ECZ Examination Guides

How to Manage Examination Time in Paper 1 and Paper 2: ECZ Exam Guide

ECZ Solutions Editorial Team  |  March 2, 2026  |  10 Min Read
Golden Rule of Exam Timing

Many candidates lose marks not because they don't know the answers, but because they spend 15 minutes on a 2-mark question and run out of time for 10-mark questions at the end. Managing your minutes per mark is essential.

1. Calculating Minutes Per Mark

Divide the total time in minutes by the total marks available:

  • 2-Hour Paper (120 minutes) for 80 Marks: Allocate approximately 1.5 minutes per mark.
  • 2.5-Hour Paper (150 minutes) for 100 Marks: Allocate approximately 1.5 minutes per mark.

2. The 5-Minute Initial Reading Strategy

Use the first 5 minutes to read through the entire paper. In Paper 2 Section B (where you select 4 out of 6 questions), tick the 4 questions you feel most confident solving.

3. What to Do When Stuck

If a question takes longer than 3 minutes without progress, place a small pencil star next to it and move on to the next question immediately. Return to starred questions at the end.

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