Where marks go
Maths
The missing + c
A perfect integration, and the accuracy mark is gone because "+ c" was left off.
Chemistry
"Equal" instead of "constant"
At equilibrium the concentrations are constant, not equal. One word, one mark.
Both
Explaining half the story
Stating the effect but not the reason. A 3-mark explanation needs three separate points.
Both
Answering a different command word
Describing when the question said explain, or skipping steps in a "show that".
Both
Rounding too early
Rounding halfway through a calculation, so the final answer falls outside the mark scheme.
Chemistry
Units and state symbols
Right number, missing unit. Right equation, missing (aq). Easy marks, easily lost.
How I can help
See exactly what a marking report looks like: sample report (PDF).
The question you've never seen
Every paper has a question that looks new. It rarely is. This is the routine we practise until it is automatic:
Find the command word and the marks
They tell you what kind of answer is wanted and how many points it needs.
Name the topic underneath
An unfamiliar context is almost always a familiar idea in disguise. Ask: which part of the syllabus is this testing?
List what you are given and what you need
Every piece of data is there for a reason. Data you have not used usually points to the missing step.
Write the principle before the answer
Start from the rule you know: an equation, a definition, a trend. That line often earns a method mark on its own.
Show every step, even if unsure
Method marks reward working. A blank space scores nothing; a sensible attempt often scores more than you expect.
Start with a free worksheet, or send me a paper you have already attempted and I'll show you exactly where the marks went.
Stay in touch
A short email on one way students lose marks in A-Level Chemistry or Maths, and how to avoid it. Unsubscribe any time.