- Comparison of the time structure of the two volumes
- Paper 1: 35 points for each of the three parts, but should not be divided equally
- Paper 2: 45 questions and three rounds of answers
- time checkpoint system
- Establishment of rules for abandoning questions
- Rhythm training method
- Two wrong practices about time
- Exam day and on-the-spot adjustments
1. Comparison of the time structure of the two volumes
The first step in time management is to figure out the numbers. The structures of the two volumes are completely different, so the strategies cannot be generalized.
| project | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Exam time | 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes) | 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) |
| Full marks | 105 points | 45 points (45 questions) |
| account for subjects | 65% | 35% |
| structure | Part A(1), Part A(2), Part B, 35 points each | Part A accounts for about two-thirds and Part B accounts for about one-third. |
| Number of questions | Part A (1) Questions 8 to 11; Part A (2) Questions 4 to 7; Part B Questions 4 to 7 | 45 questions in total |
| time unit conversion | Approximately 1.29 minutes per 1 minute | Each question takes about 1 minute and 40 seconds |
| Scoring characteristics | Points are awarded according to the reasoning steps. If the answer is wrong but the derivation is correct, there will still be points. | 1 point for each question,No points will be deducted for wrong answers |
| What to do when you’re short of time | Write formulas, set variables, and get method points | Quickly estimate and fill in your answers, never leave anything blank |
A detail that is often overlooked: the 100 seconds in Paper 2 are not pure problem-solving time. You will also need to fill in your answers on the answer sheet. If you adopt the method of "filling in a question as soon as you finish it", you will lose about 5 to 10 seconds for each question; if you adopt the method of "filling it in once after completing a section", you will bear the risk of copying the wrong line. In practice it is advisable to About 90 seconds per question Use it as a budget for solving the problem, and select a way to answer the questions and fix it in normal times.
- Paper 1 Answering Tips
- Paper 2 MC Skills
- Common points lost
- Past Paper method
- Computer strategy
- DSE courses
2. Paper 1: Each of the three parts is worth 35 points, but it should not be divided equally.
Paper 1 is divided into three parts - Part A (1), Part A (2) and Part B -Each part is worth 35 points. The portions are the same, but the difficulty increases. If the scores are divided equally, each part will get 45 minutes; but the result of this is that part B will inevitably not be completed.
| part | Fraction | Number of questions | by average speed | Recommended actual time | reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A(1) | 35 points | Questions 8 to 11 | about 45 minutes | about 25 minutes | The question types are fixed and have few changes. They should be faster than average to accumulate time. |
| Part A(2) | 35 points | Questions 4 to 7 | about 45 minutes | about 33 minutes | Moderate difficulty, slightly faster than average |
| Part B | 35 points | Questions 4 to 7 | about 45 minutes | about 70 minutes | The most difficult part, with small questions leading to each other, requires the time saved in the first two parts. |
| examine | — | — | — | about 7 minutes | Prioritize Part A (1) and all marked questions |
| total | 105 points | Questions 16 to 25 | 135 minutes | 135 minutes | The sum agrees |
Any time allocation recommendations should be pre-calculated. Common recommendations for Paper 1 are "35 to 40 minutes for Part A (1), 35 to 40 minutes for Part A (2), 45 to 55 minutes for Part B, and 10 to 15 minutes for examination" - the upper limit can add up to 145 to 150 minutes.Beyond the actual 135 minutes of the exam paper 10 to 15 minutes. If this is followed, it will inevitably collapse at the end of Part B. This is a problem that only takes three seconds to add, but it's circulating in a lot of notes Form 1 DC.
Why does Part B require a disproportionate amount of time?
Part B only has 4 to 7 questions, which are worth 35 points, that is, each question is worth about 5 to 9 points. These questions are usually divided into multiple sub-questions, and between the sub-questions guide each other— The result of the previous question is the premise of the next question. This brings two time management consequences:
- Don't give up halfway. After spending three minutes on the first question, if you give up, you will lose points for the entire question; therefore, the time investment in Part B must be done "at once".
- The first question must be checked. Spend 20 seconds checking the first question and you may save the next 6 points. The payback in these 20 seconds is the highest in the entire volume.
For the answer format, method-marking system and typical topics of each section of Paper 1, see Paper 1 Strategy.
3. Paper 2: 45 questions and three rounds of answers
Paper 2 has a total of 45 questions, 75 minutes, each question is worth 1 mark and No points will be deducted for wrong answers. This last rule determines the policy for the entire volume:Never leave blank.
Why don't you just spell it out in order of question numbers?
The questions in Paper 2 are roughly in increasing difficulty. The first part corresponds to the basic topics of Part A, and the second part corresponds to the broader scope of Part B. If you try hard to solve the questions one by one in order of question number, once you are stuck for five minutes in the middle section, you will not have time for the questions that you would have done in the later section - and the points for those questions are exactly the same as those in the previous section (1 point per question). This is a pure strategic loss.
Round 1 (~30 minutes): Scan and Harvest
TargetProceed from question 1 in order, only do You can see the method at a glance topic.
Implementation details- Thinking about a single question for more than 20 seconds without a clear direction, that is,Fill in an answer first Mark skip again.
- Don’t dwell on any issue, don’t look back and check.
- Expect to complete approximately 25 to 30 questions.
The rapid accumulation of a large number of completed questions in the first round can significantly reduce anxiety - this is another benefit of the three-round method in addition to the time efficiency.
Round 2 (approximately 30 minutes): Calculation and Processing
TargetGo back to the marked questions and work on the parts that require actual calculations.
Implementation details- Substitution method, special value method and computer functions can be used. For details, see Paper 2 Strategy.
- If a single question exceeds 3 minutes, it will be marked as skipped again (the answer has been filled in and will not be lost).
- Expect to complete approximately 40 questions.
Round 3 (approximately 15 minutes): Problems and closing
TargetTackle the toughest remaining items and complete the closing checks.
Implementation details- Use elimination and estimation to narrow down the field—each option eliminated substantially improves the expected score.
- Stop solving problems in the last 3 minutes, check the answer sheet question by question without any spaces.
- At the same time, check whether the question numbers and answers correspond (especially if you use the "fill in one paragraph at a time" method).
| question paragraph | Number of questions | Recommended time | average per question | position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Questions 1 to 15 | 15 questions | 15 minutes | about 60 seconds | Basic questions, should be faster than average |
| Questions 16 to 30 | 15 questions | 25 minutes | about 100 seconds | Middle section question, close to average speed |
| Questions 31 to 40 | 10 questions | 20 minutes | about 120 seconds | Deeper topics |
| Questions 41 to 45 | 5 questions | 10 minutes | about 120 seconds | deepest question |
| Check and fill | — | 5 minutes | — | Make sure there are no spaces |
| total | 45 questions | 75 minutes | — | The sum agrees |
The two classification methods can be used together: the three-round method determines Answer order, determined by the question paragraph table speed expected. In practice, it is recommended to focus on the three-round method, because it does not assume that you can advance smoothly in every section.
4. Time checkpoint system
The function of checkpoints is not to urge you, but to allow you to Make early adjustments when deviations occur— Instead of only realizing that you can’t finish it in the last ten minutes. There is no way to remedy it by then.
| test paper | Check time | Progress to be achieved | What to do when you fall behind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 2 | 15th minute | Approximately 12 to 15 questions completed | Improve the execution of skipping questions and reduce the thinking limit to 15 seconds |
| 30th minute | Approximately 25 to 30 questions completed (end of first round) | Go directly to the second round without going back to make up for the simple questions you skipped in the first round. | |
| 60th minute | Already entered the third round | Give up on unanswered questions, use elimination methods instead, and start finishing checks early | |
| Paper 1 | 25th minute | Complete Part A(1) | Part A (2) Increase the intensity of skipping questions and give priority to saving time in Part B |
| Minute 58 | Complete Part A(2) | Go directly to Part B. Unfinished questions in Part A (2) are changed to writing formulas and setting methods to gain points. |
Checkpoints must be in the form of "you know it at a glance". Don't calculate "how many minutes did it take me and how many seconds did each question take on average" in the exam room - that in itself is a waste of time. The method is to bind the checkpoint to the clock reading: for example, if the exam starts at 8:30, write "8:45 → Question 15" and "9:00 → Question 30" in the draft position. After that, every time you look up, you only need to look at the clock and question number, no calculations required.
5. Establishment of rules for abandoning questions
This is the most important section of the entire article.The rules for abandoning questions must be established and fixed during daily practice, the reason is not a discipline issue, but a cognitive cost issue - judging "whether this question is worth continuing" under time pressure itself will consume time and increase anxiety, and judgments made under pressure are usually poor.
| test paper | Trigger condition | Must do before abandoning the question | reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 2 | A single question lasts more than 90 seconds and there is still no clear direction. | Fill in an answer first (Select based on intuition or after elimination), then mark as skip | No points will be deducted for wrong answers, and there is no downside risk for filling in the answers; filling in first can avoid forgetting to fill in the last part. |
| Paper 1 | There is still no entry point for a single question exceeding "the score of the question × 1.5 minutes" | Write relevant formulas, set variables ("let x be...") or list known conditions | Points are awarded according to the reasoning steps. If you write these contents, you have a chance to get method points; if you leave them blank, you will definitely get zero points. |
| Exceptions to Paper 1, Part B | Have invested time in solving the first question | Try to complete the rest of the questions, even if the previous value requires assumptions | Questions guide each other. Giving up midway will waste the time you have invested. |
Why use "fraction × 1.5 minutes" instead of fixed time
The marks for each question in Paper 1 vary widely (possibly 3 to 4 points for Part A (1), 8 to 12 points for Part B). Using a fixed time as a threshold will cause high-scoring questions to be abandoned prematurely. Taking 1.29 minutes per minute as the basis and multiplying by 1.5 as the upper limit, it is equivalent to allowing yourself to use about 1.5 times the average speed on a single question - beyond this threshold, the marginal return of continuing to invest is usually lower than switching to other questions.
The rule of abandoning questions should be truly implemented during practice
The most common failure mode is: allowing yourself to "do it in five more minutes" during normal practice, and you will naturally do the same during the exam. So in timed drills, you have to stop when the time is up—even if it’s just one step short. The unfinished parts are still recorded as lost points, and that is the real data.
6. Rhythm training methods
The sense of time is not formed naturally by "doing more papers", but is established by specific data and segmented training.
Time limits for segments take precedence over time limits for the entire volume
- Starting from Paper 2: Practice 15 questions first with a time limit of 25 minutes. This length is long enough to expose rhythm problems but does not confuse the diagnosis with fatigue.
- roll up together: Practice Part A (1) alone for 25 minutes. The question types in this part are fixed and are most suitable for training speed.
- Then do the whole volume: After adapting to the segmented rhythm, enter the full paper of 135 minutes in paper one or 75 minutes in paper two.
Four numbers that must be recorded for every drill
| record item | use |
|---|---|
| Actual time spent on each part/question section | Compare with target to find out which segment timed out |
| Number of unfinished questions | Measure whether overall speed is sufficient |
| The number of times the abandonment rule was triggered | Too many reps indicates a lack of foundation rather than a speed problem. |
| Points lost for "knowing what you do but making mistakes" | If accelerating causes this item to rise, it means that the acceleration is too fast. |
The balance between speed and accuracy can be quantified. If you speed up and the points you lose for "knowing what you're doing but doing it wrong" increase significantly, that's because you're speeding up too fast—increasing speed at this time is a negative reward. On the other hand, if the speed increases and the points lost in this item remain unchanged, you can continue to advance. This is much more reliable than relying on your gut to judge "am I going too fast?"
pure speed exercise
Find 20 Already know how to do it Simple questions with a time limit of 15 minutes. This exercise does not train problem-solving ability, but trains operation speed: computer key proficiency, writing efficiency, and answer-filling movements. Many students' "inability to finish" is actually due to slow operation rather than slow thinking, and this aspect improves the fastest.
7. Two wrong practices regarding time
Mistake 1: "The substitution method should start from B or C, because the statistical accuracy is higher."
The problemThe HKEAA does not promise that the number of occurrences of each option will be evenly distributed, let alone bias the correct answers to certain positions. There is no basis for choosing a starting point on the grounds of "statistically more likely".
real reasonIt is indeed more efficient to start with B or C, but the reason is binary search: When the options are arranged by size, try the middle value first. If the result is too large, try in the smaller direction. If the result is too small, try in the larger direction. On average, it only takes two attempts to lock. This advantage does not exist if the options are not arranged by size.
Correct approachFirst check if the options are in order. In order, start from the middle and advance using the size relationship; in disorder, start from the option that is easiest to calculate.
Mistake 2: Using a ruler and protractor to measure the graphics on the test paper
The problemGraphics on the test paper Not necessarily drawn to scale, the question usually states that the figures are not necessarily to scale. Measuring a printed graph is handing the answer to an untrustworthy source and wastes time—the act of measuring and comparing options is often slower than direct calculation.
Correct approachIf you want to use graphic aids, you should Redraw it yourself based on known data A sketch is to scale and should only be used to eliminate obviously wrong options or to check whether an answer is reasonable and should not be used to derive the answer directly. See details Paper 2 Strategy.
By the way, let’s deal with another common saying about time: Some information in the market directly corresponds to the level and the "number of correct answers" (for example, "Level 4 requires 35 correct answers"). This correspondence does not exist - the grade is based on the overall subject performance evaluation weighted by Paper 1 (65%) and Paper 2 (35%), and is not determined by the number of correct questions in a single paper; and the HKEAA never publishes the original scores or percentages corresponding to each level. Therefore, the goal of time allocation should be "complete within the time limit and reduce avoidable points lost" rather than "answer a certain number of questions correctly." See details 5** Strategy.
8. Exam day and on-the-spot adjustments
Two minutes before the exam starts
- Make sure the computer is the correct model, the label is clear, and it is set to degree mode (display D)
- Statistics memory cleared
- Write the clock reading of the checkpoint in the scratch space (e.g. "8:45 → Question 15")
- Confirm the question number range and filling method on the answer sheet
A full exam day checklist for computers is available at Computer strategy.
What to do when progress is found to be behind schedule
Judge those who are lagging first reason, and then decide on countermeasures - the two reasons are handled in completely different ways:
| reason | Symptoms | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|
| Some questions take too much time | The speed of most of the questions was normal, but there were two or three questions that were stuck for a long time. | Immediately increase the intensity of enforcement of the question abandonment rule; the time invested is regarded as a sunk cost, and do not continue because it is "half done" |
| Overall speed is slow | Each question was a little slower than expected, accumulating into a huge lag. | Change your strategy instead of accelerating: For Paper 2, enter the "quick scan and answer" mode to ensure that all answers are available; for Paper 1, give priority to ensuring that Part A (1) is complete, and write down the formulas and settings for each question in Part B to gain points. |
Don't simply speed up when you're behind. Speeding up will usually increase the points lost for "knowing it but doing it wrong", resulting in more points being lost at a faster speed. The correct response is change goals— Change from "try to complete the test and do it correctly" to "make sure you get all the points you can get", which corresponds to "fill in all answers" and "strive for method points" in the two papers respectively.
Exam tension and rhythm
Failure to be accurate on the spot is usually not due to nervousness itself;There is no preset response when the rhythm is disrupted. If you already have clear rules and checkpoints for abandoning questions, you don’t need to make on-the-spot judgments when you encounter problems, and your anxiety will naturally decrease. That’s why we advocate writing down rules and implementing them on a daily basis—it’s both a time management tool and a psychological tool.
The hardest part of time management to teach yourself
The knowledge of time allocation can be understood after reading it, but Enforce rules under pressure is another thing. The most common situation is: students completely agree that "jump if it exceeds 90 seconds", but always give themselves a little more time during actual practice - and this habit will reappear in the examination room.
our DSE maths tuition courses Institutionalize time-limited exercises: Mock Papers will be distributed in each class of Form 6 and reviewed in the next class. During the review, the content of points lost and time data (actual time taken for each part, number of unfinished questions, and number of triggering abandoned questions) will be processed at the same time. The course is taught by instructors who have taken the exam as self-taught students and obtained 5** in Core, M1, and M2. The teacher-student ratio in small classes is no more than 1:7, and each class has about 12 to 14 people and is taught by two instructors at the same time.
- TOLL: Core 4 classes per month (1.5 hours each) HK$1,360; compulsory M1 or M2 (2 hours per class) HK$1,600. See details Charge page.
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Time allocation FAQ
How much time should be spent on each point of Paper 1?
105 minutes, 135 minutes, that is approximately 1.29 minutes per 1 minute. A 10-point question theoretically takes about 13 minutes. However, the difficulty of the three parts increases gradually and should not be divided evenly.
How much time did it take for each of Volumes 1 and 3?
It is recommended to spend about 25 minutes for Part A (1), about 33 minutes for Part A (2), about 70 minutes for Part B, and about 7 minutes for inspection, totaling exactly 135 minutes. The sum of the commercial versions often exceeds 145 minutes. Please check the calculation before using it.
How many seconds does each question in Paper 2 take?
The average time is 100 seconds, but after deducting the answer time, it is advisable to use about 90 seconds as the budget for solving the problem. Three rounds of strategy: 30 minutes of scanning, 30 minutes of calculation, 15 minutes of puzzle and finishing.
How to set the rules for abandoning questions?
If a question on Paper 2 takes more than 90 seconds, please fill in the answer first and then skip; if a question on Paper 1 exceeds "score × 1.5 minutes", write down the formula and settings before skipping. Rules must be established regularly and strictly enforced.
Do I need to leave blank the second paper if I don’t know how to do it?
no way. No points will be deducted for wrong answers. The expected score for leaving blank is zero. There is still about a quarter chance of scoring for random answers. If you don’t understand something, you should immediately fill in an answer and then skip it.
What checkpoints should be set up?
Paper 2: 15, 30, 60 minutes; Paper 1: 25, 58 minutes. When the exam starts, write down the checkpoints as clock readings. After that, you only need to look up at the time and question number, no calculations required.
How to develop a sense of time?
Time limits for sections take precedence over the entire paper: paper 2 will be practiced with 15 questions first and the time limit is 25 minutes, paper 1 will be practiced with Part A (1) first with a time limit of 25 minutes. Each time, the actual time taken, the number of unfinished questions, the number of triggered question abandonments, and the points lost for "knowing it but doing it wrong" are recorded.
What should I do if I make more mistakes after speeding up?
That means accelerating too fast. If speeding up leads to an increase in points lost for "knowing what is done but making mistakes", speeding up is a negative return, and you should return to the previous speed level and then gradually advance.
What should I do if I find myself falling behind during the exam?
First determine whether "certain questions take too much time" or "the overall problem is too slow". The former increases the intensity of the execution of abandoned questions; the latter changes the goal - ensure all answers are completed in Paper 2, ensure Part A (1) is complete in Paper 1 and strive for method points in Part B. Never simply speed up.