More Exam Tips!

So you’ve missed Coronation Street, you’ve learnt a new skill to put your friends to shame and now you finally know someone called Bosco…it’s all been worth it; but you still have that evil, inescapable end of course exam to face. There are a few things that can help you come out unscathed and smelling of expensive roses:

• Look over past exam papers in preparation. While it isn’t a good idea to attempt to guess what will come up; it is helpful in that you can familiarise yourself with the look of the paper, the sections and the overall layout
• Sleep well and eat properly, staying up until five in the morning the night before won’t do you any favours when it comes to concentrating for hours in an exam hall
• On the day, write clearly and distinctly
• Take five or ten minutes to read over the exam paper, decide what questions you know best
• Make sure to know what the question is asking; don’t immediately regurgitate an answer just because you spot a familiar word
• Do the easier questions first, this will boost your confidence
• Write down any relevant equations/quotes etc straight away, this will take the pressure off your memory and help you to structure your answers around them
• Show your work where possible - steps leading to the answers can be just as important
• Answer all questions; you can only get marks for what you’ve written. Remember if you have to answer four questions carrying equal marks and you only attempt three, even if your work is worthy of publication your paper will only be marked out of 75 per cent
• Don’t worry about how much/little you are writing; some people will write forests of waffle, others find it easy to get their main points into a concise format…everyone is different
• If you’re out of time, quickly jot down the main points
• Try and leave two or three minutes at the end of each question to revise your answer and add any additional points you may have omitted
  

It may be a cliché but remember it is so for a reason – do your best. Taking part in a nightcourse is beneficial to your mind and adds colour to your life; and our lessons come from the journey, not the destination (but if you do get an 'A' maybe keep that one to yourself!)