Exam Guide

Leading up to the Exam
Preparation is the key here. Ensure you are fully prepared by following the guide below:

1. Ensure you know the exact location and time for each of your exams.

2. Make sure you know the examination board, centre number and your personal candidate number.

3. Arrive early – you can be refused entry to the examination room if you arrive late.

4. Take your exam slip with you.

5. Ensure you have all the necessary equipment. For example, if it is a maths exam make sure you have a calculator (if allowed) and protractor etc…

6. Take spares. Take more than one pen, one pencil etc.. into the examination room.

7. Prepare anything else you might need for the exam. For example, glasses, tissues, a watch (very important) and any prescription medicines.

8. Speak to your doctor if you are currently taking any prescribed medicine. Some things may make you drowsy during the exam. (particularly some hay fever cures).

9. Make sure that you eat prior to the exam. You will work a lot better with some food inside you.

In the Exam Room
Before you actually start the exam, make sure that you have considered the following points;

1. Listen very carefully to what the teacher in charge has to say. There may be a mistake on the examination paper that they need to advise you of.

2. Make sure that you are in the right exam room and have a copy of the correct exam in front of you. If you think something is not quite right tell the teacher in charge immediately.

3. Make sure you write your full name, candidate number and any other important information on EVERY answer page/ booklet.

4. Be aware of the total number of questions you have to answer within the set time. Check to see if there are any compulsory questions that must be answered.

5. Organise your time within the exam room properly – try and allocate time for every question that you need to answer.

6. Leave time at the end of the examination to check through all your answers, particularly for any mistakes you may have made.

Answering the Questions

1. Firstly, read through the entire exam paper and mark the questions that you feel confident about. You should attempt these first.

2. Before attempting to answer any question make sure you understand exactly what the question is about and answer with relevant notes. Far too many students see a phrase they understand and write everything they know on that given phrase without ensuring that the answer is relevant to the question.

3. Spend a few minutes at the beginning of each question planning your answer in rough. In maths exams you should show all your working out since you get marks for this. For all other exams you can show notes, unless you have been told otherwise.

4. Try and ensure that your spelling is always correct.

5. Always use a ruler to draw straight lines – presentation is important.

6. Always mark graphs and diagrams clearly. It is a good idea to do these in pencil.

7. Take more time with questions that award higher marks.

8. Present your work in a logical order – remember presentation is important (so important that we have told you twice!).

9. If you are hesitating over a reasonably short question then come back to it later.

10. ENSURE that your name and all other important details (candidate number and so on) appear on every piece of paper you hand in at the end of the exam.

GOOD LUCK !!!