The short answer is simple: bring a pen or pencil, plus approved computer equipment only if your school tells you to do so. Your school may also request headphones, a charger, candidate details, or identification. Do not bring notes, books, personal paper, a calculator, or a dictionary unless your coordinator has explicitly authorized the item.
Exact MYP English Language and Literature eAssessment logistics vary by school because schools organize devices, rooms, identification, and permitted personal items. Your coordinator's current written instructions are therefore the final authority.
Essential MYP English eAssessment checklist
Use this checklist as a starting point, then compare it with your school's instructions.
| Item | What to do |
|---|---|
| Pen or pencil | Bring one for approved rough work, plus a spare if permitted. |
| Computer | Bring it only if your school uses student-owned devices. Otherwise, use the school machine. |
| Charger | Bring the correct charger if instructed to use your laptop. |
| Headphones | Bring only the approved type requested by your coordinator. |
| Identification | Use the form of identification specified by your school. |
| Water | Check whether bottles must be transparent and label-free. |
This is a secure on-screen examination, so ordinary classroom equipment rules do not automatically apply.
Do you need to bring a laptop?
The IB states that each candidate needs access to a reliable laptop or desktop, keyboard, mouse with a scroll wheel, and headphones. A laptop also requires a dependable power supply. These are technical requirements, but they do not mean every student must personally supply the equipment.
Many schools provide prepared devices. Schools can also use student-owned computers, but intended devices must pass the IB compatibility check and be configured for the examination software. If using your laptop, bring the exact tested device and its charger; avoid major updates or settings changes immediately before the examination.
Confirm these points in advance:
- Will the school provide the computer?
- Has my device passed the compatibility check?
- Must I bring a mouse, headphones, or charger?
- What happens if the device develops a fault?
The examination is installed locally and does not require continuous internet access while you work. The IB's preparation guidance explains the basic device arrangements.
What not to bring
Unless your coordinator specifically says otherwise, leave these items outside the examination room:
- Revision notes, textbooks, quotations, or annotated copies
- Personal rough paper, notebooks, or planning sheets
- Printed or electronic dictionaries
- Calculators
- Phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and personal electronic devices
- USB drives and other storage devices
An older official IB eAssessment Q&A permits a pen or pencil with school-issued rough paper, while translating dictionaries are limited to qualifying non-language examinations. You should therefore not assume that a translating dictionary is allowed in English Language and Literature. Since detailed procedures can change, your coordinator must check the current session rules rather than rely only on an older public document.
Rough paper and examination materials
Your school should provide any approved scratch paper. Do not bring blank sheets because invigilators must control materials entering and leaving the room. Follow instructions about adding candidate details and returning every sheet afterward.
You do not need to bring studied literary texts. The examination provides the sources and prompts required for its tasks, and responses are entered on screen. Preparation should focus on analysing unseen material, organizing arguments, producing appropriate texts, and using language accurately.
RevisionDojo's MYP English resources, assessment criteria guide, and analysis skills guide can support this preparation.
Final checks the day before
The day before the assessment, use your school's latest email or candidate notice rather than a checklist shared by another student. Confirm the reporting time, room, required identification, and whether the school is supplying each piece of technology. If instructions conflict with general online advice, ask the MYP coordinator for clarification.
- Charge your approved laptop fully if you must bring it.
- Pack the correct charger, mouse, headphones, and stationery requested by the school.
- Remove unauthorized notes, storage devices, and electronics from your bag.
- Check your route and allow time for delays.
- Avoid installing updates or changing settings on a tested device.
Packing early reduces preventable problems, but it does not replace checking current school instructions. Keep required equipment together and make sure you can identify which belongings must remain outside the examination room.
Exam-day procedure
Arrive at the time specified by your school, which may be earlier than the examination start. Staff need time to confirm attendance, assign seats, secure belongings, and resolve technical problems.
Before starting, check that:
- Your displayed name or candidate details are correct.
- The keyboard, mouse, screen, and approved headphones work.
- You understand how to navigate and submit responses.
- Any approved access arrangements are active.
- You know how to alert the invigilator.
If the computer freezes, stop and raise your hand. Do not open other programs, restart independently, or communicate with another candidate. Schools have authorized procedures for technical incidents.
Students with inclusive access arrangements should confirm them well before the examination. The IB's on-screen examinations overview describes features including adjusted fonts, background colors, additional time, and pauses.
Conclusion
For MYP English Language and Literature eAssessment, bring a pen or pencil and only the technology or identification requested by your school. Leave notes, personal paper, dictionaries, calculators, and personal electronics outside. Check your coordinator's instructions several days beforehand. For preparation, RevisionDojo's Questionbank, Study Notes, and Jojo AI can support timed, criteria-focused practice.
Sources and referenced URLs
- IB: Preparing for an on-screen examination
- IB: MYP on-screen examinations
- IB: MYP eAssessment Q&A Sheet: The How
- IB: Understanding MYP eAssessment
- RevisionDojo MYP English resources
- RevisionDojo assessment criteria guide
- RevisionDojo analysis skills guide
- RevisionDojo eAssessment preparation tips
- RevisionDojo 30-day eAssessment plan
