Exam technique: the marks students lose without realising
6 min read · updated 2026-09-01
Two students with identical knowledge can differ by a full grade on exam technique alone. These are the habits that recover marks without learning anything new, and they are trainable in weeks.
Read the command word
'State' needs one line. 'Explain' needs reasons linked to the answer. 'Compare' needs both sides explicitly linked. 'Evaluate' needs a judgement supported by evidence. Most lost marks come from answering a different question than the one asked, usually because the command word was skimmed.
Budget minutes by marks
A 90-minute paper worth 80 marks gives roughly one minute per mark. Train the habit: one-mark questions get one minute, six-mark questions get a planned structure. When a question overruns its budget, flag it and move on; returning with fresh eyes recovers more than grinding.
Never leave blanks; bank method marks
Most exam boards award method marks even when the final answer is wrong. Writing the formula, the first line of working, or a partial explanation earns real marks. A blank is the only guaranteed zero, so everything gets an attempt.
The final ten minutes
- ✓ Return to flagged questions with fresh eyes
- ✓ Check every answer is written in the right answer space (the classic digital-exam error)
- ✓ Reread one long answer against the question wording
- ✓ Never leave early: checking is where dropped marks are recovered
FAQs
My child knows the content but scores badly. What is wrong?＋
Almost always technique: command words, timing, or answer structure. It is fast to diagnose from one marked paper and fast to train.
Should we attempt every question even when unsure?＋
Yes in almost every exam: partial method earns marks and wrong answers are not penalised. The only exception is negative-marking formats, which are rare at this level.
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