1. Relax. "Examination Nerves" are your worst enemy.
  2. Before starting, quickly assess the entire exam paper.
  3. Make sure your writing is clearly legible.
  4. Number all answers corresponding to the question asked. Be sure to leave space between each answer so there is no possibility of confusion by the marker.
  5. Make sure you understand how the question should be answered. Ask yourself the following:
    1. Is the question asking for a simple yes or no?
    2. Did the question specify to give one or more examples?
    3. Does the question ask for an explanation?
    4. How many items does this question ask me to list?
  6. Always keep track of the time and REMEMBER to move on to the next question if you are stuck on an answer.
  7. Allow yourself some time to re-read and re-check the paper before handing it in.
Answering Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. Read the question and try to answer it BEFORE looking at the answers but make sure to look at all the answers before choosing. Do not just take the first "correct" answer you see.
  2. Read the question carefully and understand clearly what it is asking for. Some of the statements may be partly correct but only one will be entirely correct.
  3. Eliminate the obvious wrong answers: this narrows down the possibilities.
  4. Read the answers carefully – a word or two of a phrase can give a whole different meaning to an answer.
  5. Do not spend too much time on any one question. Put a question mark against any question you cannot answer immediately and go to the next question. Always keep track of the time and REMEMBER to move on to the next question if you are stuck on an answer.
  6. If the question asks you something you do not know, see if you can cross out any of the wrong answers before you guess.
  7. Do not keep changing your answer. Research has shown that changing answers on a multiple-choice question is neither good nor bad: if you have a good reason for changing your answer, change it.
  8. After you have finished the test, go back to those questions you passed over before. See if you can answer them now. Take as much time as you have. Never leave a test early, unless you are sure you have answered every question to the best of your ability. If you still cannot answer the question, then guess. You have a 25% chance of getting it right anyway; more if you can eliminate one or more of the wrong answers. Never leave a blank on a multiple-choice test.