Strategies for solving problems in exams

2. Exams are not about regurgitating facts from
lectures and texts like a robot. Instead you will need
to apply the facts you have learned.

5. GATHER MATERIALS to practice your exam
technique
old exam questions
sample exam questions
problem sheets
self study sheets
Here are some steps you can follow to help you practice
responding to the questions
1. Identify
2. Classify
3. Transform
4. Substitute
5. Compare

10. Comparison
Compare your result with solutions
to similar problems.
Does it look reasonable?
Is it in the right range or order of
magnitude?
5. Compare

11. More tips:
Classifying problems is a vital step in demonstrating your understanding of concepts, and
selecting solutions. Try to look at problems away from the lectures and textbooks, so you
don’t know what kind of problem it is. Old exam papers are an excellent source of ‘random’
problems.
Try to revise out of sequence so that you can access your knowledge without depending on
triggers, like the topic before and after. You could shuffle your revision notes and pick sheets
at random to revise, or follow a revision programme.
Early in your revision, start working through problems without notes, then correct and
complete them from your notes to see where you need more study.
Complete problems with other students, to gain from different insights into the problem.