Exam technique A level/ AS Chemistry for OCR|AQA|EDEXCEL

I am currently studying Medicine and achieved all A*s at A Level. Through my own studies, I developed an effective exam strategy, which is why I am passionate about helping students at GCSE, AS, and A Level master exam technique and uncover the “loopholes” to achieving top grades — even with only a few months remaining.

Before each lesson, I ask students which topics they would like to focus on. I then ensure they fully understand and consolidate the core content for that topic. A key part of this is helping students structure their knowledge clearly so they understand how different ideas link together, rather than simply memorising facts. This deeper understanding makes it much easier to recall and apply knowledge in exams.

Once the knowledge is secure, we shift our focus to exam technique by working through past paper questions, analysing exactly what examiners are looking for, and carefully reviewing examiner reports. This allows students to clearly see where marks are commonly lost and how to avoid those mistakes.

During lessons, we also keep a running tally of where marks are being dropped so we can target those areas directly. A key focus is developing a deep understanding of exam command words such as evaluate, suggest, describe, explain, state, and plan, so students know precisely what each question is asking. We practise breaking down questions, identifying the relevant topics, and learning how to structure answers in a way that maximises marks.

My aim is not just to teach content, but to train students to think like an examiner.