Exam-Day Tips
Updated: 4 days ago
After months of preparation, examination day has finally arrived.
At this point, you cannot learn everything you might possibly be asked. What you can do is make sure that you arrive prepared, understand the instructions, manage your time and give yourself the best opportunity to demonstrate what you know.
Here are some practical tips for the day of your competency-based examination.
1. Know Your Exam Details
Before examination day, make sure you know:
the date of your examination;
the time you need to be there;
the examination venue or online arrangements;
which paper you are writing;
what identification or other documents you are required to bring; and
any other instructions issued by the Legal Practice Council.
Do not rely solely on information from previous examination sittings. Check the latest LPC notice or examination instructions for your particular sitting.
2. Prepare Everything the Night Before
Do not leave important preparation until the morning of the examination.
The night before, make sure that you have everything you are permitted or required to take with you. This may include:
identification;
examination stationery or other permitted materials;
your examination confirmation or registration information, if required; and
anything else specifically requested by the LPC.
Also plan your route to the venue if you are writing in person.
The goal is to make your morning as simple as possible.
3. Get Enough Rest
Pulling an all-nighter before an examination may feel productive, but being exhausted can make it harder to concentrate, read carefully and think clearly.
The night before the examination is not the time to try to learn an entire syllabus.
If you want to do some final revision, keep it focused on key principles, rules, concepts or areas that you have already studied.
Then get some rest.
A well-rested mind is more useful in an examination than another few hours of panicked studying.
4. Arrive Early
Give yourself enough time to get to the examination venue, find your examination room and deal with any unexpected delays. Traffic, parking problems, public transport delays or difficulty finding the venue can create unnecessary stress.
If the examination is online, make sure you have tested your equipment and internet connection beforehand and understand the instructions for accessing the examination.
Aim to be ready before the examination starts, not arriving as the clock starts.
5. Read the Instructions Carefully
When you receive the examination paper, resist the urge to immediately start writing.
First, read the instructions carefully. Pay attention to:
the number of questions you are required to answer;
whether there are compulsory questions;
the marks allocated to each question;
any instructions relating to answering questions;
any applicable word or page limits; and
the time available.
The LPC syllabus specifically notes that the allocation of marks provides an indication of the level of detail required and that candidates should plan according to the question paper.
A few minutes spent understanding the paper can save you from making a costly mistake later.
6. Manage Your Time
Time management can make or break an examination.
Before you start answering, work out approximately how much time you can afford to spend on each section based on the marks available.
For example, a question worth significantly more marks will generally require more time than a short question worth only a few marks.
Keep an eye on the clock throughout the examination.
Do not spend half of your examination time trying to perfect one answer while leaving other questions unanswered.
Your goal is to collect marks across the paper.
7. Answer the Question That Was Asked
One of the most important examination skills is answering the question that is actually in front of you.
Read the question carefully.
Ask yourself:
What is this question asking me to do?
Are you being asked to:
explain a legal principle?
identify an issue?
apply the law to facts?
advise a client?
draft a document?
calculate an amount?
discuss a procedure?
identify the appropriate course of action?
The LPC's examination syllabus makes it clear that candidates may be assessed on their ability to analyse facts, apply substantive law and draft documents logically and coherently.
Knowing the law is important. Knowing how to use it to answer the question is equally important.
8. Don't Get Stuck on One Question
Sometimes you will encounter a question that you find difficult.
Do not allow one question to derail the entire examination. If you are genuinely stuck:
Take a moment to think.
Identify what you do know.
Make a reasonable attempt if you can.
Move on if necessary.
Return to the question later if you have time.
A difficult question does not mean that the entire examination is going badly.
Keep moving.
9. Keep Calm When You Don't Know an Answer
There may be a question where you cannot immediately remember the rule, case or provision you need.
Take a breath. Try to break the problem down. Ask yourself:
What are the facts?
What is the legal issue?
What area of law does this fall under?
What legal principle might apply?
What would I need to establish?
What conclusion can I reasonably reach?
Competency-based examinations are designed to assess more than simple memorisation. The LPC describes the examinations as assessing candidates' ability to handle facts, apply legal principles, research legal problems, communicate effectively and perform practical legal tasks.
If you know how to approach the legal problem, you may still be able to earn marks even when you cannot immediately recall everything.
10. Leave Time to Review
If possible, leave some time at the end of the examination to review your answers. Check:
Have you answered every required question?
Did you follow the instructions?
Did you answer what was actually asked?
Have you accidentally skipped a page or question?
Are your answers clearly structured?
Are there obvious errors you can correct?
Have you completed any required calculations or conclusions?
For drafting questions, check that you have included the necessary information and that the document is logically structured.
Do not use your final minutes to completely rewrite an answer simply because you are second-guessing yourself. Focus on correcting genuine errors and filling important gaps.
11. After the Exam
Once you leave the examination room, it can be tempting to immediately compare answers with everyone else.
You do not have to.
If discussing the examination helps you process the experience, that is fine. But remember that you cannot change what you have already submitted.
Try not to spend the next several days convincing yourself that you have failed because you struggled with one question.
You may have performed better than you think.
Instead, take note of anything you learned from the experience that could help you in future examinations.
Then move forward.
Your Exam-Day Checklist
Before You Leave Home
☐ I know where my examination is being held or how I will access it online.
☐ I know what time I need to arrive or log in.
☐ I have checked the latest LPC examination instructions.
☐ I have the required identification and documents.
☐ I have everything I am permitted or required to bring.
☐ I have planned my route or tested my online setup.
☐ I have had enough rest.
Before the Examination Starts
☐ I have arrived early enough.
☐ I understand the examination instructions.
☐ I know which questions I am required to answer.
☐ I have checked the marks allocated to the questions.
☐ I have a plan for managing my time.
During the Examination
☐ I am answering the question that was asked.
☐ I am allocating my time according to the marks.
☐ I am not spending too long on one question.
☐ I am applying the law to the facts where required.
☐ I am keeping my answers clear and structured.
☐ I am staying calm when I encounter something difficult.
Before I Submit
☐ I have answered all required questions.
☐ I have checked my answers for obvious errors.
☐ I have followed the instructions.
☐ I have used my remaining time wisely.
One Final Reminder
You have already done the preparation.
On examination day, your job is not to know every possible legal principle that exists.
Your job is to read carefully, think clearly, apply what you know and manage your time.
You do not need to have a perfect examination.
You need to give yourself the best possible opportunity to demonstrate your competence.
Prepare well. Stay calm. Read carefully. Manage your time. Answer the question.
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