5 mistakes learners make with pacing an exam, each one named and explained.
Time available divided by questions left, worked out before the paper starts.
Being ahead of schedule is read as being behind, or the reverse.
Two numbers and a comparison, and the direction is not obvious under time pressure.
Question. 20 questions done in 18 minutes, at 1 minute a question
A common answer. behind schedule
The answer. ahead of schedule
Why. Twenty questions should have taken twenty minutes, and only eighteen have gone.
Compare the two numbers directly. Fewer minutes than questions always means ahead.
A time in minutes is given where seconds were asked for, or the reverse.
The calculation is done in whichever unit the question started in.
Question. How many seconds per question
A common answer. 45 minutes
The answer. 45 seconds
Why. The question asked for seconds.
Underline the unit in the question and write it next to your answer.
Questions are divided by time rather than time by questions.
Two numbers and a division, with nothing to say which goes on top.
Question. 60 questions in 45 minutes
A common answer. 75 seconds each
The answer. 45 seconds each
Why. There are fewer minutes than questions, so each question gets less than a minute.
If there are more questions than minutes, each one gets under a minute. That check is instant.
The pace is set at a figure the paper does not allow.
The two numbers are easy to divide and easy to divide the wrong way.
Question. 50 questions in 50 minutes
A common answer. about 2 minutes each
The answer. about 1 minute each
Why. Fifty minutes shared over fifty questions is one minute each.
Multiply your answer back by the number of questions. It has to fit inside the time.
The pace is worked out from the full length of the exam, ignoring the checking time.
The exam length is the number in the question and it is the obvious one to use.
Question. 50 minutes, 5 held back for checking, 45 questions
A common answer. 50 minutes for answering
The answer. 45 minutes for answering
Why. Five of the fifty minutes are already spoken for.
Subtract anything reserved before dividing. Plan with the time you will actually have.
WAJD spots these patterns in your child's answers and names the one behind their wrong answers, instead of just marking them wrong.