After students have started their subject-specific courses, one of their biggest anxieties is the prospect of taking an examination in English; this may be for a degree or other academic qualification. All kinds of pressures build up on the students at the same time: requirements of knowledge, memory, time, writing skills, understanding the question, etc. One of the perceived needs of students is to practise for this traumatic event: not only practice in analysing the question and structuring a possible answer, but also practice in writing an answer ‘against the clock’, e.g. one question in an hour, four questions in three hours, etc.

In all the above respects, NNS students are similar to NS students, who are well catered for with study skills books that give advice, examples, and practice (e.g. Northedge 1990; Montgomery 1991; McIlroy and Jones 1993). The overall advice to NS students is based on:

1. – revision: planning and adequate time;

2. – questions: analyse previous exam papers – become familiar with the layout, instructions, and content and form of questions;

3. – the exam: allocate time among the questions; answer the question; ensure clear presentation and legible writing.

For NNS students, the situation can be more difficult and challenging because they may not have taken a specialist subject exam in English before. In addition, if they are studying in another country, the exam procedures and conventions may be different from those in their own country.