Study skills
What is good exam technique?
Quick answer
Exam technique is the set of skills for answering the paper well on the day, such as reading questions carefully, using marks to plan time and checking your work.
In one sentence
Exam technique is knowing how to use your time and your knowledge to score as well as you can on the day.
Explained
Knowing your stuff is the main thing; that comes from revision with active recall and a good revision timetable. But many students lose marks they deserved by misreading a question, running out of time or not answering what was asked. Exam technique fixes that.
Read the question twice. Underline the command word and the key topic. "Describe" and "explain" are different jobs. Describe says what something is like; explain says why or how.
Use marks as a clock and a guide. Divide the time by the total marks to get minutes per mark. For an 80-mark paper in 90 minutes, that is just over a minute per mark, leaving a little time to check. Marks also hint at length: a 1-mark question needs a word or a sentence, a 6-mark question needs a developed answer.
Plan longer answers. Spend a minute jotting key points before writing. It stops you rambling or forgetting your best point.
Don't get stuck. If a question stumps you, mark it, move on and come back.
Check. Leave a few minutes at the end. Re-read answers, check units and calculations, and make sure you answered every part, including the back page.
Examples
| Command word | What it asks you to do | Example start |
|---|---|---|
| State / name | give a short fact | "Photosynthesis needs light." |
| Describe | say what happens or what it is like | "The graph rises steadily, then…" |
| Explain | give reasons | "This happens because…" |
| Compare | say how two things are alike and different | "Both… however…" |
| Evaluate | weigh up and give a judgement | "Overall, I think… because…" |
Command words and their exact meaning differ between exam boards and countries, so check the ones used for your exams.
Common mistakes
- Answering the question you hoped for. Answer the one on the paper.
- Spending too long on early questions. Watch the clock from the start.
- Blank answers. A sensible attempt can earn marks; a blank cannot.
- Skipping past papers. Practising real questions under timed conditions is the best rehearsal.
Quick quiz
Exam technique
Check what you know with 4 quick questions.
Question 1 of 4
A question is worth 2 marks. How much should you usually write?
Practise it
Try it
Try exam-style practice papers
For grown-ups
Related topics
Revision timetable
A revision timetable is a plan of what to revise and when. Good ones use short sessions, mix subjects, revisit topics after gaps and leave time for rest.
Active recall
Active recall means testing yourself by pulling information out of your memory, instead of rereading it. It is one of the best-supported ways to revise.
Growth mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can improve with practice, good strategies and help. A fixed mindset is the belief that you either have a talent or you don't.
Note-taking
Good notes are short, in your own words and organised so you can test yourself later. Methods like Cornell notes build in questions and a summary.
Spaced repetition
Spaced repetition means reviewing what you have learned several times with gaps in between, instead of cramming it all at once. The gaps help memories last longer.
Flashcards
Flashcards are small cards with a question on one side and the answer on the other. They work best when you answer from memory before you flip.