Exam Preparation

Exam Tips

• Make sure you know the products, instruments and techniques covered in the syllabus
• Whenever possible, read round the subject - particularly current press coverage - to broaden your understanding
• Don't just read, think about the issues and use your own practical experiences
• If possible, study with others and discuss the issues as this can help identify and fill any gaps in your knowledge
• Test yourself by answering questions in the study packs
• If Examiner’s Reports are published, read them carefully as you could learn from the mistakes of others
• Make sure you are familiar with the calculator for your exam
• Check that you know where and when your exam takes place
• Make sure you read the exam day information
• Make sure your watch is working
• Make sure you have a good night's sleep
• Allow extra journey time: arriving in good time will make you feel less stressful
• Wear comfortable clothes, layers if possible, so that you can adjust your clothing to the temperature in the exam room

During the exam

• Listen to the Invigilators’ announcements
• If you are given an answer book, make sure you complete the personal details as instructed
• If you need to attract the attention of an invigilator, raise your hand
• Plan how much time to spend on each question. You can always come back to a question if you have time at the end. In multiple-choice exams, you normally have just over a minute per question. In narrative exams, the maximum points are given for each question and this is a good guide to how much time you should spend before moving on
• Read each question carefully and think before you answer! It is easy to overlook or misread a word and consequently make a silly mistake
• Write clearly. While you will not be judged on your handwriting, if the Examiner can’t read your answer, you can't be awarded marks
• CBT exam tips and techniques
• Narrative exam tips and techniques

At the end of the exam

• Allow some time before the end of the exam to read through your answers and correct any mistakes you spot
• Make sure you have completed all the necessary details on the answer book and that all your work has your candidate number so that it may be identified
• Hand all your papers to the invigilator. If you take papers away with you when you shouldn't have, you will be disqualified