Expert Preparation for Australian School Assessments

How to Help Your Child Develop Better Exam Time Management

 Good exam time management is not simply about working quickly. Students need to understand how to divide their available time, stay focused and recognise when to move on from a difficult question. Parents can help by making these habits part of regular practice.

Start with timed exercises rather than waiting until the actual exam. Give your child a manageable set of questions and agree on a realistic time limit. After the session, discuss which questions took the longest and whether the extra time produced a better answer.

Encourage your child to avoid becoming stuck on one question. If a question is taking too long, moving on and returning to it later can be a useful strategy, provided the assessment format allows it. Practising this approach can make time decisions feel more familiar.

Reviewing completed work is equally important. Look for patterns such as spending too long reading instructions, rushing the final questions or leaving insufficient time for checking answers. These observations can guide the next practice session.

Parents should also avoid turning every study session into a timed test. Students need opportunities to build understanding without pressure as well as opportunities to practise pacing.

With regular practice, reflection and realistic timing, students can develop a clearer approach to managing assessment time. The aim is controlled, purposeful progress rather than simply trying to finish faster.