1. Surviving the exam Exams
Go to to download the slides for this session.
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

2. What to take in with you
Six steps to surviving the exam
Strategies for answering different questions

3. What to take in with you In a clear plastic bag or ziplock bag
Student ID Card (or other photo ID if you do not have a student ID card)
Several pens that work for exams
Highlighter
Calculator and other permitted equipment
Clear plastic water bottle
No food
If open book, text and permitted notes
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

4. What to take in with you Sense of calm Sense of confidence
Think positive
Remind yourself of what you do know
Avoid panic
Find the exam room ahead of time, check the time
If you are feeling stressed, try breathing in and out slowly – it works!
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

5. What to Expect: The Exam Room
You will be allowed in 15 minutes before the start
Time to get settled
Listen to the instructions
10 minutes reading time
Desks are allocated according to papers, not people
Likely to be several different papers being examined at the same time
Clock clearly visible
On the desk
Exam paper/s
Answer booklet

6. What if... What if I go blank? What if I get writer’s cramp?
Distract yourself: take a sip of water, change position
Relax: take some deep breaths
Free writing: brainstorm ideas on a blank piece of paper
If these techniques don’t help, move on to the next question
Practice writing before the exam
Try gripping your pen loosely (or using a fatter pen)
Put your pen down and flex your hand in between questions
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

7. Six steps to surviving the exam
During the ten minute reading time
Step 1:
Check the exam paper
Step 2:
Read and re-read the instructions
Step 3:
Allocate your time
Step 4:
Choose your question order
At the start of the exam
Step 5:
Memory dump
Step 6:
Start writing

8. During the 10 minute reading time
Check the exam paper
Are you in the right room?
Does your exam have all the pages it should have?
Can ask the invigilator for a blank piece of paper
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

9. During the 10 minute reading time
Read the instructions
How many questions do you have to answer?
are all sections compulsory or do you get to choose from different options?
check for words that indicate options (“either”, choose two”)
Check for other specific instructions (“all working calculations must be shown, etc.)
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

10. During the 10 minute reading time
Allocate your time
You want to complete all the compulsory questions
You don’t want to run out of time
Allocate your time for each question based on:
how much it is worth
the type of question
whether the section is compulsory
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

11. During the 10 minute reading time
Allocate your time
One way is to turn the marks the section is worth, into the percentage of time you’ll spend (e.g, a section worth 60 marks, spend 60% of your time)
But remember that multiple choice often take less time (another option is to allocate 1 minute for each question).
Remember too, that you might: plan, write, and check. (If you have 45 minutes to write an essay, you might: brainstorm points for five minutes, write for 35 minutes, and spend 5 minutes at the end checking what you’ve written).
Allocate your time is so that you can move from question to question and get through the entire exam
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

12. During the 10 minute reading time
Choose your question order
If you can, consider deciding what order you are going to complete your questions
It’s a good idea to attempt the questions you feel most confident about first
Can also choose which sections to answer first – do you want to write your essays first or last?
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

13. At the start of the exam Memory dump Start writing
Write down all the information you can remember for the questions you are answering
Start writing
Don’t leave until you have checked your answers and attempted the right number of questions
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

14. Strategies for answering questions
Essays
Multiple-choice
Short answer questions
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

15. Essays Choose the questions you will answer during reading time
During the first 5 minutes write down the relevant points you can remember (if you haven’t done this during the memory dump)
No need to provide references
do acknowledge theory and research using relevant names

16. Essays Understand the question
examine keywords and command words
understand what aspect of the topic you’ve been asked to write about
For the structure of the essay, follow the structure of the question
develop a thesis statement from the question and include it in your introduction
As a general rule: one paragraph = one point
supported by an example, explanation, evidence
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

17. Essays
Example Question: In this essay, identify and describe both the institutional and the personal bases of the power of the New Zealand Prime Minister.
“New Zealand’s Westminster system of government means there are core institutional bases of power for the Prime Minister, however, there are also crucial personal bases of power”.

18. Multiple choice
2. According to Cantor and Harlow, successful problem solving requires:
1. self-regulation.
2. clearly defined behavioural plans.
3. a personal value system.
4. constant feedback.

19. Multiple choice Do not read through the test during reading time
If the correct answer looks obvious, still check to make sure
Read the questions carefully and highlight key words
Go through and answer the easier questions first – come back to the tougher ones later

20. Multiple choice Try and choose the most correct answer Top two tips:
- Sometimes they all mostly right, but there is no “all of the above” choice
Top two tips:
Cover the answers and try answer the question yourself
Look at the options and choose the one which most closely matches your answer
Try eliminating answers you know are definitely wrong
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

21. Short answer questions
Keep your answers short
Usually a paragraph
Sometimes only 2 or 3 sentences (7 lines max)
Answer the question given
Think of what points, key words, phrases and ideas the examiner will be looking for
Don’t fall into the trap of writing everything you know
Be aware that short answer questions are sometimes allocated different marks
marks ranging from 2 to 6, for example

22. Short answer questions
Sometimes can fit this pattern:
Statement: answer to the question/definition/ description
Support: evidence/explanation, the why, the because
Apply: provide examples or case studies
Example: Name the three countries that are said to have ‘unwritten’ constitutions.
The three countries that are said to have unwritten constitutions are ***. This is because… For example…..

23. Short answer questions
Top three tips
Leave 1 or 2 lines after each answer in case you remember something else important later on
Stick to the time you have allocated
Keep your answers short, sharp and to the point

24. Open book and seen exams
For open book:
check what information you can take in with you
make sure you are familiar with the book and the material before the exam
you’ll need to be able to retrieve information quickly and efficiently.
don’t just copy from the textbook
For seen exams:
don’t try to memorise entire essays
practice writing a intro and conclusion, and leave the rest in plan form
Centre for Teaching and Learning (Manawatu), Massey University

25. As the exam proceeds… Check you are keeping to time
If one question is taking too long – leave a gap and move on
You are likely to get more marks by starting another question than adding to one that you have already written some information on
If time is very short – write an answer in brief notes.

26. Mini quiz What sort of question is it?
How would you go about answering it?

27. You would not expect covered in an exam seminar how to:
Answer essay questions
B) Prepare for the exam
C) Cook dinner
D) Be strategic in your response to multiple choice questions

28. Define the terms exam and panic, explaining how they can be differentiated (5 marks).
The term exam can be defined as a method for assessing the level of knowledge a student has about a paper or course.
The term panic can be defined as feelings of extreme anxiety often eliciting a “fight or flight” response.
Exam and panic can be differentiated in that while sometimes people experience them together, with careful preparation and good study habits, “panic” can be reduced to “productive stress”.

29. Why is calmness considered to be such a valuable commodity during an exam?
Calmness is considered to be a valuable commodity during exams for four main reasons: it aids memory, helps with the writing process, being relatively calm helps get you through if you’ve got more than one exam, and it increases your overall enjoyment of life.

30. Good luck with your exams!