How should I go about answering an unseen poem in an exam?

Unseen poetry can be flustering if you do not know what do, however, if you give yourself time to plan and use a few logical steps, you'll be able to take on anything! Planning is key in the exam so take 10 minutes to make notes and plan your answer. Before anything write down 'form, structure and language' to remind yourself what you're looking for.
First, read and re-read the poem 2-3 times. The first read is to gain a general idea of the poem ie. what is the poem about? Note down any first impressions as you can use it to introduce your answer. First impressions can be a useful thing to write about when considering the poem's effect. The second and third time, underline words or moments in the poem that stand out. Structure your analysis and plan by asking yourself how the form, structure and language of the poem relate to the question. Think about the form: what type of poem is this? Why is it in this form and what effect does this have? Think about the structure: how many stanzas are there? How does one stanza differ in tone or idea than the next? How does the end differ from the beginning? Consider the rhythm and rhyme: are any rhyming words connected? Does the poem flow or not? Why might this be? Finally, think about the language: what words stand out and why? How do the words convey the poet's feeling? Are they harsh sounding or soft, and does this change at any point? Quite often, it is useful to structure your answer by addressing the question and general idea of the poem in your introduction, followed by the effects of form, structure and language. Remember, a poem is much like a gold mine, and your impressions and questions are your tools to extract the gold. Even if you don't 'get' the whole poem or certain parts, luckily, you can make a lot out of a little when analysing it.