5 Common Mistakes Students Make in GCSE Science (And How to Avoid Them) Worried your child might be making mistakes in GCSE Science without realising it? You’re not alone. Science is one of the most

5 Common Mistakes Students Make in GCSE Science (And How to Avoid Them)

Worried your child might be making mistakes in GCSE Science without realising it?

You’re not alone.

Science is one of the most challenging GCSE subjects—not just because of the content, but because of the way it’s assessed. Even the most capable students can lose marks through small but avoidable errors.

As a qualified science teacher and full-time online tutor, I’ve supported hundreds of students through their GCSEs—and I see the same mistakes pop up again and again.

Let’s break them down, and more importantly, talk about how to fix them.

1. Ignoring the Command Words in Exam Questions

Many students lose marks not because they don’t know the answer—but because they don’t understand what the question is asking for.

Common command words include:

• Describe – what it looks like, feels like, etc.

• Explain – give a reason or cause

• Evaluate – weigh up both sides

• Suggest – use what you know to make an educated guess

Fix it:

Get your child into the habit of underlining or highlighting command words in every question. A great strategy is to turn the command into a sentence starter (e.g. “One reason is…”).

2. Not Revising Required Practicals Properly

They’re worth a significant number of marks—but students often skip revising them because they seem “boring” or they were rushed in school.

Required practicals appear in both paper 1 and paper 2, and questions often ask students to:

• Identify variables

• Evaluate a method

• Suggest improvements

• Analyse results

Fix it:

Make sure your child has a simple summary of each required practical, understands what they were meant to learn, and can explain it clearly. We focus on this heavily in our booster classes.

3. Weakness in Scientific Calculations

Students often panic when they see a calculation—even if it’s a simple one.

Common issues include:

• Forgetting the correct equation

• Not showing working

• Losing a mark for incorrect units

• Using the wrong values from the question

Fix it:

Teach them to use this structure:

Equation → Substitute → Answer → Units

Even 5 minutes a day practising calculations can make a huge difference.

4. Writing Too Little on Six-Mark Questions

The dreaded six-marker! Many students write two or three sentences and move on… even though the question is worth six marks.

Fix it:

• Use a clear structure: Point – Explain – Link

• Encourage planning with bullet points

• Remind them: if it’s worth 6 marks, they should aim for 6 relevant points

We run full sessions on six-mark questions in our online course—it’s one of the most powerful ways to boost a grade.

5. Not Practising Enough Past Paper Questions

Knowing the content isn’t enough. Students need to practise the way it will be asked.

Common pitfalls include:

• Overusing flashcards or passive revision

• Not timing their answers

• Avoiding full papers because “they’re too hard”

Fix it:

Build exam confidence gradually. Start with a few questions a day. Then progress to full sections, and eventually full papers. Focus on exam-style wording, not just content recall.

Bonus Tip: Answer the Question, Not Just the Topic

Some students are so eager to show what they’ve revised, they forget to actually answer the question being asked.

Encourage them to re-read every question before submitting their answer and ask, “Have I answered what the examiner is looking for?”

FAQs for Parents

Q: My child knows the content but still drops marks. What can I do?

Focus on exam technique. Science is not just about knowledge—it’s about how to apply it in the right format.

Q: Are past paper questions more useful than revision notes?

Yes. They help students learn to think like an examiner and spot patterns in how questions are phrased.

Q: Can a tutor help with this?

Absolutely. A good tutor focuses not only on teaching content but on how to tackle exam-style questions confidently.

Want to Help Your Child Avoid These Mistakes?

We cover all of this—and more—in our weekly GCSE Science Booster Classes.

Your child will learn:

• How to break down six-mark questions

• How to revise efficiently

• How to walk into their exams feeling ready

£120/month for weekly term-time sessions, taught live on Zoom by lucie Eaglesmith