\ CIPFA EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRE
\EXAM TECHNIQUES
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
David J. Henderson
david.henderson@cipfa.org.uk
Amana Virani
amana.virani@cipfa.org.uk
CIPFA Education and Training Centre
\ CIPFA EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRE
EXAM TECHNIQUES: AGENDA
 Before the exam
 Getting ready
 Revision
 Stress
 Key tips
 During the exam
 What examiners are looking for
 What examiners are not looking for
 Key tips
 What to do if stuck?
 After the exam
 Questions
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BEFORE THE EXAM: GETTING READY
 How to increase retention?
- learning styles – how do you learn best?
 Revision timetable and study leave
 Find your study space
 When to study?
 Materials
Start revision early!!
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BEFORE THE EXAM: REVISION
 Syllabus coverage
 Orderly organisation of notes for fast
referencing
 Study aids/ memory triggers
 Resources
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BEFORE THE EXAM: STRESS
It’s all chemical!
Control it
 Physical activity
 Eat healthily, avoid caffeine/nicotine
 Relaxation techniques
Deal with it
 Expect stress – a little is good
 Remember why you are putting yourself through this
 Rewards
 Don’t be a loner
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BEFORE THE EXAM: KEY TIPS
DO
 Register in time/ request special arrangements
 Know where and when the exam is
 Leave plenty of time to get there
 Have all equipment in advance (and be able to use
it!)
DON’T
 Don't work all night before
 Don't wind each other up
 Don’t push the
button
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DURING THE EXAM: WHAT
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR
Examiners: “the most evil beings on Earth”

They want
 To pass you
 To mark your script quickly
 The correct answer to jump out

They want you to

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Follow rubric; do what question says - Verbs
Present well; signpost your answer
Provide appropriate examples
Use professional tone

Examiners and moderators

Examiner’s reports – read their minds
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DURING THE EXAM: DISCURSIVE
MODULES
What they want
 Short introductions and conclusions (unless specifically asked
for)

P - Make your point
J - Justify your point
I - What is the impact of your point?
 Use/application of models/theories
 Appropriate examples/topical issues e.g. Public Finance
What you can do
 Plan – know where you are going
 Answer
 all parts of question
 what is asked – verbs and format!

State the obvious (don’t abbreviate)
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DURING THE EXAM: NUMERICAL
MODULES
What they want
 Logical, ordered, referenced workings
 State your assumptions
 Explain your answers
 Use of proformas, formats, headings, £’000
What you can do
 Highlight numbers in the question
 Don’t skip steps
 Remember BODMAS?
 Don’t be stingy with paper; use analysis/ graph paper
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DURING THE EXAM: WHAT THEY ARE NOT
LOOKING FOR
 A mess
 The question rewritten/politician answer
 Waffle
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‘Before I answer the question………’
‘A man walked into a bar………’
‘Dear examiner………’
Your life story
 Short, meaningless bullets
 To have to work out what you are saying
 Unexplained theory
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DURING THE EXAM: KEY TIPS
Before Start and Reading Time
 Ask for extra paper, analysis paper etc
 Use 10 minutes to read all questions
 Understand all questions and choose optional ones
 Mentally map and plan your answers – easiest first?
Doing the Paper
 Time management
 Ignore those around you
 Speak up if something is disturbing you: the invigilators'
squeaky shoes, whispers between invigilators, sweet
wrappers, etc.
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IF STUCK…..

If out of time, some marks better than none:
 do question in outline only, state main
points
 jot down formulae and how you would use
them to reach a solution (if required)

If faced with a mental block:
 Picture mind maps/ mnemonics
 "If I did know the answer to this question,
what would it mean?“

Try a different question and come back later
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AFTER THE EXAM
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Forget about exam; don’t deconstruct
Treat yourself
If you have another exam, take time to recover and refresh.
Special Circumstances

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Speak to invigilators re. disturbances or report yourself.
Special consideration possible from CIPFA for valid illness
NOW GET READY!
 Be realistic, keep things in perspective.
 Don't keep things bottled up; take steps to overcome problems.
 Believe in yourself - no secret formula: Plan your answer
Read the question
Answer the questions
Time your answers properly
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Any Questions?
Thank you
CIPFA Education & Training Centre
www.cetc.org.uk
cetc@cipfa.org.uk
Tel: 0207 403 4300