Master Your IB Digital Society Exams: The Ultimate Time Management Guide

Time management can make the difference between a 5 and a 7 in IB Digital Society. Here's exactly how to allocate your time in every exam paper.

The Digital Society Golden Rule: 2.5 Minutes Per Mark

Remember this simple formula:

Your Mission: Answer TWO questions (20 marks each) from Section A

Time Strategy:

Task	Time	Pro Tip
Read & choose questions	5-7 min	Pick the ones where you have STRONG real-world examples
Each question	40 min	Stick to this - set a timer if you need to
Review	5-7 min	Add examples, check your work

Inside Each 40-Minute Question:

Part (a) - 2-4 marks: 5 minutes max. Quick and factual. Move on.
Part (b) - 4-6 marks: 10-12 minutes. Explain with examples.
Part (c) - 8 marks: 20+ minutes. This is where you score big. Evaluate impacts using multiple criteria, consider various perspectives, use real-world examples, reference your independent research and demonstrate your depth of knowledge

Your Mission: TWO questions from Section A (20 marks each) + ONE from Section B (12 marks)

Time Strategy:

Section B Tip: This is an essay. You MUST address counter-claims and show nuanced thinking. Plan for 5-7 minutes before writing.

Your Mission: Answer ALL FOUR questions based on sources

Time Strategy:

Question	Marks	Time	What You're Doing
Reading sources	-	10-12 min	Annotate! Highlight! Make connections!
Q1	2	5-6 min	Quick identification from sources
Q2	4	10-12 min	Explain/analyse with source evidence
Q3	6	15-18 min	Compare/contrast TWO sources
Q4	12	30-32 min	THE BIG ONE - integrate ALL sources + course knowledge
Review	-	3-5 min	Check source references

Critical Mistake to Avoid: Don't skip the reading time. You'll waste more time later if you don't understand the sources properly.

Q4 Success Formula:

Your Mission: Answer ALL FOUR questions about the intervention

Remember: You get the pre-release statement 4 months early. Use that time to research deeply!

Time Strategy:

Question	Marks	Time	Focus
Reading stimulus	-	8-10 min	Understand the intervention completely
Q1	4	8-10 min	Identify/define clearly
Q2	6	15-18 min	Apply and analyze
Q3	8	18-20 min	Evaluate using criteria (equity, ethics, cost, feasibility)
Q4	12	25-28 min	Recommend actions - identify risks, trade-offs, long-term implications
Review	-	3-5 min	Final check