General Tips
Exam Day Guide
The Day Itself
You've prepared for months. Now it's time to perform. Here's how to make exam day go smoothly.
☀️ Morning Routine
Wake Up:- Allow plenty of time — rushing increases stress
- Have a proper breakfast (brain needs fuel)
- Avoid too much caffeine
- Porridge or cereal
- Eggs and toast
- Banana and yoghurt
- NOT just a sugary drink
📍 Getting There
- Arrive early: At least 15 minutes before
- Know the logistics: Where are the toilets? Which room?
- Find your seat calmly: Don't rush
- Bubble wrap: Avoid friends who stress you out with last-minute questions
✅ Final Checks
- Equipment in clear bag
- Calculator working
- Candidate number (if needed)
- Spare black pen
The First Five Minutes
When the invigilator says "Begin", follow this 5-step launch plan:
1
Don't panic — take a deep breath. Everyone else is nervous too.
2
Read the instructions on the front cover carefully. Check page numbers.
3
Scan the paper — flick through to see what topics are coming up.
4
Identify confident questions — circle the ones you know you can crush. These are your "bank".
5
Start strong — do a question you are confident with first to build momentum.
During the Exam
⏱️ Pacing
- Roughly 1 minute per mark (80 marks = 80 minutes)
- Check the clock periodically (every ~5 questions)
- If you're spending too long on a question, move on
🧠 When You Get Stuck
- Mark it and return later
- Your brain will work on it subconsciously
- Don't waste 10 minutes on a 3-mark question
After the Exam
✅ DO
- Take a breath — it's over
- Talk to friends if it helps
- Focus on your next paper
- Do something relaxing
❌ DON'T
- Obsess over what you got wrong
- Compare answers with everyone
- Calculate your predicted grade
- Let one paper affect the next
🚑 Emergency Situations
If you feel unwell:
Tell an invigilator immediately. You may be able to take a short break.
If you misread a question:
Don't panic. Cross out neatly and redo if you have time. Examiners ignore crossed-out work.
If you run out of time:
Write key points quickly. Show formulae you would use. Bullet points get method marks!
You've Got This!
Remember: Exams reward effort and method, not just final answers. One question doesn't define your result.