{"id":1406,"date":"2025-01-08T08:00:31","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T08:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/?p=1406"},"modified":"2025-01-03T11:34:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T11:34:24","slug":"preparing-for-in-person-exams-part-3-maths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/01\/08\/preparing-for-in-person-exams-part-3-maths\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing for In-Person Exams Part 3: Maths"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Some people hate exams. Some people love them (yes, seriously). Either way, m<span class=\"TextRun SCXW124707013 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 SCXW124707013 BCX0\">aths<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124707013 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124707013 BCX0\">exams are hard!<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124707013 BCX0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span>So how to you turn yourself from a hater to a lover? <span class=\"TextRun SCXW124707013 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124707013 BCX0\">Here are some pointers on<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW124707013 BCX0\"> how to revise and tackle a maths exam.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3>1: Prepare for the exam<\/h3>\n<p>The increase in open book exams has created confusion about how to prepare.<\/p>\n<p>It's true that you don\u2019t have to rely on your memory to such an extent, but if you have facts and formula at your fingertips you will be quicker and more confident. Use post-its or bookmarks to help so you can locate the facts you need instantly.<\/p>\n<p>Open book exams also mean that you will need to be able to apply facts rather than just remember them. Rehearse these skills by working through problem sheets and past papers (if your department makes these available).<\/p>\n<h3>2: Manage your time within the exam<\/h3>\n<p>Start at the beginning, answer everything and get everything right. Right?<\/p>\n<p>Probably not. The University of Bath has high entry requirements, so if you're here you're probably used to getting most things right at school.<\/p>\n<p>Things are set up differently at university; about a third of the questions are very hard \u2018first class level\u2019 and less than a third of students will get a first class degree, so that means most students can\u2019t answer everything.<\/p>\n<p>Practically speaking, this means you need to spend some time looking at the exam and formulating a plan before you start answering questions.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Find the easy marks<\/strong> \u2013 look through the paper and highlight the \u2018easy marks\u2019; about a third of the marks should be accessible things like \u2018write down\u2019 or \u2018give an example of\u2019<\/li>\n<li><strong>Spot the topics<\/strong> \u2013 categorise each question by topic. For open book exams this will help you locate the right section of your notes. If this is a more traditional exam, it's then worth noting down the topic\u2019s key facts and formula in the margin or on rough paper, to act as a reference and free up your working memory<\/li>\n<li><strong>Formulate a plan<\/strong> \u2013 either answer all the \u2018easy marks\u2019 first, or start with your favourite topic<\/li>\n<li><strong>Find a similar example<\/strong> \u2013 it's highly unlikely you'll be asked a complete question that you've seen before, but very likely you'll have seen something similar. Locate the most similar example you can in your brain or book and use the structure to help you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3: Know how to check your answers<\/h3>\n<p>You know you should check your answers, but when you're under time pressure it's something that often gets left out or rushed at the end when tired.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than checking through at the end, it's better to 'sense check' as you go:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>If you are calculating<\/strong> - check the order of magnitude (is it $123$ or $1.23$?)<\/li>\n<li><strong>When working with probabilities<\/strong> \u2013 do they (should they?) sum to $1$?<\/li>\n<li><strong>If it's a graph or a function<\/strong> - use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desmos.com\/calculator\">desmos<\/a> to check it looks as expected<\/li>\n<li><strong>Algebraic<\/strong> working is particularly hard to check for errors. A checking technique is outlined below.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote><p>You can do some numeric substitution to check your statement still holds, e.g.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c$3(2x+4) = 24$ when $x=1$ and<br \/>\n$6x+12 = 24$ when $x = 1$,<br \/>\nso I probably expanded the brackets correctly - phew!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But be careful, because of course some values can trick you, e.g.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c$2+y = 2y$ when $y=2$, so it must be an equality\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>4: What is the examiner looking for?<\/h3>\n<p>Examiners are busy, so providing them with exactly what they ask for (and no more) ensures you get all the marks you deserve.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Check the key word<\/strong> - is this a 'write down an example' question or a 'prove it' question?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Question value<\/strong> \u2013 don\u2019t overcomplicate 1 mark questions<\/li>\n<li><strong>Method marks<\/strong> \u2013 this might be stated in the question, or you might want to check with your lecturer before the exam. If there are method marks available then you'll want to carefully show each step<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep it neat<\/strong> \u2013 drafting a rough plan first is a good way to make sure your work is coherent; the examiner shouldn\u2019t need to sift through lots of scribbles. If you suddenly realise at the last minute that you have bits out of order or need to squeeze in an extra line then use clear boxes and arrows to indicate the correct order. Practise writing out the Greek letters so they're legible and you don\u2019t mix them up<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Other useful resources<\/h3>\n<p>For more tips on revising effectively, see:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/01\/06\/preparing-for-in-person-exams-part-1-revision\/\">Preparing for In-Person Exams Part 1: Revision<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/01\/07\/preparing-for-in-person-exams-part-2-mastering-multiple-choice\/\">Preparing for In-Person Exams Part 2: Mastering Multiple Choice<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2022\/04\/11\/six-memory-hacks-to-supercharge-your-revision\/\">Six memory hacks to supercharge your revision<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2020\/12\/02\/top-ten-tips-for-exam-preparation\/\">Top ten tips for exam preparation<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In addition, you might find these other resources helpful:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.khanacademy.org\/math\">Khan Academy<\/a> has excellent resources for all levels of maths<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.desmos.com\/calculator\">Desmos<\/a> is a great online graphing calculator<\/li>\n<li>Vee is a brilliant vlogger with some great revision tips. She isn\u2019t a mathematician, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7pSQBPlBLGE\">these revision techniques<\/a> work really well for maths exams too<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some people hate exams. Some people love them (yes, seriously). Either way, maths\u00a0exams are hard!\u00a0So how to you turn yourself from a hater to a lover? Here are some pointers on how to revise and tackle a maths exam. 1:...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1962,"featured_media":1407,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[91,9,62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-skills","category-exams","category-maths-and-statistics"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams-2.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1409,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/01\/09\/preparing-for-in-person-exams-part-4-on-the-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":1406,"position":0},"title":"Preparing for In-Person Exams Part 4: On The Day","author":"Kyra Ings","date":"January 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"What you do just before an exam can make a big difference to your performance and your confidence. Here are our tips for staying positive on exam days and ensuring that everything goes smoothly. https:\/\/vimeo.com\/810532463 1: Know when to stop revising\u00a0 The evening before your exam, give yourself some time\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Illustration of a desk with a lamp, calendar, laptop and notebook","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams-3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams-3.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams-3.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams-3.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":881,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2022\/09\/20\/preparing-for-the-mathematics-youll-need-in-your-degree-get-your-ducks-in-a-row\/","url_meta":{"origin":1406,"position":1},"title":"Preparing for the mathematics you\u2019ll need in your degree - get your ducks in a row","author":"Ed Southwood","date":"September 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"If you\u2019re starting your undergraduate degree and feeling unsure about the maths content of your course, Tamsin Smith from the Mathematics Resources Centre (MASH) offers some insight on how to be well prepared and organised, in other words, help you 'get your ducks in a row'. Congratulations on securing your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"10 toy ducks in a row","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/09\/melissa-walker-horn-U7bOjNIqisM-unsplash.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/09\/melissa-walker-horn-U7bOjNIqisM-unsplash.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/09\/melissa-walker-horn-U7bOjNIqisM-unsplash.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":724,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2021\/12\/08\/fixed-time-exams-your-questions-answered\/","url_meta":{"origin":1406,"position":2},"title":"Online fixed-time exams: your questions answered","author":"Alexandra Paramour","date":"December 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Most exams for Semester 2 2021\/22 will be online 'fixed-time' exams \u2013 short in duration, scheduled in a specific time slot and sat remotely via Inspera. Here are some questions you may have if you\u2019re taking this type of exam. Are fixed-time exams like traditional exams but online? In many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A laptop and a phone displaying a clock","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2021\/12\/al-ghazali-Uyxkm0HJ93E-unsplash.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":371,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2020\/12\/02\/top-tips-for-taking-open-book-exams-1-preparation\/","url_meta":{"origin":1406,"position":3},"title":"Top tips for taking open book exams 1 - preparation","author":"Kerry Vevers","date":"December 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"During the exam period, you may be asked to take a home-based online open book exam. Open book exams allow you to consult external sources such as textbooks and your own notes during the exam time. Here are some tips from former Academic Skills Course Leader Tom Reid to help\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Student taking an online open book exam","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/online-exam.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/online-exam.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/online-exam.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/online-exam.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/online-exam.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1392,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/01\/06\/preparing-for-in-person-exams-part-1-revision\/","url_meta":{"origin":1406,"position":4},"title":"Preparing For In-Person Exams Part 1: Revision","author":"Kyra Ings","date":"January 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s normal to feel nervous about in-person exams, but the right approach to revision can go a long way towards helping you feel more confident. 1: Gather all the necessary information Anxiety often arises from uncertainty, so before you get started, make sure you have all the practical information you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Illustrated image of a desk with a lamp, calendar, laptop and note paper","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/12\/Preparing-for-In-Person-Exams.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":806,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2022\/05\/04\/my-tips-for-exam-preparation\/","url_meta":{"origin":1406,"position":5},"title":"My tips for exam preparation","author":"Erifyli Vologianni","date":"May 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Hi, I\u2019m Erifyli. I\u2019m a final year International Management student and Skills Co-Creator. Here are some of my personal tips that will help you to organise and revise efficiently for the upcoming exam period. Exam period. \"That time of the year\" is approaching. People are setting revision schedules, libraries are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Exams&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Exams","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/exams\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lines of desks and chairs in an exam hall at university.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/05\/FH-exams-2-small.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/05\/FH-exams-2-small.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/05\/FH-exams-2-small.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/05\/FH-exams-2-small.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1962"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1406"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1406\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}