GCSE Examination Hints

Ask yourself the following question before you read on:

What am I trying to do in the examination?

  • Do not use red ink.
  • Do not use tippex, it is not allowed in an examination. Just cross out your error. Do not write over your mistake. It may not be clear and therefore marked incorrect.
  • Handwriting that is impossible to read cannot earn marks.
  • Read the question at least twice.
  • Make sure that you have answered every part of the question. "State and explain the trend" requires you to begin by stating the trend and then giving an explanation for it.
  • A calculation question sometimes asks for a comment on the result; don’t forget to do it.
  • Read through your answer at the end and make sure that it makes sense.
  • Read your answer and check that your answer is the answer that the question has asked for.
  • Show clearly all steps in calculations. This might give you marks even though your final answer may be wrong.
  • Don’t forget to write state symbols in chemical equations.
  • Check the chemical formula of each compound you write. It is quite easy to make a simple mistake. E.g. NaCO3 when it should be Na2CO3
  • Lay out calculations in a comprehensible manner and don’t forget to quote the units at the end. Do not forget to include the sign when asked for, even if your answer is positive. Give you final answer to same number of significant figures as quoted in the question
  • Graphs must fill the graph area or graph paper that has been provided. Axes must be in ink and the line drawn in pencil. The data points must be remain visible once the line is drawn. Most data for plotting graphs in chemistry are continuous. They must therefore be drawn with a smooth curve or line of best fit and not dot-to-dot. Number of carbons in a hydrocarbon against a physical property is one that should be drawn as dot to dot.
  • When asked for observations say what you would see e.g. in a reaction you would not see carbon dioxide gas but you would see bubbling.
  • Understand the difference between colourless and clear. Water is colourless but a cola drink is clear.
  • Sketch does not mean a scruffy attempt. Diagrams must be neat, accurate and fully labelled. Don’t forget to label the reagents. Practice drawing apparatus. Make sure that air gaps are clearly shown otherwise the apparatus would be sealed. In diagram such as distillation ensure that all joints are sealed. In distillation the thermometer must be positioned in the correct place.
  • When drawing dot and cross diagrams don’t use the atomic number to work out the number of outer electrons but use the group number, e.g. bromine would have 17 electrons in the outer shell if you rely on atomic number, but as it is in Group 7 there are only 7 electrons in the outer shell.
  • Be precise when asked for uses or effects e.g. PTFE is not "used in cooking" but as a "non-stick surface on a cooking utensil"; chlorine is not "used in swimming pools" but as a "disinfectant in swimming pools"; "oxides of sulphur may give rise to acid rain" is not sufficient but "acid rain may affect plant growth"; "greenhouse gas or greenhouse effect from the emission of carbon dioxide" is not sufficient but "the consequence is that it may cause global warming".