Why am I running out of time in the ESAT?

The problem isn't speed, it's strategy.

Most students answer ESAT questions in the order they appear. The ESAT is designed such that there isn't enough time to work through everything, so your strategy needs to be to get guaranteed marks first.

The system

Spend the first two minutes scanning all 27 questions. Sort them mentally into three groups:

• Easy: You recognize the concept immediately. Around 9-12 questions.
• Medium: You know how to approach it but need time to work through. Around 8-10 questions.
• Hard: You're unsure where to start. Around 5-7 questions.

Minutes 2-22: Answer the easy questions. These should take 45-90 seconds each. Target: 10-12 marks.

Minutes 22-35: Work through medium questions. Move on after 90 seconds if you're stuck. Target: 6-8 marks.

Minutes 35-40: Review your work or attempt a hard question if you have an idea. If nothing comes to mind, accept the marks you have.

Remember

Each question is worth exactly 1 mark. Whether you spend 30 seconds or 5 minutes, the reward is the same. Spending 5 minutes on a hard question means giving up the chance to answer 3-4 easier ones.

Getting stuck usually isn't a knowledge problem. It's a signal that the question is either poorly worded for you or designed to be hard. Either way, moving on is the correct decision.

The common mistake

Students often refuse to skip questions because it feels like giving up — but in reality, some questions just aren't worth answering.