How to Beat Time Pressure in Timed Exams

By the PassSpark team · 2026-10-22 · Study tips, CBT

Many students know the content but run out of time. Time control is a skill you can train.

1. Know your pace

Divide the total time by the number of questions. If you have 120 minutes for 180 questions, that is under 40 seconds each. Use this as a target, not a rule: easy questions should be faster so hard ones get more time.

2. Do a first pass

Answer everything you are sure about first. Flag anything that needs long working and return later.

3. Guess smartly

If there is no penalty for wrong answers, never leave a question blank. Remove options you know are wrong first to raise your odds.

4. Practise under the clock

Use timed sessions weekly. Start generous, then shorten the time as you improve.

5. Stay calm

If you freeze, breathe slowly for ten seconds, then read the question again. One lost question costs less than five rushed ones.

PassSpark has timed exam mode for every set. Try it on JAMB, SAT or GRE practice.

Practise on PassSparkAll exams

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PassSpark questions are original practice questions written to each exam's syllabus and format, in the style of past questions. They are not official past papers and are not affiliated with JAMB, WAEC, NECO, any university or any exam body.