Exam Technique

1)    Show. Your. Working. (Always!)

You know that feeling when you get an answer wrong, but almost got it right? That’s where your written working comes in. Even if your final answer didn’t hit the mark, examiners are asked to follow your logic to see if they can still award you marks. Plus, with clear working, it’s easier to spot any mistakes you make in the moment!

2)    ‘Hence’ is a Hint.

Sometimes a question seems a little complicated to solve in an exam. Exam boards often use “hence” in a question as big flashing sign that means “use what you just worked out!”. Ignoring this hint can make the question much more challenging than the intended method (although sometimes not impossible).

(If you have no answer for the previous question, make one up (with a brief note) and write your workings from there – see tip #1!)

3)    Write Neatly (Honestly!)

Messy Writing = Lost Marks. When an examiner can’t read your working, they aren’t allowed to guess. If you make a mistake, neatly cross out your working with a single line and rewrite your answer below. Make their job easy, and they’ll find it easier to award you marks!

(One of our Tutors remembers years ago a teacher telling them that their handwriting looked like a spider had dipped it’s legs in ink and run across the page!)

4)    Highlight Keywords

We see so many students lose easy marks simply because they misread the question, or copied out the wrong number! Taking highlighters into the exam can help you identify the most important pieces of information whilst cutting out the filler words. Just remember to switch back to your regular pen to answer the question!

5)    Beat the Clock

Times flies when you’re having fun (…or just concentrating really hard!). For students who hope to answer every question, we recommend trying to aim for roughly 1 minute per mark. You don’t want to run out of time and find out there were questions later on that you would have found easier!

Some students also like to spend a few minutes at the start of the exam skim-reading questions. With some practice, this can be a great way to identify which questions you think will be easiest, and allocate your time accordingly.

If you’re worried about leaving a question half-answered, we recommend writing a small star at the top of the page. This way, if you have time spare at the end, you know which questions you can continue to work on.

6)    Cheat Sheet

If a formula sheet is provided for your exam, start studying with it now. This is the only material you can guarantee to have on the day, and it can be a great memory tool. Make sure you understand what each equation means, when to use it, and where to find it on the page. Not only can this help you save time, but you’ll be able to spot more easily when a question requires a formula that’s provided.

7)    Check Check and Check Again

Spotting mistakes in your own working is a superpower and can save you from surprises on results day. Here are our two best methods to find mistakes:

1.    Sanity Check. Does my answer make sense? If I’m calculating a speed, is it reasonable and positive? If the question talks about a small garden, is 200m for the length of a slide logical?

A sanity check doesn’t often highlight smaller mistakes, but getting into the habit of checking for logical answers can be a lifesaver.

2.    Systematic Work-Through. If you have time at the end of the paper, or your answer didn’t pass the sanity check, take some time to follow the logic of your own working. Check steps you might have performed in your head, and question the assumptions you made along the way.

Systematic checking takes longer, but is great at spotting smaller issues. If you’re tight for time, only systematically check answers with unreasonable results!

Revision Technique

1)    Start Now – Yes, Now.

This might seem obvious, but it’s one of the most common mistakes we see students make. Don’t wait until the last minute – even 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference in the long run, and we promise it will make a difference on the day.

2)    Past Papers

Nothing prepares you for the real thing quite like past papers. The more you do, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Exam boards often have their own common question styles, paper layout, and predictable questions, so becoming familiar with them can really help. 

Did you know you can also send in your past papers for us to mark? You don’t even need to be one of our students! Find out more here on our Services page. 

3)    Ask “Why”, Not Just “How”

To achieve the best grades, memorising simply isn’t enough. If you don’t understand why something works, you might struggle with the more complex mixed-topic questions. Teachers and Tutors love when students are thinking deeply enough to ask questions – if you’re stuck, just go and ask!

4)    Take Care of Yourself

Whilst it might seem counterintuitive, working day and night could be working against you. Sleep, food, and exercise matter more than you think. A tired brain struggles to focus and recall information, so in the lead up to exams, make sure to prioritise good sleep, healthy food, and fresh air! 

5)    Active Recall

Active recall involves deliberately trying to remember material, rather than simply (passively) re-reading it (for example, from a textbook). A huge amount of research has been undertaken on the topic of ‘learning how to learn’, with numerous studies hailing Active Recall as an efficient method to reinforce memory pathways. How can you practice this? Here’s a few ideas:

1.    Flashcards: Prompt yourself to recall formulas or explanations

2.    Summaries: After reading material, challenge yourself to summarise what you have learnt in your own words

3.    Peer Study: Challenge each other to explain an idea, method, or formula

4.    Blurting: Write down everything you can remember about a topic on a blank sheet, then compare it to your notes – what did you miss?

5.    Past Papers: We can’t stress this one enough!

Final Thoughts

Exams can be stressful, but with the right techniques and preparation, you can set yourself up for success. Remember to stay organised, practice actively, and take care of yourself in the lead-up to your exams. Small, consistent efforts will make a big difference when it matters most, trust us. 

If you have any questions, we'd love to chat. Drop us a WhatsApp on 07448 138633, fill in the contact form below, or email admin@bootstrapmaths.co.uk. We'll get back to you as soon as we can (remember to check your spam folder!). 

BootstrapMaths - Feb 2025