Here’s an email I got recently from a mum, after my previous blog video about when it is and isn’t a good idea for your teen to go over and above in their study.
“Hi Katie,
Your video about what to spend extra time and effort on – and what not to – was exactly what my son needed. He almost always runs out of time in exams and tests and it’s because he tries to put in so much information into all his answers. He’s always been a hard worker but I worry because he’s getting a bit disheartened with a couple of recent exam results that weren’t so good. He’s in Year 11 so I feel this is a fairly critical time”
And I totally understand and agree.
I’ve already replied in detail to Kirsten and I’ve done a lot of other blog videos around exam technique (just click the ‘Exams’ category on the right-hand-side menu on this blog!) so I want to expand a bit more on why there is never any point in going beyond the requirements of a question in a test or exam.
Because there are students out there who hear this and still ignore it.
Not in a rebellious sort of way! But just because they don’t quite believe it; they think that their exam is different (it’s not) or they still hold out hope that there are extra marks to be had (there aren’t).
#brutaltruth
Every question is written with a purpose.
That purpose is focused on the skill or knowledge it is testing AND what is required to prove that knowledge or skill.
And that proof is allocated specific marks for each element at the time the question is written.
Then, there will usually be a meeting of senior and chief examiners after an exam has been sat. They’ll take an extensive sample of student scripts (their completed exam papers) and see how their initial mark scheme works out in practice. Any adjustments are then made before full marker training and the official marking operation.
However, EXTRA marks are NEVER invented or added on.
It’s more just a case of making a final decision about scenarios they might not have predicted or foreseen in students’ responses.
This is why I never encourage students to go above and beyond in exams. In fact it’s quite the opposite, especially where time pressure is a factor.
There’s often that temptation for students to put in some extra info or knowledge that they’ve so carefully revised, either because they want to showcase their hard work OR because they hope it will make up for a lack of knowledge or a less detailed response in what was *actually* being asked.
Well, I’m here to confirm (or reveal!) that this just isn’t the way exams or tests work.
If your teen does have extra time left, they’ll be better off using it to improve their vocabulary or improve any existing information they’ve written to have it respond even more specifically or fully to the requirements of the question.
There are no discretionary ‘aww, bless, them , they’ve tried really hard’ marks.
Or, ‘gosh this person really knows their stuff – even though it isn’t the stuff we are asking for’ marks.
Not even, ‘oh, they’ve worked it all out correctly but for the wrong chemical’, sympathy marks.
(Oh and no extras for answering more questions than they needed to either).
As a marker I’ve seen all these scenarios and many more. Where I can see that a student deserves a great mark but I just can’t give it to them if what’s on the page doesn’t match the criteria. That’s as far as it goes.
So, rather than end this on what now feels like a bit of a depressing note!… I want this to be a positive take away 🙂
So that this as an insight into exam content and marking, so that your teen can put effort where it will more likely get rewarded and can spend every minute wisely in their tests and exams.
If you’ve gotten value from this video, then please feel free to share it with any other parents who might find it helpful too 🙂
Leave me a comment below – is this blog ‘confirmation’ or ‘revelation’ for you and your teen, that there are no hidden marks.
Until next week, let’s make this a fantastic week!
Katie
