The job of examiners is to give you marks, not to take them away, but they are powerless to help you if you fall into the most common traps. We list the biggest pitfalls identified.
Not reading the paper correctly - Examiners say this is one of the most regular errors. They call it the "triggered answer". You have your answer on Hitler's Germany ready, you see his name on the paper and you supply your pre-planned answer - and then you're shocked to find your grade so low. You didn't look at the exact terms of the question - it was looking for an account of his domestic policies, not his foreign policies.
Not finishing the paper - Mismanaging your time within the exam can easily cost you a full grade. The biggest exam "crime" is to leave suitable questions unattempted.
Remember: it is much easier to get the first 20 per cent of the marks for any question than the last 5 per cent. Therefore, if you find yourself stuck for time as you struggle through your third answer out of five, do not spend your remaining time extending and perfecting that answer. Instead, move on to questions four and five, even if your attempt is sketched or in point form. If you have answered only three questions instead of five, the highest mark you can get is 60 per cent.
Ignoring the marking scheme - You must take the marking scheme into account when you allocate time to each question or part of a question. If the marks allotted to a question clearly indicate that a few paragraphs are sufficient, do not write an essay on the subject. Avoid the temptation of writing everything you know about a topic - just give the appropriate amount of information. Sample model answers are provided for various subjects in our Exam Centre.
Repetition - Make the point once. There are no extra marks for restating facts, even if you phrase them differently. Examiners say repetition is a common mistake. It is also a time-waster and an irritant.
Missing part of a question - Sometimes part of a question can be carried on to the next page and, in the pressure of the moment, you don't see it. As a consequence you might fail to do a compulsory part of a question or miss the chance to take an option that would have suited you better. Always take time to familiarise yourself with the whole paper before you start answering it.
Study tips courtesy of Skoool.ie