Lecturers explain some of the most common exam mistakes and how to avoid them
Published on 7 May 15
The blank sheet of paper in front of you, the awkward shuffling of papers and chairs breaking the uncomfortable silence, your head spinning with hours and hours of revised knowledge… must mean you're sat in an exam!
It's easy to get swamped by panic (or relief that it'll all be over in a couple of hours) and make simple mistakes that cost valuable marks. Here's some of the most common mistakes – and how to avoid them!
Poor planning
With the adrenaline pumping it's easy to rush straight in, but this can lead to you running out of time or spending too much time on one answer and missing a question you could have done really well on.
Avoid by: Taking the time to read all the questions and work out what they are asking you. Think about the questions you want to answer and which order. It's tempting to think you'll tackle the ones you're least confident with in a bid to 'get then out of the way' – but this might not be the best approach. Start with one you know you can answer well – not only will you start collecting marks but you will make sure you get into the flow of answering questions and boost your confidence.
Panic and procrastination
Getting started can be the hardest part and despite what we've just said about planning don't use this as an excuse to not start!
Avoid by: Getting on with it – once you've read and planned. Think in advance about how much time you want to give to reading and planning -and stick to it!
Lack of structure and clarity
Dr Cristina Masters, Politics Lecturer, says that often "students don't structure and organise answers as they would if they were writing an essay."
Avoid by: Dr Masters' tip is when writing essay style or long answers to "take the time to write an introductory paragraph that briefly details your answer to the question and the key argument. This makes for a better answer in almost every instance. Also making direct references to readings and authors indicates revision and analytical connections."
Lack of analysis
Sometimes it's easy to see the topic and just write everything you know about it without actually addressing the question.
Avoid by: Engage with the question, work out what is being asked and how you are being asked to demonstrate your knowledge. The analysis and critical evaluation of your knowledge in relation to the question is where the top marks are hidden.
Carelessness
Marks are easily lost if you don't pay attention to details – factual as well as spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Avoid by: Making sure you don't generalise in the rush to get all your knowledge out – refer to specific facts, authors, theories etc. Also make sure you leave time to reread your answer for simple mistakes.