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Strategies for Exam Day – Summary
- Use 30-question checkpoints to manage time calmly.
Write milestones (e.g. Q30 by 10:30 am) on scrap paper to pace yourself naturally and adjust in real time without panic or over-correction. - Flag with intent—don’t just mark and hope.
Split flagged questions by type: total guess vs narrowed-down. Review the narrowed ones first—they’re most likely to yield recoverable marks. - Read the question’s last line before the scenario.
For long stems, reading the final sentence first helps you filter the scenario as you read, catching relevant facts and ignoring bait. - Predict the rule or outcome before reading the options.
Pause after the question stem: what’s the principle or next step? This prevents you from being misled by familiar-sounding wrong answers. - Prioritise what a solicitor should do, not just what they can.
The best answers reflect professional judgement: protecting the client’s interests, managing risk, choosing proportionate action, not just ticking the legal box. - Use your scratch paper to actively eliminate.
Draw an A–E grid or jot quick notes. Even rough markings help prevent second-guessing and clarify thinking when options blur together late in the exam.