Avoid these 5 mistakes when taking an exam

Here's a word of advice for students who want to go through SPM, swimmingly well. Here are the top things to avoid when taking an exam:

1. Starting with the most difficult question

Go through the entire question sheet before you begin and choose the easiest questions first. Starting with a difficult question can put you under mental stress, and lose out on time to later realise that you have little time left for the remaining questions. On difficult questions, eliminate as many incorrect answers as you can, then make an educated guess among those remaining.

2. Missing out important instructions

Always carefully read the instructions or directions for each test. If something isn't clear, you can always raise your hand and ask the examiner for some clarification.

3. Forgetting to answer the question

Always check your paper before you submit. This is necessary to make sure you have not missed out on something small such as drawing a graph or something major such leaving a question unanswered or worse, forgetting to write your matric number. If you complete a test before time is called, recheck your work on that test.

4. Arriving late to the exam hall

Always set your alarm clock so you don't oversleep. Being tardy could mean that you may not be allowed to sit for exam. And even if you're allowed to, being late can cause you to stress out.

5. Transferring answers incorrectly from scratch paper

The most frustrating mistake for students is having an answer correct on the scratch paper, but transferring it wrong to the test. This frequently happens in maths. Remember to double check any work you transfer from a scratch sheet.