What to Do If You Don’t Know the Answer in an Exam: Try, Skip, or Focus on What You Know?

Asked by Anonymous in our Parent Webinar series.

It’s a nightmare for many students: walking into an exam and being faced with a question they don’t know. But, the truth is that this situation should never happen. In this blog, we will explain why being caught off-guard in an exam is preventable and how proper preparation can help students stay calm and focused.

Why Students Should Never Be Caught Unprepared

The key to never being stumped by an exam question lies in thorough preparation. School exams, particularly Year 12 exams, are not general knowledge quizzes—they focus on the specific topics outlined in the syllabus. If you’ve studied and memorised the syllabus content, you should be able to answer any question on exam day. By consistently reviewing and making notes on all the topics listed in the syllabus, students ensure they’re not blindsided by an unexpected question.

To summarise, students should have 2 jobs across the year:

1. Make notes on everything in the syllabus;

2. Memorise those notes.

If they do this, they can never be in a situation where they don’t know anything.

Practice Exams: The Key to Avoid Freezing During the Exam

Secondly, as outlined in our Crash Course on Exam Preparation, practising exams is crucial for students beyond note-taking and memorisation. The more practice exams students complete, the more they build the muscle memory required to deconstruct complex questions effectively. Often, students struggle in exams not due to lack of knowledge, but because they can’t break down or understand the question fully, causing them to freeze. By practising consistently, students develop the skills to stay calm, analyse questions, and craft accurate answers, ensuring they won’t get stuck during real exam conditions. This approach also boosts exam confidence and improves problem-solving skills.

Key Tips to Never Be Stuck in an Exam Again

It looks as though we've dodged the question a little here, but this scenario is generally the result of not doing the preparation outlined above. Practicing these three steps—mastering the syllabus, memorising notes, and doing practice exams—will mean you should be ready for any question in the paper. When prepared, students won’t have to worry about deciding whether to try, skip, or spend more time on a known question. Instead, they’ll approach each exam with confidence.

Learn more about how you can ensure you're fully prepared for exams with our Exam Planner Crash Course.