The Student Room Group

I keep not answering questions

Hi. I'm a pretty good student. But every time I get a test back, I see 0/2 for a question, then I look at it, and realise I never answered it. I never run out of time. I don't know why this is happening. It has happened 4 times in Maths, twice in physics and once in computer science (about once every 3 tests) and it happened in an actual maths mock (im y12 but it was y13 which is why i've taken so few tests in total) losing me 9 marks. How do I fix this?
This depends on what you mean by "I never answered it"?

Reply 2

Original post
by Admit-One
This depends on what you mean by "I never answered it"?

I mean that I didn't see the question; and going back over the test I have no memory of that question whatsoever
Original post
by AltAccount00
I mean that I didn't see the question; and going back over the test I have no memory of that question whatsoever


Are putting down any answer? Are you answering what you thought the question was at the time?

Reply 4

Original post
by Admit-One
Are putting down any answer? Are you answering what you thought the question was at the time?

No answer whatsoever. I'll give an example of my last test. It was a logarithms year 1 test. It was marked out of 52. I got 50. The 2 marks I lost were a question I didn't answer because I didn't see. I had no memory of that question being there whatsoever, no workings related to that question, nothing. This is what is happening in my exams.
Original post
by AltAccount00
No answer whatsoever. I'll give an example of my last test. It was a logarithms year 1 test. It was marked out of 52. I got 50. The 2 marks I lost were a question I didn't answer because I didn't see. I had no memory of that question being there whatsoever, no workings related to that question, nothing. This is what is happening in my exams.

I suppose this could be your mind racing ahead and answering what you can rather than seeing what is actually there.

The good advice I received for Maths exams which I always followed was:

Read the whole paper beginning to end. Do not have a pen in your hand.

Read the whole paper again. Do not write anything.

Make any brief notes you want. Note where the most marks are, and any questions where you really feel you would struggle.

Complete the paper prioritising high mark questions and anything you are confident on.

Reply 6

Original post
by Admit-One
I suppose this could be your mind racing ahead and answering what you can rather than seeing what is actually there.
The good advice I received for Maths exams which I always followed was:

Read the whole paper beginning to end. Do not have a pen in your hand.

Read the whole paper again. Do not write anything.

Make any brief notes you want. Note where the most marks are, and any questions where you really feel you would struggle.

Complete the paper prioritising high mark questions and anything you are confident on.


It's not answering what I can; when I get my paper back and go over the questions I didn't answer I literally have not once failed to complete them in less than 5 minutes. That does sound like good advice though (although there aren't really questions I'd struggle on nor waste enough time such that I can't finish). Thanks
Original post
by AltAccount00
It's not answering what I can; when I get my paper back and go over the questions I didn't answer I literally have not once failed to complete them in less than 5 minutes. That does sound like good advice though (although there aren't really questions I'd struggle on nor waste enough time such that I can't finish). Thanks

Even if not needed for prioritising, it's good practice to subconsciously think about the questions rather than writing straight away.

If you are blanking out, (and it is only happening on papers for one subject), then I can only suggest you are racing through too quickly.

Reply 8

Original post
by Admit-One
Even if not needed for prioritising, it's good practice to subconsciously think about the questions rather than writing straight away.
If you are blanking out, (and it is only happening on papers for one subject), then I can only suggest you are racing through too quickly.

I'll try, thanks

Reply 9

I used to mark of the question after I had done it with a pen and that helped.

Not sure if it's the same for A Levels but in Advanced Highers the answer sheet is often on a different page, so keeping track of the question numbers might also help.

For example if you were doing question 3 b and then you notice you are suddenly on question 5, you must have skipped something.

Not a perfect solution, but along with taking your time a bit more hopefully it won't happen again x

Reply 10

Original post
by AltAccount00
Hi. I'm a pretty good student. But every time I get a test back, I see 0/2 for a question, then I look at it, and realise I never answered it. I never run out of time. I don't know why this is happening. It has happened 4 times in Maths, twice in physics and once in computer science (about once every 3 tests) and it happened in an actual maths mock (im y12 but it was y13 which is why i've taken so few tests in total) losing me 9 marks. How do I fix this?


Hello,

This could be because of your current stress that you unconsciously skip over questions. Try and tick a mark next to each question when you answer it and go back and check that all questions were ticked before submitting your paper, this way you’ll notice any questions that were left unanswered.

-Sarah (Kingston Rep)

Reply 11

Original post
by Kingston Sarah
Hello,
This could be because of your current stress that you unconsciously skip over questions. Try and tick a mark next to each question when you answer it and go back and check that all questions were ticked before submitting your paper, this way you’ll notice any questions that were left unanswered.
-Sarah (Kingston Rep)

That sounds really helpful, i'll try that next time. ty <3

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