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Study Toolbox: Tips for taking Exams

This toolbox includes lots of tips, tricks and information on different aspects of study from taking notes in class to preparing for exams.

As well as studying, it is important to be prepared for what to do once you are in the exam room. This will help you to stay focused, reduce your chance of becoming stressed and increase your chance of success.

What to do when in an exam?

  • Read the instructions and questions carefully.  Take your time to be clear on what you need to do and what you are being asked.  For example, you may need to only answer three out of six essay questions or there could be compulsory questions.
  • If you are given ten minutes of reading time, while you cannot write, use this time to check how many questions you have to answer and if you have a choice of questions decide which ones you will answer.
  • When the exam starts the first thing to do is plan how you will approach it. This means deciding:
  • If you can choose, what questions are you going to answer?  Choose topics you know the best even if the questions are hard.  Remember to answer the compulsory questions.
  • How long will you spend on each question?  Allocate time for each question based on the number of marks each is worth.
  • What order will you answer the questions in?  Start with the questions you feel the most confident about because you may answer these faster than you planned. This will give you extra time for the trickier questions or to check your answers at the end of the exam.
  • Write down your order and how long you will spend on each question so that you have a plan to follow.  Do not go over the time you have allocated for each question as it will leave you with less time for other sections of the exam.  It is better to attempt all the questions than to not answer one.
  • Underline the instructional words (e.g. discuss, analyse, compare and contrast) and keywords in the question as this will help you identify what you have to write about. 
  • For essays, write bullet points or create a mind map of the main points and evidence/examples that answer the essay topic.
  • Plan your short answer questions and keep to the point.
  • Write your answers using your plan and brainstorm.
  • Do not go over the time you have allocated for each question as it will leave you with less time for other sections of the exam.
  • If you get stuck on a question leave a gap and move on before you get stressed.  Come back to it later, doing this means you do not use up valuable time stressing about a question.
  • If you don’t know how to answer the question, try creating a mind map and you might be surprised by the information you remember. 
  • Attempt every question and if you are unsure of the answer make a calculated guess based on your studies and revision.

If you finish early, use the time to check your work.

  • Have you answered all required questions?
  • Proof read your answers for any incorrect spelling and grammar.
  • Do your answers make sense?
  • Have you answered each question fully?
  • Have you filled in the exam papers correctly?

If you do not have enough time to proof read your whole exam start with the sections that are worth the most marks.

If you run out of time do not leave a question blank, instead write down your main points so the examiner knows where you were going with your answer.

Exam Strategies

Video credited to University of South Australia.

University of South Australia. (2021, September 28). Study help: Exam strategies [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csF01QM3r5A

Top tips for taking exams

Get enough sleep

You will be better able to answer questions if you are rested and alert.  So make sure you get at least 8 hours of quality sleep a night.  

Drink plenty of water

Often when we can’t think clearly, it is because our brains need to be hydrated. While studying and taking your exams, make sure you take regular sips of water.

Eat a nutritious breakfast

Studies have found that students who skip breakfast experience a 20-40% reduction in cognition (i.e. concentration, memory and alertness).  So to remember all the information you have studied, eat a nutritious breakfast.

Focus on what you do know rather than what you don’t know

There will always be something that you could have studied more thoroughly or do not know so well on the day of your exam.  Focus on the fact that you now know more than you did before and you will be able to answer many questions in the exam.

Take a few deep breaths when you get stuck

If you come across a question that you are unsure how to answer, stop for a moment and take a few deep breaths. If you are not sure how to answer it then and there, move on to another question and come back to it later.

Dealing with writer’s cramp

Writer's cramp can be caused by holding your pen too tight. Loosen your grip or get a pen that you won’t have to press down so hard on the paper.  If your hand starts to hurt during an exam, have a rest for a few moments and stretch it out on your desk.

Go straight home after the exam

Staying back after an exam to talk to classmates can be reassuring if you wrote the same answers.  But if you find out that you wrote something different and you have other exams to take, this may distract you.  The exam is over. There is nothing you can do about it, so move on, go home and focus on studying for the next one.