Can I bring a calculator to the MYP Individuals and Societies eAssessment?

You should not bring a personal scientific, graphing, or basic calculator unless your coordinator has explicitly authorized an exceptional arrangement. Published IB guidance states that calculators should not be brought into MYP on-screen examinations because relevant digital examinations provide an on-screen calculator application. In Individuals and Societies, any digital tool needed for a particular question is made available through the examination environment. Bringing an unauthorized calculator can create a conduct issue even if you do not use it. Confirm the current rule with your coordinator and leave your normal classroom calculator outside the examination area.

Can students bring their own rough paper into the examination?

Students should not bring blank sheets, notebooks, graph paper, or prepared planning pages from home. The school provides authorized rough or scratch paper under controlled examination conditions. You may use a permitted pen or pencil to plan arguments, organize source comparisons, or note key evidence. Any material that needs to be marked must still be entered into the on-screen response area. All rough paper must be returned to the invigilator when the examination ends.

Is a dictionary allowed in MYP Individuals and Societies?

A paper translating dictionary may be permitted because Individuals and Societies is a non-language examination. Published guidance limits this to candidates for whom the response language is not their best language. The dictionary must be free of handwritten notes, annotations, inserted material, and other stored information. Electronic dictionaries and translation applications are not permitted under that guidance. Students must ask their coordinator to confirm eligibility and inspection arrangements before exam day.

Do students need to bring headphones to the MYP eAssessment?

Students need access to suitable headphones because on-screen examinations can include video or audio material. However, each school decides whether it supplies headphones or instructs candidates to bring a tested pair. Personal Bluetooth or wireless earbuds should not be assumed acceptable in a secure examination environment. If students must bring headphones, the coordinator should specify the connector type and any other technical requirements. Test the approved equipment before the examination rather than discovering a compatibility problem at the workstation.

Can students bring water or identification on exam day?

Water and identification requirements are normally determined through the school’s examination procedure. Some schools allow water in a clear container, while others provide more specific instructions about bottles, labels, and where drinks may be placed. A school may also request a student card or another form of identification for registration checks. Students should not bring valuable identity documents unless the coordinator asks for them. The final candidate notice should state what is required and where personal belongings must be stored.

What should a student do if the computer or examination software stops working?

The student should alert the invigilator immediately and avoid attempting an independent repair. They should not leave the secure environment, open another application, connect to the internet, or restart the device unless instructed. The school’s examination and technical staff are responsible for recording and managing the incident under current procedures. Approved access arrangements and backup plans should be prepared before the examination rather than improvised during it. Students should remain calm, follow instructions, and resume work only when the invigilator confirms that they may do so.

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Allowed Materials for MYP I&S eAssessment

MYP Individuals and Societies Assessment MYP Exam Tips

David G.

• 16 Sept 2026•8

Allowed Materials for MYP I&S eAssessment

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Allowed Materials for MYP I&S eAssessment | RevisionDojo

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Allowed Materials for MYP I&S eAssessment

MYP Individuals and Societies Assessment MYP Exam Tips

David G.

• 16 Sept 2026•8

The materials allowed in the MYP Individuals and Societies eAssessment are limited. Students normally use an approved computer, school-provided rough paper, built-in examination tools, and a pen or pencil. A paper translating dictionary may be allowed in specific circumstances, but personal notes, books, calculators, loose paper, and electronic devices should not be taken to the workstation.

Exact procedures vary by school and examination session. Your coordinator’s current written instructions take priority over older checklists, especially for computers, headphones, water, identification, and access arrangements.

Quick list of permitted and prohibited materials

Material	Normal position	Important condition
Pen or pencil	Permitted	Only for notes on authorized rough paper
Rough paper	School-provided	Do not bring personal paper; return every sheet afterward
Approved computer	Required	The school supplies or authorizes the device
Headphones	Required when relevant	Confirm who supplies compatible equipment
Paper translating dictionary	Conditionally permitted	Only for an eligible candidate; no notes or annotations
Electronic dictionary	Not permitted	Translation applications are also prohibited
Personal calculator	Not permitted	Use an on-screen tool if the examination provides one
Notes or textbooks	Not permitted	Includes revision cards and printed references
Phone or smartwatch	Not permitted at the workstation	Store devices as instructed
Water or identification	School-specific	Follow the coordinator’s directions

What students may normally use

Pen, pencil, and official rough paper

The IB’s MYP eAssessment guidance on permitted materials permits a pen or pencil for rough notes. The school provides controlled paper, so do not bring blank sheets, notebooks, graph paper, or prepared planning pages.

Rough work is not assessed as an on-screen answer. Any argument, source evaluation, graph, or conclusion that the examiner should mark must appear in the designated digital response area. Return all rough paper to the invigilator afterward.

Approved computer and digital tools

Individuals and Societies is an on-screen examination. The school prepares the computer, secure software, candidate access details, and tools required for particular questions.

The IB’s on-screen examinations overview explains that tasks can include multimedia and tools for highlighting, drawing, graphing, or working within the examination environment. An on-screen calculator may be available when relevant, but students cannot browse the internet, open ordinary applications, or access personal files.

Some schools use approved bring-your-own-device arrangements. However, do not bring a personal laptop unless your coordinator explicitly requests it. Devices must undergo the compatibility and security checks described in the IB’s examination preparation guidance.

Translating dictionary

A paper translating dictionary may be permitted because Individuals and Societies is a non-language examination. Published guidance limits this provision to eligible candidates for whom the response language is not their best language.

The dictionary must contain no annotations, notes, or inserted pages. Electronic dictionaries are not permitted. The school confirms eligibility and inspects the dictionary, so ask before exam day.

What to leave outside the examination area

Unless authorized through an approved arrangement, do not take these items to the workstation:

Personal calculators
Textbooks, atlases, notes, flashcards, or revision guides
Loose paper and notebooks
Printed case studies or response frameworks
Phones, tablets, smartwatches, or storage devices
Electronic dictionaries and translation applications
Unapproved headphones or wireless earbuds

Possessing unauthorized material can raise an examination-conduct concern even when it is not used. If the coordinator has not approved or requested an item, leave it outside.

Headphones and access arrangements

Students need headphones when an examination contains audio or video. Schools may supply them or request a tested wired pair; Bluetooth earbuds should not be assumed acceptable. Water and identification requirements are also determined by the school.

Students requiring inclusive access arrangements must work through their coordinator in advance. Under the MYP general regulations, schools administer eAssessment securely and follow IB procedures for approved arrangements. Students cannot create an informal arrangement by bringing personal assistive equipment on the day.

Practical exam-day checklist

Confirm these points with the coordinator:

Reporting time and location
Who supplies the computer, rough paper, and headphones
Whether you should bring a pen or pencil
Whether a translating dictionary is authorized
Rules for water, identification, and stored belongings
Whether approved access arrangements are ready

If a technical problem occurs, alert the invigilator immediately. Do not restart the device or leave the secure environment unless instructed. The school manages incidents using the IB’s eAssessment support procedures.

Preparing for the digital format

Students should also understand how MYP Individuals and Societies is assessed and practise entering timed responses on screen. Useful preparation includes the Individuals and Societies resource hub, Questionbank, 30-day eAssessment study plan, and guide to what MYP eAssessment involves.

Conclusion

Most candidates use an approved computer, school-controlled rough paper, built-in tools, and a pen or pencil. A translating dictionary is conditional, while personal calculators, notes, books, loose paper, and electronic devices remain outside. Confirm local procedures with your coordinator, then use RevisionDojo’s Study Notes, Questionbank, Flashcards, and Jojo AI to practise content and digital response skills.

Sources and referenced URLs

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