Exam season is no joke. As you gear up for those big exams, there’s probably a mix of excitement and stress building up. While it’s natural to focus on studying, it’s equally important to know how to tackle the exam itself. However, knowing what to do once the paper hits your desk is often overlooked.
These 18 tried-and-true exam tips are designed to help you tackle each part of the exam, manage your time, and ultimately maximize your score.
With the right tips in your pocket, you can walk into that exam room feeling much more prepared, confident, and ready to show what you’ve got.
Ready to ace your finals? Let’s dive in!
Best 18 Exam Tips
1. Plan Your Time
Time management can be the make-or-break factor in any exam. Picture this: you’re deep into a question that’s taking longer than expected, and suddenly, you glance at the clock and realize you have less than half the time left, with most of the questions unanswered. Sound stressful, right? It is! But don’t worry—there’s a way to prevent this.
Time is your most precious resource during an exam. Without a structured plan, it’s easy to get caught up in one question and risk not finishing the exam or rushing through the last sections.
Start your exam by quickly assessing how much time you have and the number of questions. If you have a two-hour exam, break it down strategically:
- Assess the Weight of Each Section: Look at the point value or importance of each question. If one question is worth 20% of your grade, it deserves more attention than one worth 5%. Allocate your time accordingly. For example, if an exam is two hours long and one section is 50% of the grade, spend approximately one hour on it.
- Set Mini Checkpoints: Mentally divide the exam time into sections and set mental alerts or checkpoints. For instance, if the exam is two hours, set a halfway point alert at the one-hour mark. These checkpoints remind you to check your progress and adjust your speed if necessary.
- Plan for Review Time: Aim to finish the exam at least 5-10 minutes before time is up. This gives you a buffer to go back and review your answers, catch any missed questions, and correct small mistakes.
Set a small, mental timer for each question. It’s like a race against yourself, but one where you control the pace!
Practicing timed mock exams at home helps you get used to pacing. Try setting a timer and simulate exam conditions. This way, you’ll develop a natural sense of how much time to spend on each type of question, so it feels second nature on the real exam day.
2. Start with a Quick Scan of the Paper
When the instructor say “start”, your first instinct might be to jump straight into answering questions. While this is totally norml, pausing for a quick scan of the paper first, can set you up for a much smoother sailing through the exam.
A quick scan helps you mentally map out the paper and plan your approach. It’s like taking a moment to check the map before a road trip—you’ll spot any potential roadblocks (like tricky questions) and the smooth paths (the questions you can answer confidently).
- Use the first minute or two to skim through the entire exam. Note where the high-value questions are and any sections that seem easy or challenging.
- Put a light mark or a small asterisk next to questions that look straightforward. This way, you can come back to them and knock them out quickly.
- Spot questions that might need more time and plan when you’ll tackle them. Knowing they’re coming up reduces the “surprise panic” when you reach them mid-exam.
Think of this quick scan as an exam warm-up. You wouldn’t start running a race without stretching, right? This is your stretch—take it seriously, and it’ll pay off big time, trust me.
3. Read Carefully, Pay Attention to Instructions
This is one of the most overlooked exam tips that is costing students a lot of marks. Skipping over instructions might save a few seconds but can cost you big if you miss an important detail. Double-checking instructions gives you a better chance of scoring every possible point.
I had a revision session with some high school learners who were preparing for their math exams. There was a question that required that the final answer be rounded to the nearest 50. However, when I went around I noticed that none of the learners had followed the instructions. They all had their answers rounded to two decimal places.
It’s tempting to breeze past instructions or read questions in a hurry to save time, but this can be one of the costliest mistakes you make. Skipping over a crucial detail could mean answering a question in the wrong format or missing an important step.
Instructions guide you on how to answer questions properly. Misunderstanding them could mean lost marks/points, not because you didn’t know the answer, but because you didn’t provide what was asked.
- Read Twice, Slowly, and Carefully: The first time, read to get a general sense of the task. The second time, focus on identifying keywords like “explain,” “compare,” “justify,” or “list.” These words tell you the depth and type of response expected.
- Highlight or Underline: If allowed, underline or circle these directive words. This keeps your mind focused on the instruction throughout your response and reduces the risk of veering off-topic.
- Double-Check as You Write: Periodically glance back at the question while answering to ensure you’re still on track and addressing every part.
Have you ever answered a question fully, only to realize you misunderstood what was being asked? Double-checking instructions helps you avoid those “facepalm” moments. If the learners I was with yesterday followed these steps and underlined the phrase “to the nearest 50”, they would’ve gotten the right answer, because they did know how to round a number to the nearest 50.
4. Begin with Questions You Know Well
Starting an exam can feel intimidating, but diving into questions you’re confident about can help ease that initial anxiety and build momentum.
Answering questions you know well first puts you in a positive mindset. It’s a confidence boost that can carry you through the tougher parts of the exam.
- Prioritize the “Easy Wins”: Usually, you are allowed to answer the question in any order. If so, use the quick scan you did earlier to jump into questions you feel best about. This helps you secure marks early on and leaves more time for complex questions.
One very noteworthy example of this is when I managed to secure 50 out of 150 marks within the first 20 minutes of a 2hrs paper. I then had enough time left over for the more challenging questions.
- Get into the Flow: Starting with easier questions can create a flow state—a psychological state where you’re fully immersed and performing at your best. This makes tackling tougher questions later feel more doable.
- Don’t Linger Too Long: Answer the question thoroughly, but don’t overthink it. If it’s an easy question, move on once you’ve answered confidently to save time for more challenging parts.
Think of this strategy like warming up before a workout. You wouldn’t start with the hardest exercises first—you ease in, get comfortable, and then push yourself. The same logic applies here.
5. Use the Process of Elimination on Multiple-Choice Questions
Multiple-choice questions can be tricky, but using the process of elimination can tilt the odds in your favor.
By narrowing down your options, you’re left with a smaller set of answers to choose from. This method increases your chances of guessing correctly when you’re not 100% sure of the answer.
- Cross Out Obviously Wrong Answers: If you know certain choices are plain incorrect, eliminate them right away. This helps reduce the noise and focuses your attention on the most likely answers.
- Watch for Absolutes: Be cautious of choices with words like “always,” “never,” or “none.” These are often traps, as very few things in academia are absolute.
- Trust Your First Instinct: If you’re torn between two choices, your first instinct is often correct. Unless you’re sure of new information after reconsidering, don’t overthink it and change your answer.
Practice this strategy with past exam papers or sample questions. Eliminate answers and see if it helps you get to the right choice more often. You might surprise yourself!
6. Rephrase Questions to Understand Them Better
Have you ever read a question multiple times and felt like it was written in a foreign language? Exam questions can sometimes be worded in ways that make them unnecessarily complex or confusing. But there’s a simple trick that can help: rephrasing.
Rephrasing questions in your own words can strip away any confusing language and get to the heart of what’s being asked. This helps you approach the question with more clarity, reducing the risk of misunderstandings that could cost you marks.
- Break It Down Step by Step: If a question feels complex, pause and split it into smaller parts. Ask yourself, “What is this question really asking me to do?” Is it asking for an explanation, a comparison, or a specific analysis?
- Rephrase It Aloud (Silently): If possible, rephrase the question in your mind or whisper it to yourself. For example, if the question says, “Analyze the impact of economic policies on developing countries,” you might think, “What effects do these economic policies have on developing countries?”
- Highlight Key Points: Look for directive words like “describe,” “explain,” or “evaluate.” Rephrase the question focusing on these words to ensure you’re tailoring your answer appropriately.
Try this technique in practice sessions or mock exams. Take a complex question and rephrase it in simpler terms, then answer it. Notice how much easier it feels to get started!
7. Outline Essay Responses Before Writing
Diving into an essay question without a clear plan is like starting a road trip without a map—you might reach your destination, but it’ll take longer, and you could get lost along the way. Outlining your answer before you write helps organize your thoughts and keeps your response focused and coherent.
Examiners are looking for structured, well-organized responses. If your essay meanders or lacks direction, you could miss key points or appear less knowledgeable than you actually are.
- Spend a Minute or Two Planning: Before you start writing, pause and jot down a brief outline. This could be as simple as bullet points that list your main arguments or a quick mind map.
- Use the Directive Words as a Guide: If the question asks you to “compare and contrast,” make sure your outline includes both similarities and differences. This helps ensure that your response addresses the entire prompt.
- Stick to a Structure: Plan out your introduction, main body points, and conclusion. This way, you’re less likely to veer off track or forget an important point midway through your essay.
While it may feel like outlining takes up valuable exam time, it actually saves time by preventing you from having to backtrack or rewrite sections. Trust me, your future self, halfway through the essay will thank you.
Practice outlining responses during your study sessions. Pick a past paper, read an essay question, and spend 2-3 minutes outlining your answer before writing. You’ll be amazed at how much smoother the writing process becomes.
8. Use Visual Aids When Possible
Ever heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? This is especially true during exams. Visual aids like diagrams, charts, or simple sketches can make complex concepts clearer and more digestible for both you and the examiner.
Visual aids can help break down complicated ideas, illustrate your points more effectively, and show your understanding in a concise way. This can be particularly helpful for exams that involve problem-solving or subjects like science, or geography.
- Create Simple Diagrams: If a question involves a process or cycle, sketch a quick diagram to accompany your answer. It doesn’t have to be perfect—clear and labeled is good enough.
- Use Flow Charts or Mind Maps: For questions that require step-by-step explanations or multiple connected ideas, flow charts or mind maps can help organize your response.
- Label Your Visuals Clearly: If you use a diagram or chart, label it well and refer to it in your answer. For example, “As shown in Figure 1, the process begins with…”
If you’re not great at drawing or making charts, practice simple diagrams during your revision. Get comfortable with sketching them quickly so that it becomes second nature during the exam.
Challenge yourself: Take a past question that could benefit from a visual aid and practice sketching a quick diagram or chart. See how much clearer it makes your answer!
9. Don’t Get Stuck on a Single Question
This is one of the easiest ways to sabotage your overall score. Getting stuck on a tough question can cost you time that could be spent answering questions you know well.
Maximizing your score means earning as many points as possible across the entire exam. Spending too much time on one question risks leaving others unanswered or rushed.
- Set a Mental Time Limit: When you start a question, mentally decide how long you’ll spend on it. For example, for a medium-difficulty question, give yourself 5-10 minutes.
- Flag and Move On: If your timer’s up and you’re still stuck, mark the question and move on. You can circle back if you have extra time at the end.
- Stay Positive: Don’t let one question knock your confidence. Remind yourself that one tough question isn’t the whole exam, and keep moving forward.
Practice this during mock exams. Notice when you get stuck and consciously make the choice to move on. It’s like switching lanes; you’re still in control of the car, just taking a different route to the destination.
10. Take a Deep Breath to Stay Grounded
We’ve all felt it—the sudden rush of nerves when you don’t know the answer to a question or when the time is ticking away too quickly. This stress can cloud your thinking and make it hard to focus. The simple act of taking a deep breath can make a huge difference.
Deep breathing is more than just a cliché. It’s a proven technique to reduce stress, calm your mind, and improve focus. This is especially helpful in high-pressure situations like exams.
- Pause and Breathe: If you feel panic setting in, stop for a moment. Take a slow, deep breath in, hold it for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly. Repeat a few times and move on.
- Incorporate Mini-Breaks: If you have a moment, gently roll your shoulders or stretch your neck to release tension.
Try this in your study sessions when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s a habit you can carry into the exam room. Think of it as hitting the “refresh” button for your brain.
11. Review Each Answer Carefully
It’s a huge relief to finish an exam before the time is up, and you might be tempted to submit your paper as soon as you’re done and leave. But don’t rush!
Taking just a few extra minutes to review your answers can be the difference between good and great scores. Even small mistakes can add up, and you’d be surprised at how often a quick check can catch these errors.
Reviewing your answers helps ensure that you didn’t miss anything or make careless mistakes, like skipping a question or simple math errors. These are easy to fix if caught in time, but they’re also easy points lost if overlooked.
- Plan for Review Time: Set aside the last 5-10 minutes of your exam for review. Budgeting this time from the start ensures you don’t feel rushed when reviewing.
- Scan for Calculation Errors: For exams with math or data analysis, recheck your calculations to confirm they’re correct. Even a simple recount can spot errors that could cost you marks.
- Read Over Short Answers: If you wrote any short answers, scan them for clarity, coherence, and missed points. Make sure your responses are complete and address all parts of the question.
When practicing exams at home, train yourself to finish a few minutes early and spend that time reviewing. The habit will stick and become a natural part of your exam routine.
12. Check Points Allocation to Prioritize Effort
Not all questions are created equal. Some are worth just a few marks, while others carry significant weight. Knowing this ahead of time can help you allocate your effort more effectively.
Spending equal time on every question might feel fair, but it can be a poor strategy. If a question is worth 20 marks, it deserves more time and thought than one worth 5 marks. Prioritizing based on weightage can help you maximize your score.
- Note Point Values: When you do your initial scan of the paper, mark down which questions carry the most points. This helps you mentally plan where to spend the most time.
- Prioritize High-Value Questions: Tackle high-point questions when your mind is fresh to ensure you’re giving your best effort where it matters most.
- Balance Your Time: Don’t over-invest time in low-point questions. Answer them thoroughly but efficiently, saving more detailed work for high-value questions.
Usually, there will be questions that take very little time to complete, despite being worth a lot of marks. That’s because you are good in that area. You can reallocate the extra time to other more challenging questions that may be worth lesser marks.
Think of this as “strategic budgeting.” Just as you wouldn’t spend the same amount of money on a snack as you would on a big purchase like a laptop, don’t spend the same amount of time on low- and high-point questions.
13. Use Mnemonics for Quick Recall
When it comes to exams, remembering lists, processes, or sets of information can be a challenge. That’s where mnemonics come in—these memory aids can simplify complex information into something easy to recall under pressure.
Mnemonics work by creating associations that your brain can recall more easily, even in stressful situations. They can help you remember things like sequences, lists, or key concepts.
- Create Acronyms: Turn a list of items into an acronym you can remember. For example, “HOMES” for the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior).
- Make a Phrase: Create a fun or quirky sentence where the first letter of each word represents a part of the concept you’re trying to remember. For example, “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” helps you recall the order of operations (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction).
- Visual Mnemonics: Pair an image in your mind with what you’re trying to remember. For example, visualize a tree for the different branches of the government.
As you study, practice creating your own mnemonics and test them out to see how well they help with recall. Share them with friends—they might find them helpful too!
14. Tackle Hard Questions with a Positive Mindset
Staring at a difficult question can be intimidating, especially if it’s from a topic you normally struggle with. But going into it with a positive, determined mindset can make a surprising difference. Doubt and negativity can cloud your thinking, but confidence can help clear it.
Approaching a question with confidence helps keep stress at bay and encourages logical thinking. A positive mindset can shift your brain from panic mode into problem-solving mode, which is exactly where you need to be during an exam.
- Remind Yourself of Your Preparation: Tell yourself, “I’ve studied for this, and I know more than I think do.” Reassurance can help you approach the question with less stress.
- Break Down the Problem: If a question feels overwhelming, break it into smaller parts and tackle one part at a time. Even if you don’t manage to get everything right, you might still earn partial credits for the question.
- Stay Open-Minded: Sometimes, the answer isn’t immediately obvious. Take a breath, stay calm, and re-read the question carefully.
Before exam day, practice this with challenging questions during your study sessions. When you hit a tough one, pause and consciously shift your mindset to something positive like, “This is an opportunity to show what I know.”
There’re some types of questions I call “High Order Questions”. These are questions that require a strong understanding of underlying principles of the concepts and the ability to effectively apply these fundamental principles to solve complex problems. However, they’re not always High-point questions.
From my experience, you must be able to answer at least a few of these high order questions in order to obtain an A in an exam. Practicing these types of questions will also boost your confidence level when faced with challenging questions in the exam.
15. Avoid the Temptation to Cheat
Exams are stressful, and if you’re feeling unprepared, it might be tempting to look for shortcuts. But the consequences of cheating go far beyond just failing an exam—they can impact your academic integrity and future opportunities.
Relying on cheating can undermine your confidence and hinder your learning. Finals are your chance to demonstrate your knowledge and skills, even if you have to make a few guesses along the way.
- Trust Your Knowledge: Remind yourself that even if you’re unsure about some answers, it’s better to answer with what you know. This is why effective exam preparation is essential.
- Accept Imperfection: It’s okay if you don’t know everything. Give it your best shot, and remember that exams are part of the learning process. Failing and exam is definitely not a great feeling, but it’s much better to fail than to cheat.
- Reframe Your Mindset: Instead of seeing the exam as something to fear, view it as an opportunity to show what you’ve worked hard to learn.
Remember that you are not in school to pass and go, you are there to learn and acquire skills that will serve you well in the future. Your priority should be to learn, and exams are a great way to test what you know.
If you’re feeling unprepared before an exam, take 10 minutes to do a quick review and a few deep breaths. You’ll feel better walking into the exam knowing you’ve done your best to prepare.
16. Use Educated Guesses if Unsure
Leaving an answer blank is usually worse than making an educated guess, especially in multiple-choice exams. Your chances of earning points are better when you try than when you skip entirely.
Exams often don’t penalize for wrong answers, so there’s no downside to making an educated guess. This can add valuable points to your score that you wouldn’t get by leaving questions unanswered. You lose 100% of marks on unanswered questions.
- Eliminate Incorrect Options: Cross out choices you know are wrong to narrow down your options.
- Trust Your Gut: Often, your first instinct is more accurate than you might think. If you’ve narrowed it down to two choices, go with the one that feels right.
- Use Context Clues: Sometimes other questions on the exam can provide hints. If you spot a related question, use it to help inform your guess.
- Look for a formula with one unknown. For questions that require formulas to solve, like calculation based physics or math problems, but you are confused about which formula to use, look for a formula where all the variables are known excerpt one. Even if the unknown variable is not exactly what you are looking, it might be a link to the correct one. By repeating this method a few times, you might eventually stumble upon the correct answer.
Practice making educated guesses in your practice exams. See how often your instincts turn out to be right, and build trust in your ability to make smart choices under pressure.
17. Organize Answers Neatly for Readability
It’s great to know the correct answer, but that’s not all that matters. How you present your answer also matters. Your answers need to be understood by the person grading your exam. Clear, organized responses are easier to follow and grade positively.
Neat, well-organized answers can create a better impression and make it easier for the grader to see that you’ve covered all parts of the question. Sloppy, chaotic answers can lead to misunderstandings or missed points.
- Write Legibly: If your handwriting tends to get messy when you’re writing quickly, slow down just a bit to ensure it’s readable.
- Use Paragraphs and Spacing: Separate your points into paragraphs or use bullet points for clarity. This helps organize your thoughts and shows you’ve answered in a methodical way.
- Underline Key Points: If permitted, underline main ideas or keywords to make them stand out.
When you practice with past exam papers, ask someone around you to evaluate how it looks. Is it clear and easy to read? If not, think about small tweaks that would improve its readability.
18. Double-Check for Any Omitted Questions
Before you hand in your paper, make sure you haven’t left any questions blank. Even a partial answer can earn points.
It’s easy to skip a question with the intention of coming back to it, only to forget in the rush to finish. Double-checking ensures you’re not leaving marks on the table.
- Glance Over Your Paper: Scan quickly to see if any questions have been missed.
- Answer Skipped Questions: Even if you only have time for a quick, partial answer, it’s better than leaving it blank.
- Confirm Markings: Make sure any notes or markings (like asterisks to revisit) are addressed.
Conclusion
Finals can feel intense, but with these tips in mind, you’re setting yourself up for success. Remember to approach each question calmly, use your time wisely, and trust in your preparation. Each exam is an opportunity to demonstrate what you know, so tackle it with confidence not fear.
Have any other test-taking tips or favorite strategies? Share them in the comments below, and let’s help each other finish finals strong!
Cheers!
