The first thing I recommend you do when you are allowed to start, is to quickly read through the entire exam paper. Scan it quickly, looking at the questions to see what will be required to pass this exam. Once you have an overview of what you are dealing with, start with the easy questions first. This will help calm you and build your confidence. Allow your subconscious to work on the harder questions while you are doing the easier ones. By the time you get to the harder questions your subconscious mind will have come up with some ideas and answers. Plus, some of the easy questions and answers may have triggered information for the harder questions.
When writing your answers, make it easy for the examiner to understand your thought process. Examiners look for concise, readable, well-presented work that answers the question. Short sentences are best. Use simple words. Using long words inappropriately or words that you don’t fully understand will not impress the marker. It will give the impression you are trying to bluff your way through. Marks will be lost accordingly. Go for simplicity of wording and shorter sentences. Make sure your handwriting is easy to read.
Here is a list of words you may find in an exam paper and what they mean:
• Analyse Take to pieces what occurred and determine what makes up the various parts. This involves examining something minutely and critically.
• Compare Liken one thing with another. What are the similarities or differences?
• Contrast What are the differences between them, including the degree of difference if any?
• Define Give the exact meaning and describe the essential qualities.
• Describe Explain the features, qualities or properties in detail.
• Discuss Debate the positives and negatives.
• Evaluate Explain the meaning and analyse (take apart the whole) then put the important points together and comment or make judgement on it.
• Explain Make plain and clear and give the meaning of.
• Illustrate Make clear and explain with a description, examples and diagrams.
• Justify Prove or show to be just or right.
• List Number the items down the page.
• Outline Give the main features and ideas, facts or principles.
• State Formally set out the facts clearly.
• Summarise Give a clear account of the main points. Before the exam
• Get a great night’s sleep, and remember cramming isn’t a smart option.
• Eat a healthy breakfast and/or lunch if it is an afternoon exam.
• Relax and quietly review the key points an hour before your exam.
• Ensure you have all your pens, rulers, calculator and spare batteries etc.
• Get to your exam 15-20 minutes early.
• Keep yourself positive by telling yourself to relax and visualising a successful exam.
• Avoid people who are stressing out and speaking negatively about the exam.
In the Exam
• Once you find your seat, get organised by spreading out your pens, pencils etc.
• Read the instructions carefully.
• Divide your time according to the marks. If it’s a three-hour exam and there are three sections, each section should take 50-55mins, allowing time for reviewing at the end. If there are 40 multi-choice questions in a section, you have just over one minute per question.
• Ensure you answer the compulsory questions.
• Remember to answer every question.
• If you are running out of time, make sure you get down the main points.
• Space out answers so it is easy for the marker to read. A good rule is to start each new question on a new page. Label each question clearly. Number the pages to avoid any confusion.
• If you make a mistake, clearly cross it out and start again.
• At the end, if you have time, proof read your answers, check mathematical answers and working.
• For numerical questions you should show your working steps. Marks are often allocated for each step so that if you make an error along the way, you may still be able to get good marks.
• For questions requiring descriptive answers, use the mark allocation as a guide to the number of points required. For example, to answer a 2-mark question fully, you are likely to be required to give two distinctly different points.
• Include, where possible, an equation or sketch wherever relevant.
What to do when you can’t think of an answer
Take a deep breath, stretch and look up to recall the information. If you can’t recall a date, leave a space and come back to it later. If you are not sure about the answer, jot down a couple of points on the exam paper and tell yourself you will come back to the question after you have completed the next two. If you have forgotten some of your material, ask yourself these questions:
• Where was I when studying this?
• What was I thinking?
• What did I say?
• What letter of the alphabet did it start with?
Exam Stress
If you are feeling stressed before an exam, it is likely that you are seeing a negative or bad result inside your head. Make sure you are using positive self talk, affirmations, and are seeing a positive result. Visualise yourself going into the exam calm and relaxed. See yourself scanning through the paper and starting with the easy questions first. Feel yourself calmly writing the answers and the information flowing out of the end of your pen. See yourself successfully completing the paper with plenty of time to check your answers.