Do you have an exam coming up with limited time? Are you given only 15 or 30 minutes to complete it? Do you feel like you won’t make it? In this article, you’ll find a series of tips to tackle these types of exams.
To tackle a time-limited exam, first, gather information about the exam. Then, practice with mock exams under the same conditions as the actual test. While doing so, practice quickly formulating your answers. On exam day, bring a watch, sit at the front, and make sure to secure your pass when it’s time to solve the questions. Never lose your calm.
Keep reading, and I’ll share more about how to pass this type of exam.
What is a time-limited exam?
A time-limited exam is one that must be completed in a short amount of time.
Throughout the years of your degree, you might encounter an exam where you need to solve problems in record time, like the fastest Olympic sprinter. This type of exam aims to assess how well you’ve absorbed the material being evaluated.
In other words, you’re given only 15 or 30 minutes to complete it. Although sometimes, these exams might last 2 hours, but with so much content that you need to solve it quickly.
Do you need to think too much to answer? Then you’re not ready for the exam. The goal is to have everything so clear that you can do it quickly.
7 Essential Tips for Taking a Time-Limited Exam
Let’s take a look at how you can prepare and tackle this type of time-limited exam.
1. Gather Information About the Exam
As I always say, collect all the information you can about the test you’re going to face.
In this case, if you know you’ll have limited time, it’s a good idea to focus on gathering details about how much time you’ll have and how you should allocate it, according to your professors. In other words, find out how long you should spend on each question.
2. Take Practice Exams
I already explained how to do this in the article Self-Assessment: Simulating a Real Exam. Ideally, you should take the time to see how quickly you can solve the problems.
Your goal will be the same as that of an Olympic runner: to reduce your time.
3. Aim to Automate the Solution
Obviously, you need to think through the problems, but it’s likely that some parts of them will be quite repetitive. In that case, you should aim to automate the solution so that it comes easily.
4. Bring a Watch to the Exam
You should always do this, but in this type of exam, more than any other, it’s essential. It will help you track how quickly you’re solving the problems and if you’re falling behind.
If possible, it’s a good idea to use a timer or stopwatch, but remember to turn off the alarm so it doesn’t ring during the exam.
5. Sit at the Front
Or wherever you think you’ll receive the exam first when the professors distribute them.
The logic is that if the professor hands out the exams from front to back, they should collect them in the same way. But you never know if this will be the case. Therefore, the best approach in these situations is to make sure you get the exam as soon as possible.
6. Ensure You Pass
Often, the professor who designs this type of timed exam doesn’t expect you to solve everything, but rather to focus on what you know, choosing the exercises to tackle wisely.
So, the idea is to start with the part of the exam that seems easiest and that you can solve the fastest. The rest should only be attempted if you still have time.
7. Control Your Nerves
It’s likely that at some point you’ll get stuck while solving. You may need to pause for a moment before continuing. During that time, it’s common to feel like the seconds are slipping away, as if you need to deactivate a bomb.
Don’t panic. That pause could be important to complete the exercise correctly. Remember, your goal is not just to complete the exercises, but to do them well.
Summary of How to Solve an Exam in a Short Time
Gather information about the exam by finding out how much time you’ll have to complete it. Practice a lot, take exam simulations, and aim to automate the problem-solving process. Bring a watch on the day of the exam and sit at the front. Control your nerves and try to secure a pass.
With these tips, you’ll be well-prepared to face the dreaded timed exam.
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