Countless people all around
the globe are haunted by exam paper nightmares. The
clock ticks, and ticks, and ticks some more, and you somehow only managed to write down your name and today's date. Managing your time
while writing an exam is a critical skill not enough people bother mastering. So here
are 7 tips to keep in mind.
1. Know what to expect
Teachers and lecturers are there for a reason, and enquiring about the format of the exam is a great way to prepare for it. Whether it has multiple choice or essay questions, it's best to know and be prepared. This way you will avoid unnecessary mistakes caused by misunderstanding and confusion.
Imagine for example you were told that the exam paper has four questions,
but when you initially read through your exam you only find three. It is highly
unlikely that they changed the format, thus double-checking to see what you missed can save your grade.
2. Study time is precious
Nothing wastes more time than spending it trying to remember answers to questions you have not studied and can't really know. Don't expect magic to happen in your exam. Use the time before your exams wisely and ensure you cover all the necessary topics. You can never know 100% of all that is required, so being prepared will speed up your recall and answering abilities.
Working on one's ability to write quickly and legibly will pay off massively during an exam. Speed is important, but an unreadable answer will do nothing for you. You can only get marks for things that can be read and understood.
Legibility also means using proper spacing and numbering throughout your exams. When you do need to cross an answer out, do so with one clear line rather than scribbles everywhere.
If you need to expand on an answer beyond the space provided, ask for additional paper and clearly indicate that the rest of the answer can be found on the last page.
The top mistake students make in exams is mis-reading and mis-interpreting the instructions. Rather take those extra 30 seconds and ensure you have read the full question and all instructions before attempting to answer it.
Plan your essay-type answers and organise your thoughts to ensure your points are well argued and in the correct order.
Divide the total time you have between the questions based on the mark allocation. This will ensure you don't spend too much of your time on a 10% question when you need to be focusing more on the 50% question.
You can always come back to a question later if you have time, but at least this way you are sure to cover all the work and put effort into everything that matters.
6.
Start with what you know and work your way down
Although some people like to dive headfirst into the hardest questions when there is a time limit, it is better to spend one's time on topics you know the answer to. By starting with the questions you are comfortable with first, you also boost your confidence throughout the paper and reduce stress, so your recall memory also becomes more accessible and information tends to flow better.
If you manage to finish an exam before your time is up, DO NOT leave early! Spend this time double-checking your answers. Read backwards through your exam, forcing your short-term memory to re-examine your work rather than just fetching the newly stored memories.
Use your time
wisely.
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