Mock exams are one of the most valuable experiences students can use in their preparation for their professional exams.
Mock exams provide a great opportunity to experience real exam conditions using the exam platform, practice time management, and apply technical knowledge under pressure.
It is perfectly normal and understandable to feel under-prepared from a knowledge or technical perspective for your mocks. If you are not happy with your mock results, do not let that de-rail your study. It is what you learn from the experience of sitting the mocks that counts.
After completing the mock exams, you should set aside some time to reflect on the experience. By reflecting on your mocks, you can identify areas of strengths, highlight weaknesses, and create a plan for improvement ahead of the real exam.
I am going to highlight here some reflective questions you can ask yourself after the mock exams.
By answering these questions for yourself, you can build up valuable insight into your exam knowledge, exam strategy and exam preparation.
- What Went Well?
Firstly, always acknowledge the parts of the exam that went well. This is important for building confidence and recognising your progress.
Ask yourself:
- What worked well for you in the mock exam?
- Which questions/indicators did you feel confident answering?
- Where was your technical knowledge strong?
Confidence is important in exam success, and recognising strengths helps maintain a positive mindset.
- What Could Have Gone Better?
Next, assess the areas in the mock papers that were more challenging for you. Try and be honest as you can with yourself.
Consider:
- Were there questions/indicators where you struggled to understand what was being asked?
- Was your technical knowledge lacking or unclear on any topics?
- Did you miss marks due to poor structure, incomplete answers, or failing to address all parts of the requirement/indicators?
Vague reflections such as “I need to study more” are less helpful than focused observations like “I need to review IFRS X as I still cannot grasp this standard” or “my answers were too generic; I need to apply my knowledge to the specific case given in the exam”. The more precise you are, the better you can address the issues.
- What Else Do You Need to do in Preparation for the Real Exam?
Mock exams often reveal knowledge gaps and exam strategy gaps.
Students can ask themselves:
- What areas of the competency statement do you need to focus on for better learning mastery?
- Did you manage your time well across the different questions/indicators?
- Were you able to clearly structure your answers and communicate your points effectively?
- If you felt some exam nerves, what stress management techniques did you use?
The goal of mock exam reflection is to bring these learnings forward into the next phase of study and, ultimately, into the real exam.
You can then create an action plan based on your reflections:
- Schedule study sessions to focus on weaker areas of the competency statement.
- Set goals for improving answer structure and exam technique.
- Practice additional sample papers to reinforce your learning and improve on the mistakes you made in the mocks.
- Focus on stress management techniques like breathing that will support you think clearly in the exam.
Each mock exam or practice paper is a low-risk opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them so that you are better prepared for real exam day.
By dedicating some time for reflection after the mocks, students can gather valuable information about their technical and their exam strategy.