So you've made it this far, and tomorrow is finally the moment of truth, the day of the exam. You've finished studying everything there is to be completely prepared for the big day. You've been planning, revising, and studying, but is there anything else you can do?

Regardless of how much you've prepared, it's likely that your exam results don't reflect the hours you've spent studying. That is why we want to give you some exam tips a few nights before to help you perform better on exam day.

Hours before your exam

Make sure you have a good night's sleep

This is, by far, the most crucial factor. You will think more clearly, recall better, and be better equipped to solve problems if you are well-rested. Don't stay up all night; you'll be tired, anxious, and cranky the next day. The best you can do is to stay alert.

Arrive in a good time

Check the venue and time of the exam to make sure that you have not confused the day/time/venue.

Bring all the materials you need

Pack your bag the night before, including your student ID and stationery, to make sure you have everything. For an open-book exam, bring your materials neatly organised; a pile of notes isn't useful but effective organisation is i.e. notes in thematic, topic-based, chronological order, etc. Bring enough pens with you so you wouldn’t panic when one one runs out at the most critical moment.

In the exam

It’s OK, don’t panic

It's fine to be nervous when taking a exam, but try not to panic. You won't be able to concentrate if you're too anxious. However, if you are too lax, you will not be focused. The ideal level of stress is somewhere in the middle; it keeps you alert and allows you to think clearly and effectively. Here are somethings you can do:

Take a few deep, long breaths.
Relax your shoulders, hands, face, and jaw as you slowly exhale.
Stay calm for a few moments, then go back to your work, but more slowly and smoothly.

If your exam has a reading time, take advantage of it

Get a sense of how the exam will run as a whole. Before you begin, read over the full exam. This provides you an idea of what you'll need to do and how much time you'll have.

It is critical that you comprehend the questions. Read the instructions carefully and slowly, and think about what you're being asked to complete.

Look for keywords

Underline the keywords in short answer and essay questions if you are allowed to have a pen during the reading time. This will help you focus on answering the question when you come back to it later. Even if the exam does not have a reading period, read the questions for the first few minutes.

Pay attention to the instructions!

Make a plan for how you'll answer the questions.

Locate the 'easy' and 'hard' questions on your first read-through. Start with the easy ones, as answering the easy ones can boost your confidence and helps you remember things. This may assist you in remembering information for those "hard" questions.

Allocate your time

Examine how the marks are distributed as you read through the exam. The number of marks assigned to a question will indicate how much time you should allocate to it. In a 2 hour exam with 120 multiple-choice questions, for example, you should answer one question every minute. You might be able to answer some questions more quickly, allowing you to spend more time on the more difficult ones.

Use a similar system with essay answers. Look at:

the number of marks per question
how they are distributed
how many questions you have to answer.

Making a note of how much time you should spend on each question, including review time, can be helpful. Stick to your schedule after you've decided on it. Keep an eye on the clock, and when the time is up, stop and move on to the next question.

If you haven't done it yet, make sure to leave enough room in the answer booklet. You may find yourself answering questions faster than the time allocated. You can go back and answer it more thoroughly if you have time at the end (or during the revision session).

Don't get out of the exam too soon. Use any extra time to revise or think more closely about one of the more difficult questions. Make the most of your time—it'll be worth it.