(i) When you get your paper, read it or scan it, to get an idea of what it is like. Turn over every page.

(ii) Pay special attention to the instructions at the beginning of the paper and for each separate section and question.

(iii) Decide on the questions you are going to answer. Don’t jump at a question because it looks easy, and don’t ignore a question because it looks difficult at first glance. Make sure you are doing all the compulsory questions.

(iv) Box the ’command’ or instruction word(s) and underline the key ‘topic’  words. (See section 6G again).

(v) Start writing soon if it helps to ‘unfreeze’ you.

(vi) Plan out the order in which you will do the questions. In general, you should plan to do your best question first. Remember your teachers’ advice.

(vii) Keep rigidly to the recommended time for each question/section. If you are not finished when the time is up, leave a blank space and go on to the next question. Remember. you generally get more marks for starting a new question than for finishing an old one.

(viii) Follow all the rules, given previously, for written work, and especially the guidelines for long essay-type answers -i.e. sketch an outline plan, etc.

(ix) Do your best to write legibly.

(x) At the end of the exam, when you are finished writing, check over answers carefully. Make sure you have numbered each answer clearly and correctly.

(xi) Make sure you are properly identified (exam number) on every separate page/answer books/’write on’ sections which you have to hand up.

(xii) If, at any stage during the exam, you get a little panicky, try the relaxation breathing exercise outlined above.