Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

19.10.2 In the exam room
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Read through the exam paper very carefully
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Check the instructions – how many questions have 
to be answered? From which section?
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Make a time plan
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Underline key words e.g. ‘defi ne’, ‘describe’, 
‘explain’, ‘identify’ and so on. NEBOSH provides 
defi nitions of the meanings of these in the examin-
ers’ reports (see 
‘Terminology’
section). Using the 
words in the question when writing the answers will 
help to keep the answer on track
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Stick to the instructions given in the question. If the 
question says ‘list’, then list; if it says ‘describe’, 
then describe. If it says ‘briefl y’ make sure the 
answer is brief
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Write clearly. Illegible answers don’t get marked
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Look at the number of marks allocated to a ques-
tion to pick up clues as to how much time should be 
spent on it
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Mark questions which look possible and identify any 
that look impossible
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It is rarely necessary to answer exam questions in 
a particular order. Start with the question that you 
feel most comfortable with since it will help to boost 
confi dence. Make sure it is clearly identifi ed by 
number for the examiner
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Answer the question that is set, not the one you 
wish was on the paper
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If ideas for other answers spring to mind while writ-
ing, jot down a reminder on a separate piece of 
paper. It is easy to forget that bit of information in 
the heat of the moment
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Plan the use of time and plan the answers. Include 
some time to check over each answer
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Stick to the time plan; stick to the point; make 
points quickly and clearly.
Early marks in an exam question are easier to pick up 
than the last one or two, so make sure that all the ques-
tions are attempted within the time plan. No marks are 
given for correct information that is not relevant to the 
question. Examiners are only human and usually have 
to work under pressure; it is quite possible that some 
vital and correct point may be missed if there is a mass 
of irrelevant information from which the point has to be 
extracted.
Don’t be distracted by the behaviour of other 
students. Someone who is requesting more paper has 

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not necessarily written a better answer; they may simply 
have larger handwriting. People who start to scribble 
madly as soon as they turn over the question sheet are 
not in possession of some extra ability – they simply 
haven’t planned their exam paper properly.
Keep calm, plan carefully, don’t panic.
At the end of the exam, before handing in the paper, 
make sure that anything that is not intended for marking 
is crossed through.