Sitting an exam soon?

December is a hectic month for most people but it's even more hectic when you have an exam to sit too.  Recently I've been helping some Chartered Institute of Marketing students get ready for their exams - I've been marking their mock exam papers!  Here are a few of my top tips.

1. Answer the question that has been set - don't make one up of your own as you don't get any marks for straying away from the question.
2. Watch the clock - look at the marks per question and work out how much time you have to spend on each question and then stick to it.  Don't get too carried away at the start and write very long answers and then don't have time to start the last question.
3. Make it look good - if you are asked for a report, make it look like a report by using bullet points, sub-headings, tables, diagrams and white space.  A report is different to an essay.
4. Attempt every question - even if you haven't a clue what to put in your answer, try to write something as you may get a mark or two for it.  Remember you may right!
5. Revise the whole course - don't try to spot questions and revise only limited parts of the course.
6. Use all your time - if it is a three hour exam, write/read for three hours.  Spending a few minutes proofreading at the end may stimulate extra thoughts which you could slot in.
7. Make sure that your writing is legible - don't write like a doctor's prescription pad!
8. Always write in the third person - instead of saying "I believe ...." , you should say "The company could ...."

If you have any other top tips, please let me know.  Otherwise all the very best in your December exam.