You’ve worked hard all year and you know your stuff.

We get that, but we also know that a little extra advice is always welcome. That’s why we’ve put together this step-by-step run-down of things to keep in mind while you’re in an exam; little things that will help you get the most out of the time allowed.

We’re sure that you’ll do brilliantly in all of your exams – we’d just like to help if we can.

Good luck!

Step 1Arrive in plenty of time for your exam. Not only does this mean you have plenty of time to find where you should be, but you will also have time to relax before going in. You will always feel more nervous if you are late or almost late for the exam starting. Giving yourself enough time before it will help you feel better and remain focused.

Step 2You should know what you can take with you into each exam. Before you leave for the exam, make sure you have everything you need. If you know you have everything you will feel more prepared and at ease.

Step 3If you do steps 1 and 2 above, you can be confident that you are prepared and have everything you need, including enough time. You may still feel like you’ve forgotten something, but this will just be nerves and is totally natural. Just take a few deep breaths and have a drink of water. You’ve got this!

Step 4Make sure you go to the toilet before the exam, leaving enough time to get in and settled before the exam starts. Exams can be quite long and you don’t want to waste any time when you’re in it.

Step 5Once inside the exam and comfortable in your seat, the first thing to do is to read the exam instructions carefully. Make sure you know how many questions you need to answer and if you have any questions, ask a member of staff.

Step 6Read through all of the questions first. Take your time and make sure you understand what each question is asking and what is needed to answer them. A quick plan of how long it will take to answer each question could help you make best use of your time.

Step 7If possible, start with the questions you feel most comfortable with as this will help you to relax. If you are struggling to answer a question, don’t panic! Move on to the next question and come back to it later.

Step 8Make sure you answer the questions that the exam is asking, not the questions you were expecting or hoping for.

Step 9Be sure to leave space between your answers so that if you want to go back and add to one, you have the space to do so.

Step 10Make sure you leave yourself time at the end of the exam to check over your answers. Use every minute of the exam to your advantage. You’ve been given a certain amount of time – use it! And make sure you are happy with all of your answers before leaving.

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