Timing is everything
This post will help your students plan their responses to exam questions based on the time available. Several teachers have expressed concern that Paper 1 is significantly shorter for students than in the previous curriculum (1.5 hours instead of 2 hours). For HL students, Paper 2 has also been reduced by the same amount. As a result, effective time management is essential. These calculations do not include the additional 5 minutes of reading time that students are given in the exam hall before every IB Diploma exam.
The final question on each paper is the most demanding, so it is to be expected that students may spend slightly longer on it. However, despite being the last question, there is no reason why they cannot attempt it first. Doing so may help students feel more relaxed. They should spend a maximum of 45 minutes on it and then move on to the other questions. If they leave space between paragraphs and at the end of their 15-mark response, they can return to it later if time allows.
Paper 1 (1.5 hours, 35 marks)
Section A – Two compulsory content-based questions (4 marks each)
Section B – Two compulsory questions requiring application of knowledge to a new situation (6 marks each)
Section C – The choice of one of two concept-based questions (15 marks)
If we look at the total marks, section A is 8/35 marks, section B is 12/35 marks, and section C question carries 15/35 marks. The best way to get an approximate time is to convert from the % of the total marks for the paper to the % of the total time. For example, 8 marks are worth 23% of the total and therefore should be given 23% of the time (23% of 90 mins).
| Paper 1 (90 mins, 35 marks) | Marks | Marks % | Approximate time in mins |
| Section A (2 questions) | 8/35 | 23% | 20 |
| Section B (2 questions) | 12/35 | 34% | 30 |
| Section C (1 question) | 15/35 | 43% | 40 |
Paper 2 (1.5 hours, 35 marks)
Section A - Four compulsory questions on the class practical. (Two at 4 marks each; two at 6 marks each)
Section B – One compulsory concept-based application question (15 marks)
The timing is exactly the same as Paper 1. Section A, Q1 and Q2 needs 20 minutes, and 30 minutes for Q3 and Q4. The Section B question requires 40 minutes.
| Paper 2 (90 mins, 35 marks) | Marks | Marks % | Approximate time in mins |
| Section A, questions 1 and 2 (2 questions) | 8/35 | 23% | 20 |
| Section A, questions 3 and 4 (2 questions) | 12/35 | 34% | 30 |
| Section B (1 question) | 15/35 | 43% | 40 |
HL Paper 3 (1.75 hours, 30 marks)
Q1 – Interpretation of a graph (3 marks)
Q2 – Analysis of findings from a source (6 marks)
Q3 – Discussion of a non-experimental source (6 marks)
Q4 – Synthesis of sources to respond to the research claim (15 marks)
| Paper 3 (105 mins, 30 marks) | Marks | Marks % | Approximate time in mins |
| Q1 | 3/30 | 10% | 10 |
| Q2 and Q3 (2 questions) | 12/30 | 40% | 35 |
| Q4 | 15/30 | 50% | 55 |
Word count
How long should answers be? This is tricky, as many students can think and write very quickly, while others cannot. Once you have given your students a few timed assignments in class, you will have a better feel for this. The following table shows the range of word count of the responses in the sample marking provided on My IB (as of January 2026) for the stronger responses. However, answering the question fully in the time allocated is much more important than counting the words!
| Paper 1, Section A | 60-90 words |
| Paper 1, Section B | 200 - 300 words |
| Paper 1, Section C | 550 - 700 words |
| Paper 2, Section A, Questions 1 and 2 | 150 - 400 words |
| Paper 2, Section A, Questions 3 and 4 | 550 - 700 words |
| Paper 2, Section B | 550 - 700 words |
| Paper 3, Question 1 | 50 - 100 words |
| Paper 3, Question 2 | 150 - 200 words |
| Paper 3, Question 3 | 180 - 200 words |
| Paper 3, Question 4 | 600 - 800 words |