Examination timing - First examinations May 2016
IB Higher level exams
The HL IB chemistry exam consists of three papers.
Paper 1: multiple choice - 1 hour (20% - 40 marks)
There are 40 questions and you are given 60 minutes to complete them. This works out to an average of 1 minute and 30 seconds per question. This is obviously simplistic as the questions assess different skills, some of which require very little time and some require working out.
The best approach is to read through the questions one at a time answering as you go. There is usually more than enough time to complete the paper and go back to check any questions in which you encountered some difficulty.
Calculators are not allowed
Data Booklet is not available, but there is a Periodic Table included in the question paper.
Paper 2: structured questions - 2 hours 15 minutes (36% - 95 marks)
This paper now consists of only one section, containing structured questions of varying length. All questions must be answered in the boxes provided on the examination paper.
There are 95 marks available in 135 minutes, which now comes to about 1 minute 25 seconds per mark.
Calculators are allowed
Data booklets are provided
Paper 3: Options - 1 hour 15 minutes (24% - 45 marks)
Section A: one data-based question and several short-answer questions on experimental work. [15 marks]
Section B: short-answer and extended-response questions from one option (out of four) [30 marks]
You would be expected to spend 30 minutes on Section A and 45 minutes on the Option.
Calculators are allowed
Data booklets are provided
Summary HL papers
| Paper | Marks available | Time allocated | Time per mark |
| 1 | 40 | 60 minutes | 1 minute 30 seconds |
| 2 | 95 | 135 minutes | 1 minute 25 seconds |
| 3 | 45 | 75 minutes | 1 minutes 40 seconds |
IB Standard level exams
The SL IB chemistry exam consists of three papers.
Paper 1: multiple choice - 45 minutes (20% - 30 marks)
There are 30 questions (about 15 of which are common with HL). You are given 45 minutes to complete them. This works out to an average of 1 minute and 30 seconds per question.
Again this timing is simplistic, as the questions assess different skills, some of which require very little time and some require working out.
The best approach is to read through the questions one at a time answering as you go. There is usually more than enough time to complete the paper and go back to check the questions with which you had difficulty.
Calculators are not allowed.
Data Booklet is not available, but there is a Periodic Table included in the question paper.
Paper 2: structured questions - 1 hours 15 minutes (40% - 50 marks)
This paper now consists of only one section, containing structured questions of varying length. All questions must be answered in the boxes provided on the examination paper.
There are 50 marks available in 75 minutes, which now comes to about 1 minute 30 seconds per mark.
Calculators are allowed
Data booklets are provided
Paper 3: Options - 1 hour (20% - 35 marks)
Section A: one data-based question and several short-answer questions on experimental work. [15 marks]
Recommended time for Section A = 25 minutes
Recommended time for Section B = 35 minutes
Section B: short-answer and extended-response questions from one option. [20 marks]
Calculators are allowed
Data booklets are provided
Summary SL papers
| Paper | Marks available | Time allocated | Time per mark |
| 1 | 30 | 45 minutes | 1 minute 30 seconds |
| 2 | 50 | 75 minutes | 1 minute 30 seconds |
| 3 | 35 | 60 minutes | 1 minutes 43 seconds |