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Step one: fix the time budget
Start from the real exam length and divide it before writing any questions. Reserve a few minutes at the start for reading instructions and a final block for checking answers. Then assign time per section according to marks, not question count, so heavier sections get more minutes. Worked example: a 90-minute chemistry practice paper could allow 5 minutes for reading, 30 for multiple choice, 40 for short answers, 10 for one extended response and 5 for review. Write these numbers at the top of the paper so the student can pace themselves without guessing.
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Step two: order and weight the sections
Decide the sequence by how students actually behave under pressure. Placing easier retrieval questions first builds confidence and secures quick marks, while long reasoning tasks come later when time is better understood. Match the weighting to the real syllabus so practice reflects what is tested. In the chemistry example, twenty multiple choice items at one mark each, five short answers at four marks each and one extended response at ten marks create a fifty-mark paper. Label each section with its marks and suggested minutes, and keep question styles identical to the real format, including command words such as explain or calculate.
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Step three: mark, review and repeat
Finish the structure by planning what happens after the timer stops. Prepare a mark scheme with accepted answers and common errors, then ask the student to sort missed marks into three groups: knowledge gaps, careless slips and timing problems. In the chemistry example, a student who loses marks only on the extended response needs timing practice, not more revision of facts. Record the score, time left and weakest section, then schedule the next paper with a changed emphasis. Repeating the same structure two or three times makes progress visible and keeps each attempt comparable.