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Revision & Exams: Exam strategies

Exam Strategies

Plan your exam - Time management

Look at the exam guidelines provided by your lecturer and plan your exam:

  • What is the total time?
  • How much time should I be giving to each section? - you might want to consider weighting and type of questions (e.g., more marks might correspond to more time)
  • Try to plan for time at the end to revise (e.g., do not wait for the 5-minute warning from the invigilator

This information can be used to create a planning table to organise and manage the time efficiently during your exam. For example:

 

Exam duration: 60 minutes

Section Question type Number of questions Marks per question Time per question Total time for section Revising time
1. MCQs Multiple-choice 30 questions 1 question 1 minute 30 minutes 5 minutes
2. SAQs Short-answer 4 questions 15 marks 5 minutes 20 minutes 5 minutes
Total time:         50 minutes 10 minutes

 

Understanding the question

 

Analyse the question:

1. What content or knowledge have you been asked to express? 

Look for key words that highlight the main topic and any specific focus areas or limits within that topic.

2. How have you been asked to present your knowledge?

Look for task words or instruction words that explain how you are expected to answer the question.

For example: 

Question: Describe the effect of staffing levels on ICU patient recovery

What?

·  Topic words: "effect of staffing levels"

·  Limit words: "ICU patient recovery"

How?

·  Instruction word: "describe"

Here is a list of common instruction words you might encounter in exam questions:

 Instruction Word   Definition
Analyse Break down the topic into parts and explain how they relate to each other.
Compare Identify similarities and differences between two or more subjects.
Contrast Highlight the differences between two or more subjects.
Critique Provide a detailed analysis and evaluation of the topic.
Define Provide the exact meaning of a term or concept.
Describe Give a detailed account of the topic.
Discuss Explore the topic from different angles, presenting various arguments and perspectives.
Evaluate Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the topic.
Examine Investigate the topic thoroughly.
Explain Make the topic clear by describing it in detail.
Illustrate Use examples to explain or clarify the topic.
Justify Provide reasons and evidence to support an argument or conclusion.
Outline Provide a brief summary of the main points.
Summarise Give a concise account of the main points, omitting details.

 

Rephrase the question

Begin your response by repeating some of the key terms from the question. This will not only help you stay focused, but also make it clear to the marker that you are actually answering the question.

For example:

Question: Explain how enzyme inhibitors work and provide an example.

Answer: Enzyme inhibitors work by... For example, ...

Structuring Short Answers 

 

  • A simple option would be following the structure of the question. For example:

 

Question: Describe the process of photosynthesis and provide an example of a plant that performs it.

[Describe the process] Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy in glucose. It involves two stages: the light-dependent reactions, which produce ATP and NADPH while releasing oxygen, and the Calvin cycle, which uses ATP and NADPH to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

[Provide an example] For example, the common plant Spinacia oleracea, known as spinach, performs photosynthesis by using sunlight to create glucose for energy and releasing oxygen as a byproduct.

 

  • Another option is using the PEEL paragraph structure. For example:

P

Point (introduce and make the point – topic sentence)

E

Explanation (explains the main point – can be more than one sentence)

E

Example or evidence (evidence could be an example, quote, statistics or a paraphrase from a recognised source)

L

Link to the question (a kind of conclusion to the paragraph that links to the point)

 

Question: Describe the process of photosynthesis and provide an example of a plant that performs it.

[Point] Photosynthesis is the method by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

[Explain] This process involves two key stages: the light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle. In the light-dependent reactions, light energy splits water molecules, producing oxygen, ATP, and NADPH. The Calvin cycle then uses these energy carriers to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

[Evidence] For example, spinach (Spinacia oleracea) performs photosynthesis by absorbing sunlight to produce glucose for its growth and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.

[Link] Thus, spinach illustrates how photosynthesis not only sustains plant growth but also contributes to the oxygen supply essential for other organisms.

Structuring Essay-type (longer) Answers

 

Essay-type answers can be structured like any other piece of academic writing, including an introduction, a main body and a conclusion. 

Introduction Start with a brief introduction that addresses the question and outlines the main points you will discuss.
Main body Develop each point in its own paragraph using the PEEL structure. 
Conclusion End your answer with a concise conclusion that summarises your key points and reaffirms how they address the question.

 

How do I write clearly, concisely and precisely?

Plan! Spend a few seconds planning the structure of your answer, noting:

  • Your main point (the answer)

  • Use key technical terms from your field of studies that you’ll need to include/define

  • Supporting ideas and examples and the order you’ll use them in

  • Use plain language and keep your writing straight to the point. 

  • Use the words from the question in your answer to signpost your answer for the marker.

How to answer MCQs in 6 steps

 

  1. Start by reading the question but NOT the answers offered. Pause & think! See if you have an immediate answer in your mind. Then see if any of the answers fit this.

  1. Reword the question in your mind or on scrap paper if you are still not sure. You can flip the positive and negative to do this. For example: Which of these statements is correct? > Which of these statements are incorrect?

  1. Look for the ‘stem statement’ which links to each answer. For example:

 What is the name of the two main constituents of urine?

  1. Water and glucose

  2. Water and protein

  3. Water and red blood cells

  4. Water and urea

Therefore, you can turn this into a statement: “the two main constituents of urine are water and ________”

  1. Rephrase the stem as true/false. Rephrasing the stem into a true/false statement allows you to verify each option against this simplified criterion.

For example:

Original: The heart lies specifically in which space?

  1. Pelvic cavity

  2. Mediastinum

  3. Abdominal cavity

  4. Pleural cavity

Rephrased:

  1. The heart lies specifically in the pelvic cavity, true or false?

  2. The heart lies specifically in the Mediastinum, true or false?

  3. The heart lies specifically in the Abdominal cavity, true or false?

  4. The heart lies specifically in the Pleural cavity, true or false?

  1. Eliminate unlikely answers. By removing clearly incorrect options, you narrow down the possibilities and increase your chances of selecting the correct answer.

  1. Your last resort - If guessing is necessary, make an educated guess based on what you know, but only if there is no penalty for wrong answers. If there is a penalty, consider leaving the question blank if you're uncertain.

Further Reading