TL;DR:
Spend the first few minutes scanning the paper, writing down what you might forget, and allocating time by points.
Start with a question you are confident about to settle your nerves and collect early marks.
Only write notes on the paper if your teacher's rules allow it.
The bell rings, the paper turns over, and your mind goes blank. A formula you knew an hour ago disappears. You start on question 1, get stuck, spend twelve minutes on it, and notice with horror that the last section is worth the most. The first five minutes can prevent all of this, if you use them on purpose.
Note: Some teachers do not allow writing before the official start, or want rough work in a particular place. Follow your teacher's rules about what you may write and when.
Why the start matters
The start of an exam is when nerves peak and when your plan is cheapest to make. Five minutes of planning costs little and prevents the two biggest time losses: spending too long on one question, and running out of time on valuable ones.
The steps
Breathe and read the instructions: Check how many questions to answer, whether there are choices and how marks are given.
Scan the whole paper: Note how many questions there are, how much each is worth and which look hard.
Brain dump, if allowed: Write down formulas, facts and mnemonics you worry about forgetting, on the paper you are allowed to use.
Allocate time by points: Give each section time in proportion to its marks.
Start with a confident question: Collect early marks and settle your nerves.
Worked example: scanning, writing down formulas, planning time
Say the exam is 60 minutes with three sections: A has 10 short questions worth 20 points in total, B has 4 questions worth 40 points, and C has 2 long questions worth 40 points. The total is 20 + 40 + 40 = 100 points.
Scan (1 minute). Notice that C is heavy and has only two questions, so each is worth 20 points. Notice that B question 3 looks hard.
Brain dump (2 minutes). If allowed, write the formulas you are afraid to lose. For a physics test: v = v₀ + at, x = x₀ + v₀t + ½at², v² = v₀² + 2aΔx, ΣF = ma, KE = ½mv², PE = mgh. Once on paper, they stop being a worry.
Allocate (2 minutes). The setup used 5 minutes, leaving 60 − 5 = 55 minutes. Divide in proportion to points. That is 55 ÷ 100 = 0.55 minutes per point.
Section | Points | Minutes (points × 0.55) |
|---|---|---|
A (10 short) | 20 | 11 |
B (4 questions) | 40 | 22 |
C (2 long) | 40 | 22 |
That gives about a minute per short question in A, 5.5 minutes per question in B, and 11 per question in C. Write the target finish times in the margin, such as "A done by 16 min, B by 38 min, C by 60". If you reach a time and are not done, move on.
Start. Begin with the question you are most sure of, even if it is not question 1. A quick win lowers your heart rate and gives you marks in the bank. Then work through the paper by points per minute, not just in order.
Handling nerves
If your heart is pounding, slow your breathing for a few breaths: in through the nose for four, out for six. It is a simple way to settle down before you read. Remind yourself that you have a plan, and the plan starts with a small, doable action. The aim is not to feel calm. It is to be able to work while feeling nervous, which is the normal state in an exam.
When you hit a hard question
Mark it, skip it and come back. Give it a fixed time. Often the next question jogs your memory. If you have not made progress in your allotted time, write down what you do know, as partial work often earns credit under many marking schemes, and move on.
Practising the routine
Rehearse the first five minutes on a practice paper at home, with a timer. You will find that the scan takes a minute, the brain dump two, and the allocation two. The second time you will do it faster. By the real exam it is a habit, and a habit is easier to run on a nervous morning than a new plan.
What to leave out
Reading every question word by word in the first five minutes. A scan is enough.
Rewriting the whole of your notes. Only write what you will forget.
Looking around at what others are doing.
Spending time on a perfect plan. Close enough is fine.
Mistakes to avoid
Starting question 1 immediately with no idea how long the paper is.
Spending more minutes on a question than its points are worth.
Leaving the heavy section for the last two minutes.
Writing on the paper before the official start when that is not allowed.
Never checking the clock.
Your plan for this week
Practise the five minutes on your next quiz.
Write the allocation table for a past paper and see how it feels.
Decide your brain dump list ahead of time, and rehearse writing it from memory in two minutes.
Afterward, note whether you finished on time and adjust.
Frequently asked questions
What if the exam has choices?
Count the questions you must answer and allocate time for those only. Choose early, because changing your mind late wastes time.
Is it bad to skip questions?
No. Skipping and returning is a good tactic, as long as you mark them clearly so you do not forget.
Get started
