What to Do on Exam Day: A Checklist From Wake-Up to Walk-Out

By exam day, the studying is done. What remains is a short stretch of time in which clear thinking, calm and good habits can add or lose you marks. A few simple routines can protect your performance and keep nerves manageable.

This guide is a checklist from the moment you wake up to the moment you leave the exam room.

The morning

Wake up early enough

Set two alarms, and give yourself time to eat, dress and travel without rushing. Waking too late creates stress before you have even begun.

Eat and drink sensibly

Have a normal breakfast, with some protein and complex carbohydrates, such as eggs and toast or porridge with fruit. Drink water. Keep caffeine to your usual amount, since too much can raise jitters. Do not try new foods today.

Do a light warm-up

A short walk or some stretching clears your head. Many students also find a few minutes of slow breathing helpful. Avoid intense conversation about the exam.

A very light review, if you like

A glance at a one-page summary or a few flashcards can help you feel ready. Do not start new material or test yourself on everything. If review raises your anxiety, skip it.

What to bring

Check your list the night before, and again before leaving:

• photo ID and any admission card required;
• pens, with spares, and pencils if needed;
• calculator, of an approved type, with fresh batteries;
• ruler, eraser and other stationery allowed;
• water bottle, if permitted, and a light snack for after;
• a watch, since phones are usually forbidden and some rooms lack a clock;
• layers of clothing, for rooms that are hot or cold;
• permitted materials for an open-book exam, organized.

Know what is not allowed, such as phones, smartwatches, notes or bags, and follow the rules about storing them. Our guide to what to study the night before an exam covers preparation the evening before.

Getting there

Plan your route with extra time for traffic or transport delays. Aim to arrive 20 to 30 minutes early. Find your room, use the bathroom and settle yourself. Avoid standing around with anxious classmates discussing topics you cannot change now. Put your phone away or switch it off before entering, as required.

For online exams

Log in early, and check your setup:

• camera, microphone and internet are working;
• the room is quiet, well lit and tidy;
• the software is open and the exam link is ready;
• you know whom to contact if something fails.

Our guide to online exam proctoring explained covers what to expect.

When you sit down

Take a moment before you start.

1. Breathe slowly for a minute.
2. Read the instructions carefully, including how many questions to answer and any penalties.
3. Write your name and number where required.
4. Skim the whole paper, noting the marks and the structure.
5. Plan your time, writing down a rough schedule.

This takes a few minutes and pays for itself.

Plan the order

You do not have to answer questions in the printed order, unless told. A common approach is:

• start with a question you can answer well, to build confidence and marks;
• do questions worth the most marks with a fair share of your time;
• leave the hardest for later, but make sure you attempt every question.

For essays, spend a few minutes planning each before writing. Our guide to answering essay questions in exams explains how.

Manage your time

Time pressure is common. Keep control of it:

• write down the time you will start each section;
• allocate time by marks, roughly in proportion;
• check the clock at regular points;
• move on when you have used your time for a question;
• leave five to ten minutes at the end to review.

If you are behind, shorten your later answers, with brief plans or bullet points. A partial answer earns more than a blank.

Manage your mind

During the exam:

• If you panic, put the pen down, breathe slowly for 30 seconds and look at one thing on your desk. Then reread the question.
• If you blank, write down anything you remember related to the topic, even disconnected, then move on and return.
• If you read a question and feel lost, underline the key words, restate it and try a simpler version.
• If you notice others finishing early, ignore them. Finishing early does not mean doing well.
• Keep your focus on your own paper.

Our guide on how to stop blanking in exams has more techniques.

Answer carefully

Basic habits protect marks:

• read each question twice, and underline instruction words;
• show your working in math and science;
• write legibly;
• answer the question asked, not a similar one;
• use specific evidence in essays;
• number your answers correctly.

For multiple choice, read every option, and mark answers carefully on the answer sheet.

The last minutes

Use the final minutes well:

• read through your answers for errors and missing parts;
• check that every question is attempted;
• make sure your name and numbers are on every sheet;
• add a short conclusion if you ran out of time;
• do not make big changes unless you are sure.

Stop writing when told, and follow the instructions for handing in your paper.

After the exam

When you leave, take a moment to breathe and drink water. Avoid conducting a detailed post-mortem with classmates, since it rarely helps and often upsets people. If another exam is coming, shift your attention to it right away. If you feel you did badly, our guide on what to do after a bad exam explains next steps. Eat, rest and do something enjoyable before you resume studying.

If something goes wrong

If you are ill, have a sudden problem, discover a mistake in the paper or experience a disturbance, tell the invigilator right away. Write down what happened and when. Afterward, contact your institution about options, such as special consideration, extra time or a deferred exam, and keep evidence.

An exam-day checklist

• [ ] Two alarms set, up on time
• [ ] Ate breakfast and had water
• [ ] ID, pens, calculator, watch and permitted items packed
• [ ] Route and arrival time planned
• [ ] Phone stored as required
• [ ] Read instructions and skimmed the paper
• [ ] Wrote a time plan
• [ ] Started with a confident question
• [ ] Checked the clock regularly
• [ ] Left time to review
• [ ] Name and numbers on every sheet

Common mistakes

1. Arriving late and flustered.
2. Not reading the instructions.
3. Spending too long on one question.
4. Leaving questions blank.
5. Panicking when others finish early.
6. Skipping the final check.

The bottom line

On exam day, eat, pack, arrive early and read the paper before you write. Plan your time, start with something you can do, keep your breathing steady and leave time to check. A calm routine lets you show what you actually know.