What to Do When You're Stuck or Running Out of Time

Every student, no matter how well-prepared, will encounter moments in an exam where they are stuck on a question or realise they are running out of time. These moments can trigger panic — and panic causes more damage than the original problem.

This lesson gives you a clear, practised plan for both situations so that when they arise (and they will), you respond strategically rather than emotionally.

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When You Are Stuck on a Question

The 60-Second Rule

If you have been staring at a question for more than 60 seconds without making progress, activate your "stuck" protocol:

flowchart TD
    A[Stuck on a question] --> B{Have you spent<br/>more than 60 seconds?}
    B -->|No| C[Keep trying — some<br/>questions need thought]
    B -->|Yes| D[Move on immediately]
    D --> E[Mark the question<br/>clearly to return to]
    E --> F[Complete the rest<br/>of the paper]
    F --> G[Return to marked<br/>questions at the end]
    G --> H{Any progress now?}
    H -->|Yes| I[Write whatever<br/>you can]
    H -->|No| J[Write your best<br/>attempt — never leave blank]

Moving on is not giving up. It is strategic time management. While you work on other questions, your subconscious mind continues processing the stuck question (a phenomenon called incubation). Students frequently find that when they return to a difficult question later, the answer — or at least part of it — has surfaced.

What to Do Before Moving On

Before you leave a stuck question, spend 30 seconds writing down anything you DO know, even if it seems incomplete:

Subject	What to Write When Stuck
Maths	Write the formula you think is relevant. Draw a diagram. Label what you know.
Science	Write any relevant keywords or facts. State the general principle.
English	Write the technique you have identified or one observation about the text.
History/Geography	Write the name of the relevant case study and any facts you recall.
Any subject	Write the command word and what it requires — sometimes this triggers the answer.

These partial answers can earn marks. A blank answer earns zero.

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Strategies for Specific Types of "Stuck"

"I have no idea what this question is about"

This usually means the topic is one you did not revise thoroughly. Your options:

1. Look for clues in the question — the wording, any data provided, or the context may trigger recall
2. Think about related topics — if you cannot remember the specific content, try to reason from general principles
3. Use common sense — some questions, particularly in geography, business, and science, can be partially answered through logical reasoning even without specific knowledge
4. Write something relevant — examiners are instructed to "credit any valid response." An answer that demonstrates understanding of the general area may earn partial marks

"I know the topic but cannot remember the specific details"

1. Write what you can remember — even partial recall can earn marks
2. Use the question as a prompt — re-read it slowly, looking for trigger words
3. Work from first principles — explain the underlying concept even if you cannot remember the specific example
4. Draw a diagram — visual recall sometimes unlocks information that verbal recall cannot

"I understand the question but do not know how to approach it"

1. Re-read the command word — this tells you what to do
2. Look at the marks — this tells you how much to write
3. Try a structured approach — write one point, then another, then another. Sometimes starting triggers flow.
4. If it is a calculation, write the formula — even if you are not sure which numbers to substitute, the formula itself may earn a mark

"I started answering but got lost halfway through"

1. Re-read the question — you may have drifted from what was asked
2. Re-read your answer so far — your last sentence may suggest the next step
3. Jump to the conclusion — if you are stuck mid-essay, skip to the conclusion and write your judgement. The conclusion can earn marks independently.

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When You Are Running Out of Time

The Triage System

When you realise you have less time than you need, you must triage — decide where the remaining time will earn the most marks.

Priority	Action	Reasoning
Highest	Answer any high-mark questions you have not attempted	These offer the most marks per minute
High	Complete any partially answered questions	A few extra sentences can move an answer up a level
Medium	Answer remaining low-mark questions with brief responses	Even a one-line answer may earn 1 mark
Low	Improve answers that are already good	Diminishing returns — the marks gained are small

Switching to Survival Mode