In the summer of 1966, O level examiners reported that “candidates had an inability to answer the question. (1966 – Ancient History O Level) and a year later, “candidates failed to read the question properly and as a result included much irrelevant materials,” (source: University of London, subject report 1966). 

A level candidates fared no better: students’ “chief fault was to fail to grasp the full import of the question in the first place and then to decide on a suitable approach to as to achieve a sensible and worthwhile answer.  Some Candidates seemed to suffer from some kind of examination myopia which prevented them from seeing vital words such as explain, discuss, assess.  …if more attention were given to working out an answer before committing pen to paper the results would be far more rewarding.”

Forty years on, examiners are less direct, preferring often to give students less critical and more supportive comments.  But: examiners today still report the same failings by students approaching their exams.  These tips echo advice given forty years ago, but if followed may help some students over this summer’s exam period starting on the 15th May.

2006 Exam Day tips from Edexcel’s examiners:

• When you are told to turn your exam paper over, don’t rush into it – read the paper from cover to cover before you start writing
• read the instructions and advice to candidates on the front of the question paper carefully.  This often contains advice about how you should allocate your time to the questions; two sections of the paper might not carry equal weighting
• don’t panic.  Take a deep breath and reread the paper from cover to cover
• take time to consider the questions. Look at where most marks are to be gained and whether you are confident in answering them and where you have a choice of questions, look at where most marks are to be gained
• don’t spend too much time working on the low mark questions.  Your exam revision practice should have taught you to allocate time wisely with more time to the higher tariff questions to maximise your marks
• don’t rush into answering the questions – make a rough essay plan for the longer, higher mark questions
• don’t leave a blank space.  Blank spaces definitely earn no marks.  Try to write something in response to every question, or some bullet points to come back to later
• try and relax, and keep an eye on the clock without checking it constantly. Leave enough time to complete each question and to read through your answers before the end of the exam
• take time to read what you have written, particularly the longer, higher mark questions
• when time is running out, make bullet points of the key messages you want to get across:  the examiner is looking to see that you understand your subject and listing key words could help you pick up some marks
• once you have finished the exam avoid comparing your answers with other students
• be positive and have confidence in your ability - remember that exams are not set to trip you up, but are designed to allow you to show your knowledge – what you know about the subject.

Jerry Jarvis, Edexcel’s managing director, said:  “Students lose marks for silly mistakes; either not reading the question properly or for answering the question they wish they’d been asked:  the best tip is to read the paper slowly - twice.  We want students to do as well as they can and hope these tips from our examiners will help them.”