What to do after a mock exam: a practical review method

Sort the lost marks

For each missed question, label the main reason: missing knowledge, misunderstanding the question, weak method, time pressure, or a careless slip. If several reasons apply, choose the one that would have saved the most marks.

Keep the original question, your answer and the marking guidance together. A total score alone cannot explain what to revise.

Find patterns, not just individual mistakes

Look for repeated errors across questions. Perhaps you know definitions but cannot apply them, or you solve calculations correctly when untimed but run out of time. These patterns suggest different fixes.

For a knowledge gap, revisit the topic and retrieve it from memory. For a method gap, study a worked example and then solve a new problem. For timing, practice selecting and completing questions under a realistic limit.

Write a short corrective plan

Choose the two or three patterns with the largest impact. Turn each one into a specific task for the next week, such as “complete five unfamiliar data-response questions and mark them.” Ask a teacher about errors you cannot explain from the marking guidance.

Avoid rewriting the entire paper as a form of revision. Spend most of the time on a fresh question that tests whether the correction transfers.

Retest and record the result

After a few days, attempt similar questions without notes. Compare the new work with the original error. If the mistake persists, change the approach or ask for help. If it is fixed, schedule a later check so it stays fixed.