Types of lost marks

[kyzoo]

I've been wondering about what common threads there are between the mistakes I've made on trial exams and I've come up with the following.

Type 1: Misinterpretation of question
~ Not answering the specific question, but rather answering what you think is the question

Prevented by annotating paper and marking key conditions/info.

Type 2: Incorrect working out
~ Algebra mistakes such as "0 = 25 - 4a" => "a = 4/25"

Prevented by not rushing, and thinking about what you are doing

Type 3: Lack of knowledge
~ Having no idea what the question is asking for

Prevented by learning the course properly

Type 4: Tricks on the paper
~ When the question imposes weird conditions that you don't normally encounter when doing that kind of question. E.g. asking for number of atoms rather than molecules in Chem

Type 5: Forgetting little details
~ Forgetting horizontal asymptote for reciprocal function in Spesh
~ Forgetting "dx" or "+c" in antidifferentiation in Methods

What are everyone's ideas about preventing each type of lost mark?

[jimmy999]

For Maths exams where a book can be brought in, write up a page of common mistakes checklist and ways to prevent them. And then actually use it in your exam unlike me. I spent the time writing it up, had plenty of time in my methods exam yet didn't look at the page. If I did I could've gotten at least 1 mark more

[kyzoo]

For Maths exams where a book can be brought in, write up a page of common mistakes checklist and ways to prevent them. And then actually use it in your exam unlike me. I spent the time writing it up, had plenty of time in my methods exam yet didn't look at the page. If I did I could've gotten at least 1 mark more

I did the exact same for Methods =/ and I didn't use it either.

[shinny]

For Maths exams where a book can be brought in, write up a page of common mistakes checklist and ways to prevent them. And then actually use it in your exam unlike me. I spent the time writing it up, had plenty of time in my methods exam yet didn't look at the page. If I did I could've gotten at least 1 mark more

Yep same. It wasn't so much for use in the exam for me though. I had an 'error book' for all my subjects which I would review the day and morning before exams since I tended to keep these days relatively clear of high stress study. With regards to the OP, I think you've covered most of the general ones in that list of yours.

[vea]

I remember writing up a "common errors made by vea" summary sheet for my maths exam back in year 9... worked

maybe i should be reverting to my old habits

[physics]

THE SIGFIGS THAT SUCK SOOOOOOOO MUCH

[iffets12345]

Tricks on paper is the worst, as we saw this year in chem, we were ALL used to bloody carbon-carbon double bonds, and this year they broke convention by asking for ALL bonds like C=O.
Is this really what the education system is meant to be about =='

[stonecold]

so many damn conversions on the chem exam.  one of them had to get me. 

how did i turn 1458mL in 15L

filthy!

[kyzoo]

But they never asked for all double CC bonds. It's fully valid to interpret their use of the word "double-bond" as referring to "carbon-carbon double-bond"

http://vcenotes.com/forum/index.php/topic,26727.msg273248.html#msg273248

[stonecold]

You can add a sixth category kyzoo.

6.  Ambiguous and poorly worded questions.

[iffets12345]

So what are you saying kyzoo, it's okay if we said 6 bonds?

[Greggler]

Most errors can easily be cured by keeping a calm head, not rushing and reading the whole question.

Unfortuantley its just so hard to do this in an exam.

You see something unfamiliar you panic. Or perhaps see something familiar, jump to conclusions and fail to read the rest of the question; the momentum graph on this years physics is a perfect example.

Atleast this is what happened with me this year. Physics i did not care much about prior to exam, i do not enjoy it and frankly hate it lol. So in the exam room i was relaxed and couldnt really care about the outcome; that isnt to say i didnt try hard, but i was really relaxed, and as a result did quite well (i think)

In contrast, i made so many silly and preventable errors in chemistry. Rushed through the whole thing, finished with ~30 minutes to go; and fell for most of the 'tricks' VCAA threw at us.  And i put this down to the fact i wanted to do really well at chem. I'd done so much study, and knew everything so well. Had done well in all my practice exams, but i had just put way too much pressure on myself to do well.

moral of the story. take it easy lol.

[Akirus]

I believe misconceptions are noteworthy.

[stonecold]

Type 2 and Type 5 are killing me at the moment.  Forgetting little details under pressure which under normal circumstances I would easily remember are very frustrating.

[eeps]

LOL for Accounting, I generally lose marks on Types 4 & 5.