If sitting an exam is anyone’s idea of fun, we haven’t met them yet. We’re not sure we want to, either; sorry, exam lovers, we just don’t think we could trust someone with that mindset.
Anyhow, the point is that normal people don’t like exams or the stress they cause. And since we’re smack-bang in the middle of the assessment period for many UK universities, it seems like a sensible time to share a little of exam advice. Good luck!
1. Know What to Expect
Come the day of the exam, you need to have prepared thoroughly. This obviously means revising and sitting practice papers, but it also includes planning for the test day itself.
It’s vital to get a good night’s sleep beforehand, for instance, while you should also make a note of when and where all of your exams are occurring. Consider preparing an exam/revision timetable if you haven’t already.
2. Actually Read the Questions
At the risk of stating the obvious, carefully reading the questions on the test is kind of important. A surprising number of people don’t do this and end up answering the question they thought they read instead.
It’s easy enough to make a mistake like this, especially if you’re rushing. But finishing with ten minutes to spare because you skipped double-checking the questions isn’t much comfort if you’ve been doing a test you made up in your head! So please take care.
3. Plan Your Answers
Once you’ve read the questions, take a few minutes to plan your answers. This might seem counterintuitive when you’re working against the clock, but planning your answers will make sure you set aside enough time for each question.
Planning your answers also helps you to focus on relevant issues, rather than simply writing the first thing that pops into your head. Which rarely ends well.
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4. Mop Up (Mistakes) Afterwards
Literally mopping up the exam hall is unlikely to help (unless you’re taking a janitorial exam).
But, if you finish early, you should go back over your answer sheet and look for errors or sentences you could clarify.
Even just correcting the odd spelling here and there is good, as maintaining a high standard of academic English on a test paper makes a good impression on your marker.
5. Keep Calm and Carry On
Although ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ was a slogan invented in case of a Nazi invasion, it is far better advice for those sitting exams. This is because, while WWII gave us many life-threatening reasons to panic, ultimately, sitting an exam is relatively harmless.
Yes, they can be stressful, but university tests are not designed to trick you and you should do fine as long as you’ve done the work in class and at home leading up to exam day.
Stay hydrated, trust yourself and do your best. We promise that you will survive the experience.