What to do the night before an exam 

  • Check the times of exams the next day - don’t assume or guess! 

  • Pack your bag and pencil case carefully; gather your pens, pencils, eraser, maths sets, calculator, coloured pencils, and markers. 

  • Don’t forget you can’t ask for these during the exam. 

  • Make sure to write in blue and black pens only: make sure you have these and spare pens packed. 

  • Go back over what your teachers told you with regards to layout of the paper and timing. When you go in the next day, you should know how many questions you must do on each paper and allow time for each one. 
     

What to do on the day of the exam 

  • Be organised: get up on time, give yourself plenty of time to eat breakfast, and get to school before 9am 

  • Wear your uniform, clothing should not be a distraction! 

  • Calm yourself before you begin - breathe! 

  • Focus: try to see the exam as a chance for you to prove what you know. 

  • Be smart: remember your exam paper has thousands of words on it which can give you clues, such as the right spellings to use for answers throughout the exam: use it to your advantage! 
     

What to do during the exam 

At the start of the exam: 

  • Read the questions with your pen in your hand and underline key things you must answer 

  • Present information well to maximise your grades - presentation is key. 
     

 

 

When answering questions: 

  • Read and check back over the question again to make sure you are answering exactly what is asked 

  • Remember to use diagrams in subjects where they are either required (such as on the Geography paper) or to add context to your answer 

  • Read back over your answers when you finish a section 

  • Stay the distance: each exam is timed for a reason, so don’t leave early. 

If you have spare time: 

  • Do an extra question; remember, all material must be corrected by the examiner 

  • Keep writing; you are permitted to extend and develop your answers by indicating on the paper what the extra information relates to (such as by writing “extra information for question 2”). 
     

 

If you are running out of time: 

  • Make a list of the remainder points you would include in an answer if you don’t have time to finish it in full 

  • List the points you would make if you are short an answer to a question: a few points are better than nothing. 

 

What to do after the exam:  

  • Stay on track. Try to not to discuss the exam paper with your fellow students: you are all different and comparing could lead to upset and could distract you from your next paper. 

  • Get something to eat and enjoy some fresh air.