Dropping simple marks

[Diamond4709]

Hey all

I've down plenty of prac. exams in which I struggle very little with any topic in particular and often score quite well. However, I always find myself loosing simple marks on very simple questions on both exam one and two. Is there any advice anyone has on the simplest to avoid slipping up on simple problems, a reading or checking strategy that I could maybe learn off going into the exam next Friday.

Cheers     

[Maya24]

Practice. Keep practising. I also suggest write a list of those mistakes somewhere in your bound and make sure you double check that you haven't made them in the exam. Even things having a mental checklist can help as well.

[Lear]

What’s been working for me is working literally at a snail’s pace. I read a question, underline key details and read it again. Then I make small notes on how i’m going to approach it (only for bigger questions obvs) and only then attempt the question. I triple check if my numbers are entered into my cas correctly and make sure my working out is as neat as possible.
I then go back and reread the question to ensure I have answered exactly what needs to be answered.

Exhausting right?

But it works. I still manage to finish both exams roughly half an hours early so I go on to clear my CAS and do all the questions once again. However this time I try to use alternative techniques to answer questions to ensure it’s consistent (eg using a formula for financial rather than financial solver) and I have not made any errors.

Then I pull a checklist I have in my bound reference and check off common mistakes I’ve made in the past to ensure I haven’t made it again.

Hope it helps!

[Diamond4709]

Practice. Keep practising. I also suggest write a list of those mistakes somewhere in your bound and make sure you double check that you haven't made them in the exam. Even things having a mental checklist can help as well.

Ill very likely take on this approach, thanks so much

[Diamond4709]

What’s been working for me is working literally at a snail’s pace. I read a question, underline key details and read it again. Then I make small notes on how i’m going to approach it (only for bigger questions obvs) and only then attempt the question. I triple check if my numbers are entered into my cas correctly and make sure my working out is as neat as possible.
I then go back and reread the question to ensure I have answered exactly what needs to be answered.

Exhausting right?

But it works. I still manage to finish both exams roughly half an hours early so I go on to clear my CAS and do all the questions once again. However this time I try to use alternative techniques to answer questions to ensure it’s consistent (eg using a formula for financial rather than financial solver) and I have not made any errors.

Then I pull a checklist I have in my bound reference and check off common mistakes I’ve made in the past to ensure I haven’t made it again.

Hope it helps!

Provided i can convince myself to read the question that many times, I'd say that's where many of the little mistakes i make come from
Thanks so much !