1. Use of Examination Technique to Improve Your Grades
A2 Exam Technique
Use of Examination Technique to Improve Your Grades

2. What is Exam Technique?
Using a set of techniques to increase the mark you get in the exam
Being able to identify what is required in an answer
Targeting your answers to the question
Learning how to answer questions the way the examiner intended them to be answered

3. Why is Exam Technique Important?
You may have the knowledge but not be able to put it down in words
Exam technique can gain you up to 8% more on the exam – this is the equivalent of one grade
No additional knowledge is required, it is just a different way of writing your answers
The examiner
If your answer is clear and covers the marking points it will get all the marks
If your answer is vague and full of waffle it will lose marks
Make it easy for the examiner to mark and award you marks

4. The A2 ICT Paper Time: Style: Context: 2 Hours Lines to write on
Unlike AS no leading words on the lines
Part A – structured knowledge based answers
Part B - context
Context:
Your answers should be written within the context

5. Key Words Identify, State, Give Describe Evaluate Compare Explain
Single word/phrase answers
Give more than asked
Do not contradict
Describe
State, in a sentence
Evaluate
Give reasons and draw conclusion
Compare
Pick a feature, compare each to the feature
Explain
Describe, with reasons
Depending on the question – unless otherwise asked, give advantages and disadvantages
Discuss
Explain, with a conclusion

6. Hints and Tips Do not cross anything out Do not doodle
If you have made a mistake, do not cross it out
Leave it and write the new answer underneath
Draw a line down the side of it but do not cross it out
You can write a comment to the examiner saying:
“Mark this first”
If you cross it out it will not be marked
May have some marks in it that you would not receive
Do not doodle
Remember the AS exam technique

7. AS Exam Technique Revision
Remember the Key Words
Look at the number of marks available
Take the number of marks, half and add to total
That is the number of points to make
If the question is out of 4
4+2=6 – make six points
Make sure you have answered the question that has been set
Re-read the question – does your answer have enough points to get the marks and have you answered the question

8. Summary Write to the end of the examination
Try and get the balance between knowledge and application of knowledge
Bring in examples
A2 allows you to express your wider knowledge and understanding of the subject