Tips for Exams (Mostly Mathematics)
So it seems Iâve taken a fair few exams. Iâve had a variety of different types. Iâll try and give some pointers on what works best for me but generally how you tackle exams is a personal thing.Â
-Beforehand, know how long your exam is, how many questions there are, whether there is a choice of questions and whether you are allowed a calculator  (and of which type).
-Know your bookwork. Well, as much of it as you can remember! Some modules have so much bookwork in the exam that if you donât know at least some of it you wonât be able to get the top grades. (I class bookwork as definitions, theorems, proofs, examples that youâve seen before).Â
-Look at exam papers from previous years if this is possible for you. Some lecturers repeat questions. Some stick to the same order of questions each year. But donât rely on this. Iâve had a lecturer change up the order of questions a few times.Â
-If the lecturer provides feedback on exams from previous years, read it. It often includes some hints and tips and highlights the places where most students go wrong. Sometimes feedback can be disheartening though, if the lecturer is harsh, donât take it personally.Â
-Remember that structure is important. Make sure your answers flow mathematically. If you have time, explain your steps in a few words. Some methods require a little bit of written explanation.Â
-If you get the opportunity to see the marked scripts of exams youâve done previously, go and see them, especially if they are your first ones. You might have made mistakes with the way you structure your answers so it is good to learn how to write mathematics better.Â
-If you canât remember a formula, explain what you would do with the formula if you had it. Same goes with if you canât get something to work. Write out the method as a last resort. Iâve picked up a few marks by doing this.Â
-Check whether you are given a formula sheet. If youâre stuck, look at it. Sometimes youâre given vector identities that might help. If youâre not given a formula sheet, write formulae that you struggle to remember down straight away.Â
-In Statistics, when you need a certain statistical table, look at the contents page of the tables book. You donât want to be wasting time flicking through all of the pages to find the one you need.
-Make your graph sketches neat, and label them. They donât have to be perfectly accurate but they have to let the examiner know that you know what that graph should look like.
-Know if it is negatively marked. You donât want to be randomly guessing if you get deducted marks for incorrect answers.Â
-Skip questions that are taking too long. Multi-choice exams usually have short time limits.Â
-If youâre stuck, look at the answers they have provided. Sometimes you can work backwards and rule options out.Â
-If it is a definition question, read the options very carefully.Â
-Remember that some multi-choice exams have a ânone of the aboveâ option.
-There is not as much emphasis on the structure of your answers since itâs usually one of those sheets thatâs marked by a computer. Only you has to understand the workings out.Â
-Make sure you have enough time at the end to fill in the answer sheet.Â
-Make sure you use the right equipment (you might need a pencil to fill in the answer sheet etc) and also an eraser might be useful.
-If the exam includes multi-choice and written parts, do the written bits first because if you run out of time, you can quickly guess the multi-choice.Â
-It is usually easy to work out which topics each question will be on from the content of the module. But donât rely on this. Some questions mix topics. Donât completely ignore one topic - Iâve had friends whoâve shot themselves in the foot by tactically revising to avoid a topic only to have it come up at the end of a question they could answer.Â
-I liked to quickly read all of the questions first and then decide which ones I was going to do. It was no point me doing Q1 if I could do the other questions more easily.Â
-Read the rules. Sometimes the exam is best 4 of 5 questions count etc (so you could do all 5 and the best 4 will contribute towards your grade. Sometimes itâs the first 4 questions you answer that countÂ
-If itâs the first option of the above point, sometimes itâs better to just focus on 4 questions and make them as good as possible instead of doing the 5th. Generally if youâre confident in the 4 youâve answered, focus on making them better in the time you have remaining. If youâre not, and you canât add anything to them, do the 5th.Â
-Donât be afraid to go to the toilet if you need to. Even if you donât actually need to go, sometimes getting out of your chair can help (if you have lots of time of course!) You might also get an idea, such is the way maths and inspiration go together.Â
-Have a water bottle, stay hydrated, especially if itâs a hot day.Â
-Wear comfortable clothing. Bring a jacket, but make sure you know the rules on keeping it on the back of your chair (we werenât allowed).Â
-Personally, I never left an exam early, even if I still had an hour remaining. You might remember something that youâd temporarily forgotten.Â
-Take your time, read questions carefully, as time passes donât get sloppy with showing your method.Â
-You donât have to do questions in order. For me, I started with something I was very confident with to get me going, which wasnât always the first question!
-Be aware of the time. Trust me, 3 hours passes incredibly quickly. Donât let the length daunt you.Â
-Be organised. Say you leave space for a question you canât do, and you go back to it and figure it out, make sure you tell the examiner what page in your answer booklet youâve continued the question on.Â
-Eat before (and maybe after). Especially if thereâs a long walk from where you live to the exam location. If you can have food in the exam, it might be worth it. I liked Jaffa Cakes because theyâre not noisy to eat and donât smell.Â
I think thatâs all I can think of. Iâll add to it if I remember anything else that I found useful. Feel free to add to this!
