The idea of an ‘open book’ exam may sound like a breeze, but it’s surprising how many students get tripped up by them. The temptation to look up every answer and copy down whatever the book says is best avoided.
Firstly, there just won’t be time to work in that way, and secondly, you’ll get the most marks for being able to apply the law to a particular set of facts, rather than just state what the law says.
A good technique is to approach the exam as if it were closed-book. Plan your answers and address the question as you normally would, and use your books as a ‘safety net’ just to double-check anything you’re unsure of. The biggest mistake examiners see in open book exams if that students try to find the answer from the book rather than using it as a reference guide for the extra little details.
Remember to make use of the index to quickly find references to key topics. This can save you a lot of time flicking through pages to locate the information you need. Get a set of sticky tabs, and tab up any important pages. Highlight page numbers or fold over pages that you keep coming back to.
If your law school allows you to take in your own notes, use them. Prepare them well in advance so that they’re in a logical order and you know exactly where to look to find cases and principles – colour-coding is a great way to keep things organised. Make sure that you practice using your books during revision so that you don’t waste any time finding the information that you need during the exams.
As with every exam, plan your time carefully and READ each question before you dive in, highlighting key elements and making notes as you read. Just having your books with you will be a confidence boost, so trust in that confidence and give it your best!