After you sit an exam, take some time to review any problems you had so you can improve each time.
| Problems | Solutions |
| Felt rushed, may have been careless |
- Plan your time before you start. Monitor your progress
- Slow down. Use positive self-talk. Tell yourself that you have time, you can do this
- Leave 5-10 minutes at the end to check for mistakes
|
| Ran out of time |
- Skim over the exam first to get a feel for how it's structured and how many questions there are
- Budget time for each part or question. Give more time to questions worth more points
- Answer the easier questions first to help you build confidence
- Mark the questions you can't answer easily and come back to them later
- Don't spend too much time on a single question
- Keep an eye on the time as you go
|
| Couldn't remember, had a mental block |
- Put a mark next to the question and come back to it later. Another question on the paper may give you a clue
- Think of information related to the topic (another book by the same author, other muscles in the group). This may trigger an answer
- Don't beat yourself up about it. Stay positive
|
| Didn't understand instructions and didn't ask for help |
- Exam room supervisors are there to help. Don't be too embarrassed to ask
- If your lecturer or tutor is there at the start of the exam and you are unsure of a question, ask them. You could say it like this: 'I'm not sure how to interpret this question. Does it mean...?'
|
| Misread or misinterpreted the question, didn't think the answer through |
- Slow down and read the questions carefully
- Underline key words in the question to help you focus
- Write down your ideas before you write your answer
- Review the question and your answer before moving on
|
| Blanked out, felt very anxious |
- Being prepared will help calm your nerves
- Put your pen down and take some deep breaths. Concentrate on your breathing and try again
- Don't worry about what other students are doing during the exam. Don't look around. Stay focused on the exam paper
- Make a time to see a counsellor who can help you with strategies to ease anxiety
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