State exam: 10 tips for success

The out-of-session State Exam began this Monday, May 8, 2023, across the entire country. To support high school seniors, the Communications Management Division of the Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST) has put together these tips that are sure to help any student maximize their chances of success.

Here is what to do and what mistakes to avoid during this crucial period and in the exam rooms:

1. Identification

Always start by writing your name before anything else.

Fill out all the fields related to you correctly, without forgetting your exam number, for example.

Make sure you are at your assigned testing center, with your exam number, and in your seat.

Even the slightest change during your exam can seriously disrupt you and throw you off.

2. Tools

Always have a pencil on hand. It’s essential!

Always start by lightly filling in everything in pencil. This will help you avoid erasures. The first erasures usually occur when you’re identifying yourself on your exam paper.

Remember that you are allowed only one copy, which cannot be changed.

3. Read Carefully

First, read all the pages of your exam paper.

Don’t rush to fill it out quickly… Reread your exam paper at least twice, or even three times!

4. Answering

Always start with the questions you know the answers to. But be careful! What seems easy at first glance might have a trick.

So you must read and reread before answering.

Use your pencil!

5. Scratch Paper

This is an essential sheet of paper while taking your exam.

It will help you avoid erasures or making irreversible mistakes. You should know that an erasure invalidates the answer.

6. Hand in your exam calmly

Never hand in your exam paper in a hurry! You must read it over calmly and make sure you’ve filled in your personal information correctly.

As for the rest, make sure you’ve checked all the boxes or written everything in pen.

7. Never cheat!

This is a fatal mistake you must not make in an exam room. You could get caught and have your exam canceled. Besides the risk involved, the truth is there’s no guarantee that your neighbor’s answer is the right one.

8. Never collaborate…

Even when you think you have the same question set, there’s always something different.

You’ll waste time looking for the person who has the same set as you!

In some cases, there can be up to 10 exam sets. Work on your own!

9. Go to bed early!

Get plenty of rest after each exam and go to bed early!

You’ll have to read through long passages that may be tiny, so you need to be strong!

10. Avoid stress

You need to be in the right frame of mind to tackle these exams and hope to earn your degree.

Avoid anything that might put you in a bad mood, make you sad, or demotivate you!

In the end, with these 10 tips, you’ll breeze through your exams without fear because you know what it takes.

Good luck to all the seniors!