1. Answer the right number of questions
Read any instructions carefully
Don’t answer too many by mistake
Don’t answer too few because you run out of time
Answering a question even roughly will give you more marks than not answering it at all and more marks than perfecting the previous answer.
2. Answer the question asked
Not the question you think you were asked
Not the question you wish you had been asked
Pay attention to the question rather than writing everything you know about.....
3. Take your time
Give yourself planning time
You don’t have to spend the whole time writing. You can spend time thinking
Good exam answers are not always long answers
4. You can’t memorise everything
Any exam is not a memory test, it is asking for your understanding of what you have studied
It is also your opportunity to stand back, reflect on and connect the material you have covered over the year
You will not fail if you don’t remember a particular reference
But in language exams memory is more important....
Once in the exam concentrate on what you know not what you don’t know and be creative if you need to
5. Practise previous exam questions
Look over previous exam papers to identify patterns in questions
You can see how general or specific questions are likely to be
You can either practise writing answers to time or practise planning answers (perhaps a more efficient use of time)
Your teacher may be willing to look at your draft plan
6. Don’t panic if you think you’ve gone blank
Take your time
Keep breathing
Brainstorm or just write random words/doodle rather than sit frozen
Give yourself permission to get up and leave the room for a moment if that will help. Walking may help unfreeze you. If you need to get up, raise your hand and get the invigilator's attention so they can authorise a temporary absence for this purpose.
7. Learn to use your breath
Using your breath can soothe and calm you
It is impossible to be relaxed and anxious at the same time
Focus on breathing out rather than breathing in, breathing out smoothly, slowly but without strain
Feel your breath flow through your body from the crown of your head to your feet and through the floor so you ground yourself
8. Take care of yourself
Make sure you get enough sleep
Use strategies to sleep – and even if you don’t sleep much the night before the exam, you can still perform
Keep a balanced diet
This is not the best time to give up coffee, tea, smoking etc. But also avoid increasing your consumption excessively
Keep up regular exercise, even simple walking
9. Don’t talk about the exam before or after
Talking to others about the exam immediately before isn’t likely to be helpful. Others’ anxiety can be infectious. Everyone prepares differently
Talking about the exam afterwards is also probably unhelpful. There can be many different approaches to the same question. Once your paper is handed in, let it go
10. Give yourself a treat after the exam
Once the exam is over give yourself time to do something you enjoy as a reward: sit in the sun, have a coffee, go for lunch with friends, go for a lunch, have a manicure, watch TV, go to the cinema, listen to music
Let go of the exam – enjoy the present moment rather than dwelling on the past
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