You’re almost there. You’ve worked really hard and the exams are finally here. Revision at this stage is probably just finishing touches. But there are a few tips to keep in mind the night before the exam and to take with you on the big day.
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Remember to read the question
I know, I know – this is a cliché. The easiest piece of advice to follow, and the easiest to forget in the moment. Sometimes we scan a question quickly, spot a few key words and make an assumption about how to answer without reading on. I can’t overstate this – please read the question to the end. Read it twice. There are clues in there. This is particularly important for questions with data and diagrams – make sure you understand what the chart or graph shows before starting on your answer.
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Remember they can only test you on what you already know.
The answer to the question can only be taken from what you already know, or the question itself. The exam board can’t and won’t draw answers from anywhere else. So yes, an application question (AO2) in A-level biology (for example) may involve an unfamiliar setting – I’ve never studied the lifecycle of fungus before. Why are they asking me about the lifecycle of fungus?! – but this is really just to test how you apply your knowledge.
Often questions are testing your ability to apply familiar ideas in unfamiliar settings. Oddly named cancer drugs, strange species names, enzymes we’ve never heard of. Here’s the good news – the answer has to be something you already know. If you’ve revised properly – and you will have done – the answer is in there somewhere. The unfamiliar context is a distraction, but your knowledge is flexible – it applies to examples you’ve come across before, and to those you haven’t.
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Find a question you like and answer that first.
The exam paper is yours, for a couple of hours at least. You can answer the questions in any order you want to. Flick through and find a question you like the look of – one you can answer confidently. This won’t be the same question for everyone – just pick the one you feel the best about to get you off to a good start.
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Skip low mark, high effort questions until the end.
Another strategy is skipping questions that require a lot of work for very little gain. Return to these later. Why spend five minutes on a calculation worth one mark when you could answer a five mark question in the same amount of time? Instead, use time you have left on poorly-rewarded questions. (For example, mathematics questions in A-level biology are notoriously high effort/ low marks – you can always put a star next to these questions and come back later).
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Write helpful notes and reminders as soon as the exam begins.
As mentioned above, once the clock starts the exam paper is yours to write on. You’re allowed to write all helpful notes, mnemonics, or perhaps formulae on the first page as soon at your time starts. So long as you write within the margins (avoiding the space that says “Do not write outside the box“) you can “mind dump” anything you want so you don’t have to remember it, allowing you to focus on the question in front of you.
(A-level biology students might do this with the Hardy-Weinberg equations, the taxonomic ranks, or the stages of mitosis. etc.)
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Remember examiners aren’t out to get you.
Really, they’re not. Exam papers are designed to challenge, but examiners (and question setters) are people too. They will give you the benefit of the doubt, they know it’s hard to write neatly when you’re against the clock. There is often flexibility in the mark scheme in the wording for the answers, and even alternative ways to get full marks (8 potential marks available for a 5 mark question, for example).
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Remember to use the question’s own wording in your answer.
The person who wrote the exam question likely also wrote the mark scheme to go with it, so using specific terminology from the question allows you to stay “on the same wavelength” as the examiner.
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What if I REALLY don’t know the answer?
Breathe. Read the question again. Is there anything in the question you recognise? A clue to a relevant topic maybe? Try not to focus on the number of marks, just aim for the first mark. Another will follow. Take the pressure off yourself and approach it step by step. If your mind is still blank, put a star next to the question and find another question that you feel more confident about. This boost in confidence may make things clearer when you come back to the starred questions later on.
(A-level biology students could look over some tips for how to answer questions describe and explain, application or evaluate questions. And some tips on avoiding losing marks in the exam)
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Remember exams are important… but they’re not everything.
Exams are a means to an end. They may provide the pieces of paper you need to do a course at University, or to get a job, but they don’t define who you are. If they go badly, you can sit them again, or choose not to. It might sound odd for a tutor to be advising this but most people find a way to do what they really want in life with or without exams. Think about what grade you want, but think harder about what you want it for. This might give you the motivation to dig deeper, or, if needs be, to find another way.
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Get some rest, if not some sleep.
Getting a good night’s sleep before a big day is always a challenge. But even if you don’t manage to drift off fully, it’s important to unplug and reset. Put the notes away, turn off any screens and close your eyes. Rest. Even if you’re still awake – take the pressure off yourself to get an “ideal” amount of sleep and focus on relaxing and breathing. Box breathing is a good for this – and is something you can do discretely during the exam too.
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Read the question again
It can’t hurt 🙂
Good luck in your exams!
Dr John Ankers is a writer and specialist online A-level biology tutor.
