5 mistakes learners make with exam strategy, each one named and explained.
Every mark counts the same, so spend time where marks are still available.
The same letter is put for every remaining question rather than a considered guess.
It is fast, and it feels like a system.
Question. Several questions left with a minute to go
A common answer. put the same letter for all of them
The answer. make a quick sensible guess at each
Why. Even five seconds on a question usually rules one option out.
Ruling out one obviously wrong answer lifts every guess. It takes seconds.
The advice chosen abandons a question permanently, or crosses out unanswered ones.
Deciding firmly feels like good strategy, and moving on cleanly feels tidier than leaving loose ends.
Question. Questions still blank as time runs out
A common answer. cross them all out
The answer. make a sensible guess at each one
Why. A blank scores nothing for certain, and a guess sometimes scores.
Never leave a mark you could still have. Guessing costs nothing when there is no penalty.
Blank answers are left because guessing feels risky, even though wrong answers are not penalised.
Guessing feels like cheating or like a wrong answer will count against you, and often it once did.
Question. A multiple-choice paper with no penalty for wrong answers
A common answer. leave the blanks to be safe
The answer. guess sensibly at every one
Why. With no penalty there is nothing to be safe from.
Check the instructions once at the start. If there is no penalty, never leave a blank.
The advice chosen is to keep working on a hard question however long it takes.
Abandoning work already done feels wasteful, and giving up feels like failing.
Question. Stuck for two minutes on one question
A common answer. keep going until it is solved
The answer. mark it, move on, and come back if there is time
Why. Every question is worth the same, so two more minutes here costs two easier marks elsewhere.
The minutes already spent are gone whatever you do. Only the minutes ahead are yours to spend.
Checking earlier answers is started while questions remain unattempted.
Checking feels productive and safe, and unattempted questions feel intimidating.
Question. Stuck on a question with several still unattempted
A common answer. stop and check the earlier answers
The answer. move on to the questions not yet attempted
Why. An unattempted question is a mark you certainly do not have; a checked one you probably do.
Attempt everything first. Check only with the time left over.
WAJD spots these patterns in your child's answers and names the one behind their wrong answers, instead of just marking them wrong.