Good in class, but bad at exams? Here’s my advice

Good in class, but bad at exams? Here’s my advice

Let’s be honest lads – nailing an exam isn’t about knowing the material. It’s about keeping calm when the pressure is on. You can be Einstein in the classroom, but the second you see that exam — your brain decides to go on holidays to Lanzarote. It happens to the best of us and it can be so frustrating. However, there are ways to stop this when it happens AND prevent it from happening altogether.

Going ‘Blank’ in Exams

You know that feeling when you can’t remember anything during an exam? You remember studying, you remember doing it in class, you even used the blurting technique —so where the hell did your brain go? This means you’re brain is overwhelmed. It’s as if it’s drowning in anxiety. Well, the answer is to give it a life raft – calm down! It’s easier said than done, but it’s essential. Take deep breaths, count to 10, drink some water, and remember that most students don’t fail. That all sounds cliché, but guess what? It works. Do whatever you need to do until your mind feels relaxed. More often than not, you know way more than you think. So, stay focused and give all your energy to the paper for 2 hours. Here’s a video I made on what to do when you go blank.

The 5 Minute Rule Before Exams

There’s a reason people say ‘look before you leap’. You need to take 5 minutes to prepare before you write anything down. Firstly, scan the paper. Right when you get your exam, don’t dive in like you’re racing Usain Bolt. Take five minutes to look at each question. Secondly, circle key parts. Note the main points. Nowadays, questions are full of ‘waffle’ or irrelevant words – highlight only what’s important. While you’re doing this, your brain is subconsciously tackling the hard questions. So, when you come back to the hard question, your brain has connected the dots and you know what to do. This video I made explains the scanning technique in more detail.

Ground Your Feet During Exams

When your brain is stressed, so is your body. You might jitter, shake your leg, begin to sweat. It’s equally important to relax your body as well as your mind. Firstly, tuck in that chair. Not because you want to look neat, but because you want to feel stable. Secondly, ground your feet. Both of them. Flat on the ground, not half-crossed or swinging around. It’s like telling your body, ‘we’re here. we can do this.” Finally, close your eyes. Blocking out visual chaos can stop your brain from overloading. Doing these 3 physical movements will reduce your stress levels by a huge amount. A calm body means a clear mind. Read this Irish Times article where they recommend ways to calm down at a desk.

Visualisation Before Exams

This isn’t just some hippie nonsense. Science backs it up, so bear with me. Picture the exam hall the night before. The desks, the white noise of pens scribbling, the click of the clock. The more vividly you imagine it, the less foreign it’ll feel when you walk in. Visualise the questions. Think about typical problems you might see, how you’d start solving them, how you’d break them down step by step. Anxiety reduction the night before means a confidence boost on the day. When you’ve done it in your head, walking in the next day isn’t such a shock. Your brain goes ‘Oh yeah, I’ve done this before. No hassle’. Think of it like rehearsing for a play. You’re less likely to panic if you know your lines before the show starts.

Be Cute in the Exam

Being ‘cute’ means trying every trick in the book to grab those potential marks. It’s not cheating; it’s just being smart. Sometimes you see a question that looks like it came from another planet. That’s okay. Don’t give up. Throw down something— anything! Equations, formulas, theorems – get it all on paper. And remember: no blanks. Examiners can’t give you marks if you didn’t write anything. However, they can if you show them some rough work or a half-baked answer that seems like you vaguely know the answer. Your rough work is worth 80% of the marks anyway. Examiners love seeing each step. Show them how you think. Treat them like a child.

Final Thoughts

Next time you see a difficult exam paper, remember: you’re not just a big brain with facts stuffed in it. You’re also a person who knows how to stay calm and focused. Brains love order, structure, and especially reassurance. Give it that, and watch how quickly everything falls into place.

Check out my other post on the art of excelling in exams where I give out more exam tips and hacks to get you through those stressful periods. If you’re really struggling with maths and don’t know where to start, try a free grind with us and we’ll help boost your grades.