GCSE exam technique: managing time and checking your answers

Read the whole question first

• Underline the command word (such as calculate, explain or describe) and the key numbers.
• Check what the answer should look like: a number, a unit, a sentence or a diagram.
• Look at the marks. A 1-mark question needs one clear point; a 4-mark question needs several steps or points.

Use the marks to plan your time

The marks tell you how long a question deserves. A rough guide is about one minute per mark, but check the total marks and time printed on your own paper, because they differ between subjects.

If you are stuck, make a note, move on and come back. Leaving a 1-mark question to spend ten minutes on a 6-mark one usually costs marks.

Show your working

• Write each step on its own line so an examiner can give method marks even if the final answer is wrong.
• Write the calculation you did, not just the result.
• Include units, and give the answer to the accuracy the question asks for.
• Do not round until the final step.

Never leave a gap

A blank scores nothing. Write down anything relevant you know: a formula, a first step, a key term. Partial credit is often available for correct ideas.

Check in the last few minutes

• Does the answer make sense? A probability above 1 or a negative length is a warning sign.
• Did you answer every part of every question?
• Are units and rounding as the question asks?
• Re-do one calculation a different way if you have time.

Practise it with feedback

On PrepAcer, written answers are checked against the mark points, so you can see which steps earned marks and which were missed. Timed practice mocks help you get used to exam conditions.