Take-home papers

You might be given the exam paper and allowed to take it home for twenty-four or forty-eight hours.

You then return to the exam centre with the paper and answer it in the normal manner.

This system removes the surprise element from the wording of the questions.

You have one or two days in which to choose your questions and prepare your answers.

A higher quality of answer might be expected than under normal conditions.

If you prepare your answer, it should be well organised.

All your arguments should be related to the subject in question.

It should cover all important points, and it should be well planned.

[Essays written in normal exams might be a series of quickly noted examples, without firm structure.]

Prepare your answers as you would for coursework essays.

Choose your questions carefully, then get together the materials you need [text books, coursework notes].

Make notes and devise outline plans for your answers.

Devote roughly the same amount of time to each question.

Don't think of the exercise as one solely of last-minute memorising.

The key to this preparation is devising a sound plan.

You can remember a plan far more easily than you can details and examples.