB A ruler is handy. Earbuds for IB Music. Calculators on selected Music. Calculators on selected science and math exams. You can science and math exams. You can bring water in a clear bottle, and bring water in a clear bottle, and your writing stuff in a clear plastic your writing stuff in a clear plastic bag like a zip lock bag. Students bag like a zip lock bag. Students who are stronger in a language who are stronger in a language other than English can bring a other than English can bring a bilingual (paper) dictionary.bilingual (paper) dictionary.

Q. What shouldn’t I bring Q. What shouldn’t I bring for exams?for exams?

A. Don’t bring food into the A. Don’t bring food into the room, or any drinks but water. room, or any drinks but water. You don’t need scratch paper, You don’t need scratch paper, white-out or correcting tape, white-out or correcting tape,

cell phones, cameras, iPods, or cell phones, cameras, iPods, or other electronic devices. other electronic devices.

Having them on you during the Having them on you during the exam will invalidate your score. exam will invalidate your score.

You’ll be able to check them You’ll be able to check them with the invigilator.with the invigilator.

Q. What is an invigilator?Q. What is an invigilator?

A. Invigilator is IB-speak A. Invigilator is IB-speak for proctor. It’s from the for proctor. It’s from the same root as the word same root as the word

“vigil”. Invigilators “vigil”. Invigilators watch over you while watch over you while

you’re taking an exam.you’re taking an exam.

Q. Ok, tell me again what Q. Ok, tell me again what I should bring.I should bring.

A. Blue or black pens for A. Blue or black pens for writing – maybe in a plastic writing – maybe in a plastic bag. Clear water bottle (no bag. Clear water bottle (no label). We’ll have tissues for label). We’ll have tissues for

you. Rulers, and calculators for you. Rulers, and calculators for some math and science exams. some math and science exams. Earbuds or headphones for IB Earbuds or headphones for IB Music. Bilingual dictionary if Music. Bilingual dictionary if

your best language isn’t your best language isn’t English.English.

Q. So I’m at B-CC waiting for Q. So I’m at B-CC waiting for my exam. What now?my exam. What now?

A. You will be assigned to a A. You will be assigned to a testing room by the subject testing room by the subject you’re taking and usually in you’re taking and usually in

candidate number order. That candidate number order. That list will be posted on the wall list will be posted on the wall

near the main office.near the main office.

Q. What happens next?Q. What happens next?

A. One of the invigilators A. One of the invigilators will invite your group into will invite your group into

the testing area. Once the testing area. Once you’re in the testing you’re in the testing

area, please maintain area, please maintain your silence.your silence.

Q. What happens after Q. What happens after that?that?

A. Please go quietly into the A. Please go quietly into the testing room indicated on the testing room indicated on the room assignments outside the room assignments outside the

door, find your preprinted door, find your preprinted answer sheet on a desk, and sit answer sheet on a desk, and sit down. Don’t change your seat down. Don’t change your seat assignment. Maintain silence.assignment. Maintain silence.

Q. Ok, I’m sitting down at Q. Ok, I’m sitting down at my spot and maintaining my spot and maintaining

silence.silence.

A. An invigilator will read A. An invigilator will read instructions, open the instructions, open the sealed test papers and sealed test papers and

distribute them. Don’t look distribute them. Don’t look in the test booklet until in the test booklet until you’re told to do so. you’re told to do so.

Q. The invigilator has read the Q. The invigilator has read the instructions. Can I start the instructions. Can I start the

exam?exam?

A. For all the exams except paper 1 A. For all the exams except paper 1 in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, you have five minutes to look at the you have five minutes to look at the exam - without picking up a pen. exam - without picking up a pen. Your invigilator will tell you when Your invigilator will tell you when you can start writing. The five you can start writing. The five

minutes don’t count towards your minutes don’t count towards your time on the exam. time on the exam.

Q. What happens during Q. What happens during the exam?the exam?

A. You’ll have a clock in view, A. You’ll have a clock in view, as well as the start and end as well as the start and end time posted on the board in time posted on the board in front of you. Your invigilator front of you. Your invigilator will announce when there’s a will announce when there’s a half hour left, and when five half hour left, and when five

minutes are left. minutes are left.

Q. What if I need to use Q. What if I need to use the rest room?the rest room?

A. An invigilator will A. An invigilator will escort you (only one escort you (only one

student in rest room at a student in rest room at a time). You cannot add time). You cannot add extra time onto your extra time onto your

exam time.exam time.

Q. What if I need Q. What if I need something during the something during the

exam?exam?

A. Raise your hand and ask A. Raise your hand and ask your invigilator. Attempts your invigilator. Attempts to communicate with other to communicate with other test takers will invalidate test takers will invalidate

your exam and may your exam and may invalidate theirs.invalidate theirs.

Q. What if I finish early?Q. What if I finish early?

AA. . Sit quietly and wait for time Sit quietly and wait for time to be called. No books, to be called. No books, iPods/iPhones, or other iPods/iPhones, or other

electronic devices. If you leave electronic devices. If you leave without permission your score without permission your score

is invalidatedis invalidated..

Q. And when the exam is Q. And when the exam is over?over?

A. You’ll be asked to fill out A. You’ll be asked to fill out some information on your some information on your

preprinted coversheet. If the preprinted coversheet. If the test required you to select test required you to select

some questions from a larger some questions from a larger group of questions, to let the group of questions, to let the examiner know which ones examiner know which ones

you’ve picked.you’ve picked.

Q. Now can I go?Q. Now can I go?

A. Not quite – you will be asked to A. Not quite – you will be asked to string your test paper and answer string your test paper and answer books together with a treasury tag books together with a treasury tag (IB’s answer to the paper clip). The (IB’s answer to the paper clip). The invigilators will pick up your testing invigilators will pick up your testing

material and once everything is material and once everything is collected from everyone, you may collected from everyone, you may

leave, maintaining silence. leave, maintaining silence.

Q. Can I run out the room Q. Can I run out the room whooping and screaming whooping and screaming

because it’s over?because it’s over?

A. Please keep quiet until A. Please keep quiet until you’ve completely left the you’ve completely left the

building and you’re outside. building and you’re outside. Other people in other rooms Other people in other rooms

might not be done yet. Thanks. might not be done yet. Thanks.

Q. What if I’m in a math or Q. What if I’m in a math or science exam? Can I bring a science exam? Can I bring a

calculator?calculator?

A. For the following exams, graphic A. For the following exams, graphic display calculators are permissible: display calculators are permissible: Math Studies (all), Math SL paper 2, Math Studies (all), Math SL paper 2,

Math HL papers 2 and 3, Math HL papers 2 and 3, Bio/Chem./Physics Papers 2 and 3, Bio/Chem./Physics Papers 2 and 3, and both Environmental Systems and both Environmental Systems

papers. We’ll ask you to clear papers. We’ll ask you to clear calculators before you start the calculators before you start the

exam.exam.

Q. What if I’m in a music Q. What if I’m in a music exam? How will I hear the exam? How will I hear the

music?music?

A. You need to bring A. You need to bring headphones. Ipod style headphones. Ipod style

earbuds or any other kind of earbuds or any other kind of headphone that can be plugged headphone that can be plugged

into the headphone jack on a into the headphone jack on a computer.computer.

Q. Any other strange Q. Any other strange instructions?instructions?

A. The one exception to the A. The one exception to the blue/black ink pen rule is for blue/black ink pen rule is for

paper 1 in Biology, Chemistry, paper 1 in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics, as it’s a kind of or Physics, as it’s a kind of

scantron card. You’ll need a scantron card. You’ll need a number 2 pencil for those.number 2 pencil for those.

Q. Weird stuff… what Q. Weird stuff… what happens if….happens if….

A. If you oversleep or are late, A. If you oversleep or are late, get here as soon as you can. If get here as soon as you can. If

you’re within the first 30 you’re within the first 30 minutes of the exam start, you minutes of the exam start, you

can take the exam but you can take the exam but you won’t get any extra time at the won’t get any extra time at the end. After the first 30 minutes, end. After the first 30 minutes,

sorry, but you can’t take the sorry, but you can’t take the exam. If it’s just one paper of exam. If it’s just one paper of

the exam, you can take the the exam, you can take the other sections.other sections.

Q. Weird stuff… what Q. Weird stuff… what happens if….happens if….

A. If it’s serious (serious A. If it’s serious (serious illness, accident) call the main illness, accident) call the main number at B-CC and the main number at B-CC and the main

office will relay the message to office will relay the message to me.me.

Q. So I forgot to take the Q. So I forgot to take the exam. When can I make it exam. When can I make it

up?up?

A. November 2013 if you’re a A. November 2013 if you’re a diploma senior. You’ll take it diploma senior. You’ll take it

next May 2014 if you’re a junior next May 2014 if you’re a junior diploma candidate. Seriously. diploma candidate. Seriously. And no makeups for certificate And no makeups for certificate

students.students.

Q. What about being Q. What about being excused from classes?excused from classes?

A. Your AP and IB teachers will A. Your AP and IB teachers will have permission slips for you. have permission slips for you.

They’re also downloadable They’re also downloadable from the B-CC website. You from the B-CC website. You

may be excused from the rest may be excused from the rest of your classes on a day when of your classes on a day when you have exams but you have you have exams but you have to turn in the permission slip to turn in the permission slip

beforebefore your first exam. You’re your first exam. You’re still responsible for the work in still responsible for the work in

class.class.

Q. How do I find out my Q. How do I find out my scores on IB exams?scores on IB exams?

A.A. When you received your schedule, you When you received your schedule, you received a pincode and login received a pincode and login

instructions to get your scores. You will instructions to get your scores. You will be able to log in and see your scores be able to log in and see your scores

on July 6. I suggest using your phone to on July 6. I suggest using your phone to take a picture of your codes.take a picture of your codes.

B.B. Don’t lose your pincodes as you’ll Don’t lose your pincodes as you’ll actually have to come in to the IB actually have to come in to the IB

office to get new ones.office to get new ones.

Q. How does my Q. How does my university get my scores?university get my scores?

A. During exams, you’ll be A. During exams, you’ll be asked about the college you’re asked about the college you’re attending and your scores will attending and your scores will

be transmitted electronically to be transmitted electronically to your school around the same your school around the same

time you find out your scores in time you find out your scores in July. There’s no way to July. There’s no way to

suppress your scores and no suppress your scores and no downside to sending them.downside to sending them.

Q. What if I’m going to Q. What if I’m going to university outside of North university outside of North

America?America?

A. Let Ms. Groeneman know A. Let Ms. Groeneman know where you’re planning to where you’re planning to

attend (understanding it might attend (understanding it might be a conditional acceptance) be a conditional acceptance)

before May 1. before May 1. You can You can indicate up to three indicate up to three

universities.universities.

Q. What if I have more Q. What if I have more questions?questions?

A. Contact your IB subject A. Contact your IB subject teacher or Ms. Groeneman in teacher or Ms. Groeneman in

the IB office. Thanks for the IB office. Thanks for listening! listening!