Math exam troubles

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I sort of need help figuring out what to do...

So I'm really 'not that good' at math, but I noticed if I focus, then I can do it I'm just a little slower... I have always had a little trouble with math, especially word problems, I usually hate doing these and I always used to skip them but now I can't... I feel like the question is trying to trick me but at the same time it could be a double trick in which there really isn't a trick, I get so confused...

But the main problem I have is the exam room, I feel distracted by many things. I feel like I can't focus on the exam because I am focusing on everything else around me. I also tend to notice where others are in the exam (like they flip their booklet), and compare to my own and notice I am behind. I feel like I have to rush or something, I can't even read the question properly because I'm too distracted by other things. I feel pressured for time, I constantly look up at the clock, then notice I'm taking too long on questions, then I have to just guess because I'm thinking too long on the question. Also the teachers constantly walk around, this distracts me too. I don't like them hovering over me and it also pressurizes me to answer the questions. If they walk up and down, it also distracts me, i feel they might suspect me of cheating because of my shiftiness. I focus on everything, even the students in front of me... behind me I feel like they are watching too and if I don't answer fast enough or if I don't flip my booklet fast enough, they might think I'm stupid. I thought before I had anxiety, I do i think, but actually in the exam im relatively calm, I just mostly feel distracted by everyone and everything. Also I have to think longer on questions, and for some reason (I suspect) they cut the exam time down by half an hour... I asked for extra time, but I had to have a 'reason' and permission by a doctor or something...

I sort of have the same problem with other exams other than math, but not as bad as with math, I can handle it somewhat with other subjects. Maybe its because with math I feel less confident, I always doubt my answer, and double triple check because I don't trust myself. I only feel for sure its the right answer if by logic there is no other possible solution. That's the only way I can be sure, but it takes too long on an exam to do that for me.
My class mark is okay, its just the exam i have problems with. I'm just slower at things and i feel like I could do better if I was in a smaller room with more time...

So I have taken this exam twice now, just passed the first, failed the second time, and I wouldn't even bother if I didn't find out that I need one math course for University and I need a higher mark.

So what should I do? I was thinking of doing a walk-in exam, because then you can get a smaller room with less people, but I'm afraid I might have the same problem there and it won't help me in the long run because I will someday have to be in a large filled room doing an exam. What are some solutions, what should I do to help?

They shouldn't ever be trick questions. Assume they aren't, but read it carefully enough that you actually understand it. If a trick question is on a test, that question is wrong.


Don't rush. It doesn't help. Don't worry about other people. They are probably worried about the test, not you. Don't worry if someone finishes faster than you. They might not know anything at all, and just decided to guess.


Most often, your first answer is right.

The way you should take a test is to first do the easy ones. If something takes relatively long to answer, skip it and keep going. Then go back through the test and do the harder ones and finish up the ones you started. When you're done, double-check your answers, not all of them, just the ones you think aren't right or might be wrong. Only if there's time left at the end of all this should you get to checking the ones you think are right.

This way, you always maximize the points you can get, even if you don't finish. You also spend less time stuck, since every time you get stuck, you skip it until later. Sometimes I skip doing a problem even if it isn't hard and I know exactly what to do, just because it will take longer than the others. The point is to get as many points worth of ink on paper as soon as possible.

If you know part of an answer, put down the part you know. If you can start a calculation, but don't know how to finish, do the start. Partial credit is better than no credit, and you might figure out more or remember better when you come back to it.

Don't look at the clock, unless how much time you have left will influence which problem you're working on now. If you've got 2 partly solved problems with answers down for the rest, and one will take 5 minutes and the other will take 10 minutes, look at the clock. If you only have 5 minutes, do that one. As long as you're going through the test as fast as you reasonably can, how much time left doesn't matter much at all.

Usually with word problems I list all of the variables I can easily identify and slowly putter away at it. This way I don't lose my place in the question or anything. Although some math I find incomprehensible entirely if I cannot visualize it. However physics equations I never found to bad. Do you know what kind of word problems your dealing with? ie algebra, geometry, physics etc.

thanks for the help,

for the word problems i have most trouble with are probability ones i really find them hard to deal with, word problems in general though are very hard for me, i do write things down and i also have to visualize and draw a picture. and I honestly never did them growing up in all my math classes i skipped them (except maybe the few i could get) or i failed them and only got half marks for trying. Also this is a multiple choice test so i don't get half marks here for trying lol otherwise i wold have done so
anyways thanks i dunno what ill do ill either just deal with this myself or maybe get a tutor to help me or something...

To add to the advice above, don't recheck answers imediately after you have completede them. This takes time. Complete as many questions as you can in the alloted time before you recheck and always write down the steps you take to get to your answer. You will be given marks for your method of working even if you get the answer wrong.

Exams are a necessary evil and they do not stop with education. they may just be called something else, If you ever get into a field of wotk that relies on your decisions or is critical, e.g. related to safety, you will be subject to assessment, monitoring and audit at regular intervals. These too can be stressful because your job may depend on your performance.