Across years of OC preparation, the same handful of avoidable mistakes tend to show up again and again — the good news is that each one has a straightforward fix.

Mistake One: Rushing Through Instructions

Many students lose easy marks simply by skimming instructions too quickly and missing a key detail, such as how many answers a question requires.

Mistake Two: Ignoring Timing Until Test Day

Students who never practise under a timer often run out of time on the real test, even when they know the content well. Timing needs its own dedicated practice, separate from content review.

• Fix: read instructions twice before answering
• Fix: use a visible timer during every practice session
• Fix: practise leaving hard questions and returning later

Beyond content and timing, a small number of students underperform simply due to nerves on the day, regardless of how well they've prepared. Practising a few calming strategies, such as slow breathing before starting, and sitting at least one full practice test under exam-like conditions, can help ease this particular source of avoidable mark loss.

Three More Common Traps

Beyond instructions and timing, students often neglect weaker sections in favour of practising what they already enjoy, skip reviewing mistakes, and treat every practice test the same way regardless of what it reveals.

• Fix: schedule extra time for weaker sections specifically
• Fix: review every incorrect answer, not just the score
• Fix: treat each practice test as new information, not just a score to beat

Key Takeaways

• Small habits like reading instructions carefully prevent easy mark loss
• Timing is a separate skill that needs its own practice
• Reviewing mistakes matters more than the number of tests attempted

Ready to Take the Next Step?

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