Writing an exam and passing goes beyond mastering your topics and writing good responses to answers.
More often than not, students end up engaging in all manner of activities that lead to time-wasting. Let us take a critical look at some of these avoidable time-stealing acts and how to avoid them in the exam hall.
Time-wasting activities in the exam hall
#1. Writing out the question
In the examination hall, it is wrong to rewrite the question before answering it unless the question contains a table or a sketch that you have to reproduce to be able to answer the question. Students who spend precious time in the exam hall rewriting the entire question before answering it only waste their time and get caught up in the net of insufficient time.
Exam Pass Tip:
Do not copy the question onto your answer booklet before answering. Only write the exact question number, then indicate the sub-question you are answering, followed by your answers. any
#2. Writing out multiple-choice answers
In final examinations such as the BECE or WASSCE, students are required to take objective tests; hence, this may not be a challenge. However, students should master the art of shading and do it fast each time they have to shade with accuracy. If, for some reason, the objective test questions are not to be shaded but written, find out if you are to write the letters that correspond with the correct answers alone. Writing the letters will ensure you save time for answering other questions.
Let us assume the question you are about to answer is Q3 (B): Explain how photosynthesis occurs
To avoid time-wasting activities in the exam hall: Boldly write question numbers before answers. E.g., Q3 (B), then provide the answers. Do not write things like Question No. 3 B or copy the entire question like Q3 (B): Explain how photosynthesis occurs before you answer it.
#3. Pointless Definitions
When marking BECE and WASSCE section B answers, we notice students write a lot of pointless or meaningless explanations as definitions. They keep winding and winding around the answer expected by the examiner. The basic rule that “if you cannot explain yourself in simple terms, you do not know it” is valid here. Definitions must be precise and straight to the point.
Exam Pass Tip: Learn how terms are defined and learn to support them with at least one example if possible. Practice writing your definitions several times and practicing verbally before the examination. This way, you will avoid the merry-go-round approach, which compels you to spend so much time just writing a simple definition.
#4. Lazy answers, which are mark-gifting answers
Students waste precious time in the exam hall when they write incomplete answers. Such answers do not only lead to you scoring low marks, but they also lead to a waste of time. If the answers are not well written, you are more likely to finish attempting the questions and have so much time to waste.
This can be seen when students, instead of writing answers or reading through their answers, take delight in sketching and writing “useless facts” on their question papers just to waste time in the examination hall.
Exam Pass Tip: Write answers that will earn you all the marks allocated to the question you have answered. Lazy answers, which are mark-gifting answers, are often just a few words long. Understanding the terms used in the question and the marks assigned can help you know the kind of answers expected of you.
#5. Sentences that provide no additional information
Let us assume you are answering a question like this in social studies: State 2 benefits of rivers to Ghana
If your answer is “It provides protein to Ghanaians,” and this answer is followed by explanations like this, “Ghanaians like kenkey and fish, and this is an important meal in Ghana. Eating Kenkey without fish is not always nice; hence, Ghanaians prefer to eat it with fish and pepper.” These are all time-wasting activities in the exam hall that steal your limited time.
You will agree with me that writing all those irrelevant sentences does not add any value to your answers. Avoid lengthy, useless sentences in your essays and answers.
READ: 7 Secret Methods for Studying And Passing An Exam
Look at a better answer to the same question.
Exam Pass Tip: Rivers like the Pra and Volta provide Ghanaians with fish, which is an important protein source in our meals.
#6. Plan your answers through brainstorming.
Brainstorming the answers to questions is the practice of thinking through and listing the points to be explained before starting the actual answer on the answer booklet.
This activity helps students avoid wasting time in between the writing of answers and thinking of points to raise.
While brain-storming in between answers cannot be avoided, doing the main one before answering reduces the time wasted rethinking all over again after each point is explained.
Extra Tips:
- Do your best to provide explanations with examples to support them.
- Work on your handwriting, presentation, or arrangement of facts.
- Make sure you read through your work and avoid poor spelling and grammar.
- Check your work and always ensure answers that demand some units of measurement are taken care of to avoid losing marks.
READ: GES Releases Calendar For 2024 WASSCE Candidates
It is hoped that this post on “How to Avoid Time-Wasting Activities in the Exam Hall” will go a long way towards helping you save time in the exam hall. The time you have can be used to read through your answers and make corrections.