Taking the exam
This is what is known as exam technique. There are many
different techniques, but here is one that is probably the best and uses some actual scientific research. N.B.This plan is suggested for the exams relating to UK A Levels, which have around 7 to 11 questions, I would not suggest this method of an exam with a larger number of questions (ie GCSE exams)
·
First thing – review the questions
o When
you hear the examiner say start, do not begin answering the questions.
o Start
by skimming the questions for 2 to 5 minutes, figuring out which is the easiest
and which is the hardest.
§ Write the hardest question down first, all the way to easiest one. Do not worry about exact easiness or hardness, just a rough estimate.
§ You
know which question is easiest, if you know what method or steps to get to the
solution, straight away.
§ A
question is hardest when the solution is not obvious, or is on a topic you are
not that confident with.
o Write
this at the top of the first page (usually where the first question is or a blank page is).
After answering each question you will refer to this page each time to find out
which question to attempt next.
o The aim of this method
is to get the brain thinking in the background, priming the brain, this allows your
brain to come up with the relevant knowledge to solve the problem unconsciously
·
(Second thing – Time budget)
o I
would advise against this for individual
questions, as this can be very tricky and time consuming to work out how long to spend per mark and having the pressure on you to check the timings.
o I
would only suggest a time budget for the beginning, to read the questions and
mark down the hardest to easiest (around 5 minutes), and at the end, for
checking your solutions (5 to 10 minutes). But these are just guides to remind
you to get going.
o Best
write down on the paper the actual clock time you need to stop attempting the
questions and checking the solutions. Or if have digital watch or timer, use a countdown feature.
·
Strategy: Hardest then easiest question, then next
hardest then next easiest and so on, until all questions are attempted.
o Now
start on the hardest question (for you). If can answer the question, go for it.
o If
after 1 or 2 minutes (Check stop watch or clock) or you have read the question two or
three times and you are stuck (can’t begin, stuck with finishing the method or
a sub question etc) stop and go to the easiest question on the paper (should be at the end of the list)
o When
the easier question is done or as much of it is done, go back to the next hardest
question and repeat. Check the list of ordered questions, cross off or circle
(not done) the question you just completed and attempt the next question
(should be near the top of your list, if list of question difficulty was
ordered hardest to easiest).
o Eventually
you will go back and forth throughout the paper, until you have attempted every
single question.
o If an easier question was harder than anticipated, don't stick with it (especially at the beginning of the exam), instead move on after 1 or 2 minutes. Just as above for the hardest questions.
o Sometimes,
the perceived hardest question is actually easier than first thought. This will
give you lots of confidence if you complete it.
o This
goes against the idea of doing the easiest first to build confidence, but what
this method does is allow your brain as much time to think about the solution when
you start the exam. So you could give your brain 80 minutes out of 90, to think
about this problem unconsciously, while answering other questions, much better
than spending 15 minutes on it and being stuck writing nothing down. As
the next question is easiest (as you feel you are strong in that topic) you
will still get confidence from doing it very early in the exam.
·
Never waste time on problems that you cannot do
o If
starting with the hardest question, you will likely be stuck (at the beginning or
during answering) but as long as you thought hard about the question for 1 or 2 minutes,
you can move on to another question.
o There
is no point being stuck on a question at the beginning of an exam, if you
cannot answer a question skip it and move on. But give it a good go (read the question a 2 or 3
times, apply some methods etc)
o The
only time to stay with a question, and try some problem solving techniques is
when you have answered all the questions that you can do. Which occurs when you
have attempted all the questions.
·
Answering the questions
o You
must realise that an exam paper is just a set of similar questions that you
have answered during your classes, homework, and revision sessions. You have covered
the majority of different types of questions, and all the topics in the syllabus throughout the course.
o Write fast, but keep your writing neat and readable. If you do a lot of working out for each question, you will have less time, so write quickly.
o Make sure you copy the question and previous lines of working out correctly. Focus.
o There
are different types of questions, asking for different types of solutions (see
here) but you should know this after practising with past exam papers.
o Use
plenty of space, don't worry if you run out, ask the examiner for extra paper.
Better to have clear writing and easy to check, then messy writing making it
hard for you to spot any errors.
o Use an empty line between each stage of working out, especially if you have big writing.
o Always
write out the specific question number before writing your solutions, ie “2)a) i)”
o When
finished, make sure you mark on the paper the question done (or the parts of
the question done ie “2)a) i)” )
o Mark
down what questions or sub questions that you have left undone or incomplete.
Circle the question number or put a question mark next to it. So when you go through the paper you know what to complete.
o Always
underline the final answer. Make it easy for the exam marker to give you the marks.
o If
you cannot do part “a” of question, maybe you can do part “b” and “c” without
part “a” needing to be answered. So do not skip the whole question, if you
cannot do a part of it, attempt the next one part within the question.
·
Handle anxiety
o Make
sure to stretch your legs and arms through out the exams. Even shake you hand
and arms out to avoid them cramping, especially if you feel your hand is tired.
o Drink regularly through out the exam, drink mainly water.
o Eat
some sweets through out.
o Do
some breathing exercises.
o Avoid
looking at your friends for their reactions. Can lead to anxiety and nerves, or over confidence and not being fully focused.
·
Go back to unanswered questions or sub questions when attempted every question.
o This
should be done only when you have attempted answering all the questions and all
that is left are completely unanswered or unfinished questions. OR if you have an
idea for the solution for a previous question while answering another question.
o If
going back to a question midway through another question, you can either stop
answering the current question and answer the previous question, or make a note
on what to do next to the previous question and come back to it after finishing
the current question.
o Start
with the hardest question or the question with least amount of solution written
down. Leave if after 1 or 2 minutes have passed and go to the next unanswered question.
o Use
the marks on your paper to show you what you have to answer.
o Make
sure you have attempted all questions, there should be no blank spaces for any
question or sub question.
o If
stuck write out method or reasoning or your approach to solving in words.
o Only
start to guess near the end of the exam, after all your thinking has come up
with nothing.
o If
no progress on finding a solution after a couple of run throughs, then spend a
bit longer on the questions and use some problem solving strategies (See Here).
o After each run through the paper, the number of questions not finished should reduce. If not, then spend a bit of time on each unfinished question.
o The
exam paper is a test and it will have questions that you have never seen
before. This might make you panic, but if you have revised well (and covered
lots of different types of questions)
you will notice that these questions will be similar to what you have
already done in the past.
·
Check your work
o With
5 to 10 minutes left, hopefully you should have answered every question, you should go back over your work and check
that all your solutions are free from errors (see here for types of errors).
o Always
go through your paper as many times as possible, to check everything is clear,
the questions are answered, no mistakes in working out and errors are fixed.
o Remember
you can always add to your solution by using arrows to show new working out.
o Don’t
cross out everything if wrong, only the parts that are wrong.
o If
you have not answered all the questions and only 10 minutes left, then leave
this question and check the solutions. You can always go back to the unanswered
question if you have an idea as you check your work.
·
Leave when the time is up
o Never
leave before the time is up, no matter if you believe you have answered all the
questions correctly, need to keep checking work again and again.
o There
is always a mistake that you have made that can be corrected if you just
keep checking your work when you have finished answering all the questions.
o If
time is still left after checking all your questions, make sure to keep checking your solutions and make sure all questions
are answered.
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