To avoid time wastage during maths exams, consider implementing the following strategies:
Read and Plan Strategically
Start by spending 5-10 minutes reading through the entire exam paper carefully. This initial overview allows you to:
- Gauge question difficulty
- Identify questions you’re confident about
- Plan your approach and allocate time for each section
Prioritize Questions
Tackle questions in a strategic order:
- Begin with questions you’re most confident about to secure easy marks early
- Leave more challenging or time-consuming questions for later
- Allocate time for each question based on its mark value
Show Your Work Clearly
Even if you don’t arrive at the correct final answer, you can still earn partial credit:
- Demonstrate every step of your calculation process to earn method marks
- Continue with correct methods even if an earlier mistake led to an incorrect answer, as you may receive follow-through marks
Use Time-Saving Techniques
- Employ mental math and estimation techniques to quickly eliminate unlikely answers
- Use shortcuts and memorized formulas when appropriate
- Write concise, bullet-point answers if running short on time
Manage Your Answer Sheet Efficiently
To avoid unnecessary delays:
- Request additional answer sheets before you finish the current one
- Maintain clear, legible handwriting throughout the exam
Leave Time for Review
Allocate the last 15-20 minutes of the exam for revision:
- Check if you’ve answered all questions
- Ensure answer numbers are correctly labeled
- Review calculations and correct any obvious errors
Remember, effective time management during exams is a skill that improves with practice. Regularly completing past papers under timed conditions is one of the best ways to enhance your exam time management skills.
