Exam Technique
Passing exams requires hard work and study. but it also helps to have the right technique.
By planning in advance and taking the right steps you can maximise your chances of passing first time. Here we give you some hints and tips, built up over years of experience!
Below we cover the three phases of study. Click on a link to continue:
1. The run up to the exam
Plan - There is no substitute for prior preparation. Start early, look at the syllabus and plan out your study. Be sure to leave enough time to bring it all together at the end.
Use the syllabus – It's there for a reason. The syllabus tells you the areas in which you are going to be tested. Use it well and make sure that you are covering all of the relevant areas.
Put the work in. Unfortunately, not even ExamAngel can prevent you having to put in the study. Of course, we aim to make it easier for you, but you need to be prepared to work at your subject. Most examinations covered by ExamAngel would usually need around 50-100 hours study.
Look at past papers - One of the best ways to get a feel for examinations is to look at past papers. This tells you a great deal about the style and the format of the exam you are going to sit. Often they will come with a breakdown of the areas where candidates fell down. This can be invaluable in your study.
Use ExamAngel -There always comes a time in your study when you think you are getting there, but you aren’t quite sure. ExamAngel’s online assessments are designed to test your progress and, where you get a question wrong, to explain why. In addition, our interactive discussion boards are a chance for you to talk to other people in the same boat, share ideas and ask questions of each other and our staff.
Paint a picture – A great memory technique…create pictures in your mind that help you remember… for instance if you were trying to remember the case of the Crown vs. Johnson 1997, why not picture the runner Michael Johnson with a crown on his head, wearing a t-shirt with 1997 written on it… the more vivid and vibrant the picture, the easier to remember… give it a try!
State Dependency - No, this doesn’t mean living on benefits. This is a psychological truism – you recall information best in the environment in which you learned it. Put simply, this means that if you are going to be sitting in a silent exam hall, its best to study in quiet conditions. It also means that if you study after a few drinks…
2. Immediately before the exam
Get a good night’s sleep – This is often easier said than done, especially if you are nervous, but a good night’s sleep will deliver you to the exam in better condition and better prepared for what is to come.
Arrive in plenty of time – always try to arrive at least half an hour before the exam. In most cases the examiners will want to get you in early to take care of the admin so don’t leave it to the last minute. Always allow time for traffic and, where appropriate, time to find parking.
Remember your admission permit and ID – for most exams you need to provide your permit and photo ID to be allowed in… if you can’t prove who you are, you might not be allowed to sit the exam…
Take enough pens – there’s nothing worse than being in a written exam and running out of ink! In most multiple choice exams you are given a pencil but it’s still worth having your own. It’s also worth taking a highlighter pen (see tips for during the exam).
3. During the exam
Have an initial flick through the questions - you might not realise it but the mind doesn’t stop working just because you aren’t concentrating on something. By flicking through the paper at the start of the exam you will set your subconscious mind on a search for information you will need later… try it, it works…
Use a highlighter pen – as long as you are allowed to, use a highlighter pen to pick out the key parts of the question. This will help to focus the mind and reduce mistakes. For example, if the question asks “which of the following is NOT…” highlight the word NOT…
Look at the marks per question – in a one hour exam with 200 marks up for grabs don’t be spending 15 minutes on a question worth ten marks! Allocate your available time and be strict on yourself…if you don’t get through a question, don’t worry… you can always come back to it if you get time.
RTQ, or in less polite company RTFQ! – Also known as READ THE QUESTION… the single greatest cause of unnecessary failure, in our experience, is not reading the question properly. When the exam begins, take your time, read the questions properly and don’t waste easy marks
Don’t Panic – We have all had those nightmare exams… you don’t recognise any of the options or you don’t even understand the question, but don’t panic! Take your time, leave it and come back to it if necessary but don’t let your head go down.
Use bullets – in written exams try using bullet points wherever possible. The examiner has a lot of papers to mark, so unless the question specifically calls for an essay, try using bullet points – it gets your point across quickly and it’s easy to mark.
Answer every question – particularly in multiple choice exams. It’s better to have a go than not to. You might just get it right! For written exams, put down what you do know, even if you aren’t sure its right… you might just pick up some marks.
Check your answers – if you have time, go back over your answers and check them. In most cases your initial answer is most likely the right one, but you are looking for the stupid mistakes…every stupid mistake found is a mark gained!
