Useful guidance on how to approach the English exams - also appropriate for all exams

1. Exam Techniques
Check day, time and location of your exam!
Be rested, have breakfast and be hydrated
No phones
Take all of your equipment 2 pens, highlighters
Listen to the exam instructor’s instructions
Be sure you time each question and you know exactly how long
you have for each question. If you exceed your time, stop and
move on. Be ruthless on this point.
Be calm…. read the bold words and read the questions several
times ....highlight the KEY words.
Take note of the instructions and marks awarded.
Decide on your reading approach –e.g. read once in depth then
once to scan for techniques or read only once but read for
meaning and techniques simultaneously… you need to be used
to the technique that suits you.
Read the whole text to the very last sentence. Remember the
first sentence in the paragraph tells you what it’s about. This
sometimes applies to the last sentence too.
Are you going to proof read as you go or at the end? Leaving
this to the end is risky. Cross out neatly.
Write on the exam insert booklet, highlight & annotate.
Take out the staple of the insert booklet so you don’t have to
keep flicking back and forth.
Write for purpose and audience.
Ideally do a very limited plan (3-5 mins) for section B, use it to
plan your paragraphs and then stick to the plan. Writing
straight from your thoughts with no plan is tricky to do.

2. Remember to use the techniques you know. Triples, RQs,
emotive language, facts, opinions … (ARIPEFOREST)
Memorise a handful of discourse markers and ensure that you
use them. E.g. however, additionally, in conclusion, finally.
Use your revision guides for advice.
Don’t think everyone else is doing better and writing more than
you are.
Some people read the questions first. Is that what you will do?
Consider doing question 4 (high marks) first, then 3, 2, and 1.
Consider doing section B first…...