Mark schemes are available on exam boards’ websites alongside the past papers. Comparing how confident you felt with a question to the answer in the mark scheme can flag up some topics for revision. You may find some questions you thought you were comfortable with, but actually need a little work… or perhaps you nailed a question you thought you struggled with!
Once you have attempted a number of papers, you will begin to notice common questions (whether new specification or not). For science exams, in particular, it is worth learning the key points examiners look for in answers to certain questions.
For example, a 5-mark question on the process of fractional distillation in Chemistry requires succinct presentation of key facts. If you memorise the points in the mark scheme, you are guaranteeing yourself a perfect answer!
This principle also applies to key definitions. Often only 1 or 2 marks, these questions are easy to slip up on if you don’t use the correct phrasing or write down a keyword. Learning a definition provided in mark schemes is a good way to ensure you’ll always pick up these marks.
Reflect After Doing a Past Paper
Instead of simply doing a past paper and moving on, take a few minutes to go through your answers and reflect on what you’ve done. This way, you’ll be more likely to learn from your mistakes, and you’ll be less likely to make the same mistakes again in the future.
Doing a bunch of past papers is great, but reflection is what makes your studying way more effective. If you’re actively thinking about your answers, and looking at ways to improve, then you’re well on your way to acing your exams.
