⏱️ Time Management & Exam Prep · Lesson 5 of 6
Test-taking strategies
Read the whole exam, budget time, multiple choice and essay questions.
The first 2 minutes
- Skim the whole exam
- Note point values and question types
- Budget time: minutes ≈ points (a 20-point question on a 100-point, 75-minute exam ≈ 15 minutes)
- Write down formulas or key facts you’re afraid of forgetting (a “brain dump”) if allowed
Multiple choice
| Answer first | Think of the answer before reading the options |
|---|---|
| Eliminate | Cross out clearly wrong options |
| Absolutes | “Always” and “never” are often wrong |
| Don’t overthink | Change an answer only with a clear reason |
| No blanks | Guess if there’s no penalty |
Essay questions
Underline the task word (compare, explain, evaluate, analyze). Spend 2–3 minutes outlining: thesis + 3 points with evidence. Write the thesis in the first sentence. A clear, organized answer beats a long, rambling one.
Problem-solving
Show your work for partial credit. Write the formula, plug in values with units, and box the answer. Stuck? Skip it and come back — and check units and whether the answer is reasonable.
Tip
💡 Save 5 minutes at the end to check for unanswered questions, especially on the back of pages.
✏️ Practice: your turn
- Take an old exam and budget time by points before starting
- Do 10 multiple-choice questions using elimination
- Outline an essay answer in 3 minutes
- Show full work on 3 problems with units
🧠 Quick quiz
Answer all 4 questions correctly to mark this lesson as done.
0 of 4 correct
All lessons in Time Management & Exam Prep
- 🗓️ 1. Plan the semester from your syllabiEvery deadline in one calendar in week one
- 📆 2. A weekly schedule that worksTime blocks, the 2-for-1 rule and protecting sleep
- 🐢 3. Beating procrastinationWhy we delay, the 5-minute start and implementation intentions
- 🗺️ 4. A study plan for midterms and finalsWork backward from exam dates — with the study planner
- 📝 5. Test-taking strategiesRead the whole exam, budget time, multiple choice and essay questions
- 🌿 6. Stress and test anxietyPreparation, breathing, reframing and when to get help