How to Manage Time Effectively During Exams - Step by Step Guide

Are you running out of time for exams or not having time for big questions? If yes, then you are not alone. Time management is a big challenge for most students in the exam hall. But with a few simple tricks and a little practice, you too can take control of your time and be sure to score well. This guide will teach you how to use time as your greatest weapon, from the moment you take your exam to the very last minute.

Before the Exam — Preparation

Most of the time management during exams actually starts before the exam. The more organized your preparation, the calmer and more confident you will be in the exam hall.

Create a Realistic Study Schedule

The first step in time management is to create a realistic study schedule. Divide the entire syllabus into small parts. Your aim should be to arrange the entire syllabus in such a way that each topic is well-revised.

• Backwards Planning: Start planning backwards from your exam date. For example, if the exam is after a month, keep the last week only for revision. The week before that is for practicing the difficult subjects. Thus set a specific goal for each day and week.

• Weekly Blocks: Choose a few topics each week. For example, you will study four important topics in a week. Allocate two to three sessions (ie, one for theory, one for problem solving) for each topic. The reading will be arranged in it.

• Color-code Your Schedule: Create a colorful schedule. Use a different color for each subject or task. This will make your schedule look attractive and easy to understand.

Practice timed tests & simulate exam conditions

The most effective way to prepare for a test is to practice against the clock. The more timed tests you take, the faster and more efficient you will be in the exam hall.

• Mock Tests: After completing the syllabus solve as many model tests or previous year papers as possible. In this case, take the exam for the same time as the original exam.

• Simulate Distractions: If possible, take the test in an environment with some noise, such as an exam hall. Keep the phone away, don't use any notes or books.

• Use a Checklist:

• Use the printed question paper.

• Set a timer.

• Do not use any kind of notes or books.

• Self-evaluate your answers after the test.

This exercise will teach you how to complete a paper within the given time.

Understand Exam Structure & Allocate Time Per Mark

You should have a clear idea about the exam structure before entering the exam hall. Understand the question type, marks and sections well.

1-minute per mark rule: This is a very common and effective technique of time allocation. This means you will spend 1 minute for every 1 mark question. For example, 10 minutes for a 10 mark question and 5 minutes for a 5 mark question.

You can create a simple time table based on these rules:

Remember, this is a general rule. Some of your questions may be completed quickly, while others may take longer. So it is wise to plan with some extra time.

During the Exam — Step-by-Step Strategy

Every step you take in the exam hall is important. The right strategy will free you from time pressure and help you score well.

First 5–10 minutes — read full paper & plan

Don't start writing as soon as the exam starts. The first 5-10 minutes are very important, as this time will set the stage for your entire exam.

1. Scan the entire paper: Quickly glance through the entire question paper. Identify which questions are easy and which are difficult.

2. Mark the easy questions: Mark the questions that you are sure of. Generally, solving these questions first will boost your confidence.

3. Allocate time: Allot an approximate time for each section. For example, if Section A carries 40 marks, allow 40 minutes and keep 10 minutes extra.

This plan will ultimately give you a guideline.

Attack Easy Questions First

From a psychological perspective, starting with simple questions is a very effective strategy. It has several advantages:

• Increase Momentum: You can build a good pace by answering simple questions quickly.

• Guaranteed Marks: You know for sure that these questions are correct, which will relieve you of stress.

• Build Confidence: Answering a few questions correctly in the beginning will boost your confidence, which is essential to tackle tougher questions.

Time Allocation Techniques (The 1 minute per mark)

The 1 minute mark rule is one of the most powerful time management tools in the exam. This helps you stay within the time limit for each question.

• The 7-8-9 Rule: Many examinees use this simple rule. This means, for every 100 marks of examination:

• Allocate 75-80 minutes for big questions.

• Allocate 10-15 minutes for medium questions.

• Allocate 5-10 minutes for short-answer questions.

• Keep the last 10-15 minutes for revision.

This rule will help you move forward in a structured way.

Here is an example of time allocation for a 3-hour exam:

Handling Long Essay Questions — outline & write

Big essay questions are often the most time-consuming and intimidating for students. Here's an effective strategy:

• Quick Outline: Before you start writing, make a 5-minute plan. Write down the main points of your answer (introduction, main argument 1, main argument 2, conclusion) in a short outline.

• Time Boxing: Allocate a portion of your total time to planning and the rest to writing. For example, for a 30-minute essay, 5 minutes planning, 25 minutes writing.

• Proofread: After finishing writing, be sure to keep 5-10 minutes for revision. Check for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors or any other errors.

If You Get Stuck — move on & flag

If you get stuck on a question, don't panic. This is very normal.

• Flag and Move On: Mark that question with a pencil and move on to the next question. It will not waste your precious time.

• Return Strategy: When you have an extra 10-15 minutes, come back to these marked questions.

• Educated Guesses: If you absolutely cannot answer a question, the best way is to write something down. According to experienced teachers, writing something has a chance of getting at least partial marks, which is much better than not writing anything at all.

After your exams, easily calculate your results with our free tools and download your marksheet. Available calculators:

• SSC GPA Calculators

• SSC GPA Calculators

• NU GPA Calculators

• CGPA Calculators

Study Techniques and Time Management Methods

You can use various techniques while preparing for the exam. Two of the most popular techniques are: The Pomodoro Technique and Time blocking

Pomodoro Technique — pros & cons

The Pomodoro Technique involves studying in short 25-minute sessions, with short 5-minute breaks in between. After four sessions, take a longer break (15-30 minutes).

• Pros: It is very effective in increasing concentration, especially when you have to memorize a lot. Taking frequent breaks reduces fatigue.

• Cons: It may be slightly less effective for deep problem solving or long writing. Attention can be somewhat distracted due to frequent breaks.

Time Blocking — pros & cons

Time blocking is allocating a specific task to a specific time period. For example, from 10 am to 12 noon, you will only solve math problems.

• Pros: It is best for deep work. It helps you stay focused on a particular subject for a longer period of time.

• Cons: If one of your tasks is not completed within the stipulated time, then the whole schedule can be messed up.

Which one is better? Many academics suggest a hybrid model. Plan your whole day with time blocking (eg: 9-11 am: Maths, 11-1: Physics). And use the Pomodoro technique while studying between each block.

Tools, Apps and Digital Helpers

There are many useful tools and apps for time management in the digital age.

• Google Calendar/Notion: You can use them to plan your exam schedule and daily work. You can create specific blocks for each task and set notifications.

• Forest/Toggl: These apps will help you stay focused. In the Forest app, a virtual tree will grow as you study. If you use the phone, the tree will die. Apps like Toggl can track each of your work hours, which will help you analyze your time management.

• Exam-specific timer apps: These apps help you track time in exam-like environments.

Setup Recipe: Create a 'Maths: Problem Solving' block for 2 hours using Google Calendar and turn on notifications.

Special Cases — Online Timed Exams & Technical Issues

Time pressure is more in online exams, as there are chances of technical errors.

• Backup Plan: Have an alternate plan for what to do if the internet connection or power goes out. For example, keep a backup internet connection or power bank ready.

• Take Screenshots: If there is any technical problem, then take a screenshot. This will serve as proof of your problem.

• Browser Check: Check your browser settings and compatibility before starting the test.

• Extra Time Policies: If you are sick or need extra time for any reason, contact the authorities in advance.

Practice by taking a mock online test on the platform where you will be taking the exam 48 hours before the exam.

Psychological Tips — Stay Calm, Avoid Panic

A big part of time management is controlling your state of mind.

• Breathing Exercise: Whenever you feel nervous before and during the exam, take deep breaths and exhale slowly. It will calm your mind.

• Micro-breaks: Pause for a few seconds after writing each answer. Stop looking at the clock and close your eyes once and start again.

• "Eat the Frog": This is a popular strategy. This means, do your hardest work early in the day. You can apply it during exam also. Answering the hardest or biggest questions first will make the rest easier.

• Avoid Multitasking: Don't try to multitask. After completing one task move on to the next.

A Dhaka University lecturer advises students that “I tell my students, don't be afraid of the exam hall. Write what you know calmly. Keeping at least 10 minutes for revision before the time is over is the key to your success.”

Quick Templates and Checklists

Here are some simple templates and checklists that you can download or print to use in your exam preparation.

3-step pre-exam checklist

1. Create a schedule: Make a realistic study schedule based on your syllabus and follow it.

2. Take Mock Test: Give at least two complete mock tests, clocked and unaided.

3. Understand the exam structure: Decide the question type, marks distribution and which questions to do first.

5-point in-exam checklist

1. Read the entire question paper first.

2. Solve easy questions first.

3. Follow the rule of 1 minute per mark.

4. Make a quick outline for longer questions.

5. At the end keep 10-15 minutes for revision.

Time allotment list for 3 hours exam

FAQs about Exam TIme Management 

What is the 7-8-9 rule for time management?

The 7-8-9 rule is a simple technique used primarily to divide exam time. According to this rule, about 70-80% of the total exam time is allocated to difficult or main questions, 10-15% to medium questions and 5-10% to short questions. The last 10-15 minutes are reserved for revision. This strategy helps you to answer the exam in a structured way.

How to do well on a timed exam?

To do well in a timed exam, you need to plan ahead of time.

• Practice mock tests.

• Use a clock in the exam hall.

• Divide the time according to the marks of the questions.

• If you get stuck, move quickly to the next question.

• Definitely keep some time for revision.

What are the 5 P's of time management?

5 P's of Time Management is a strategy that helps in managing time effectively. These are: Plan (plan), Prioritize (prioritize), Prepare (preparation), Perform (edit), and Progress (progress). These steps teach you to work in an organized manner.

What are the 7 steps of time management?

The 7 main steps of time management are: 1. Setting goals, 2. Planning, 3. Prioritizing, 4. Creating a work list, 5. Dividing tasks into small parts, 6. Identifying time wasters, and 7. Reward yourself after completing the task.

How to handle long essay questions in exams?

The most effective way to answer long essay questions is to create a quick outline. Take 5-10 minutes per question to create bullet points for the main points of the answer, such as the introduction, main argument, and conclusion. Then divide the time and start writing. This will make your answer well organized and relevant.

Conclusion

Educational research and the testing experiences of thousands of students have proven that the key to effective time management is to prepare well in advance of the test. It is very important to create a specific study schedule, practice by the clock, and set a specific time for each mark before sitting in the exam hall.

At the beginning of the exam, you should read the entire question paper carefully and identify the easy questions and answer them first. By following this general rule of 1 minute per mark, you can allocate time for each question and leave the last 10-15 minutes for revision.

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