Why Do Schools Not Cover ‘Exam Technique?’

Kate is a qualified English and Drama Teacher with over 20 years of experience, an A-Level Drama and Theatre Studies Examiner, a certified Life Coach and Level 5 Counselling qualified. Having taught GCSE and iGCSE English, 11+ and 13+ preparation, and A-Level Theatre Studies, she now focuses exclusively on online tutoring with students from around the world.

Here, she explores why exam technique is rarely taught in schools and why that gap matters more than most parents realise.

What Are Exam Techniques and Do They Matter?

By Kate B | English and Drama Examiner | Sherpa Tutor

In many schools, students learn about theories, facts, and formulas, but when it comes to actual exams, some students do not achieve their desired grades because of poorly structured answers and poor time management.

Exam techniques are the specific skills needed to perform successfully in exams. These include: extracting key information from texts; structuring answers with clear outlines for each question; knowing the timing for each question; and being aware of what examiners are looking for to achieve higher marks. These skills matter across subjects such as GCSE Maths, GCSE English, and GCSE Combined Science.

Why Schools Struggle to Teach Exam Technique

Schools have packed curricula, and therefore teachers often do not have the time or knowledge to teach students exam techniques. Because there is immense pressure to teach content, teachers are extremely limited in their ability to teach exam strategies. 

Schools might use past test papers to assess students, such as during their mock exams, but some students make the same mistakes because they have not been explicitly shown how to improve. Through practice, students naturally learn strategies for answering questions effectively. Many students benefit from more personalised and consistent guidance to enhance their exam technique skills.

How Personalised Teaching Fills the Gap

We all learn in different ways and styles. Classrooms can provide great educational environments, though teachers have to meet the needs of the entire class, and it can be difficult for teachers to give individual attention to each and every student. Students who are preparing for exams, from GCSE through to A-Level Maths, may find that working on a personalised level with a teacher helps them work in their own way, at their own pace.

Personalised teaching allows students to study in their individual learning styles through step-by-step instruction, discussion, continuous practice, and tailored approaches, which help students understand concepts in their own way. In fixed classroom programmes, individuals may be overlooked in terms of their strengths, weaknesses, and goals.



Building Confidence in a Safe Environment

The confidence students gain from truly understanding how exam papers and marking schemes work reduces anxiety and improves overall performance, whether in problem-solving papers or essay-based exams like A-Level English. Students in a classroom environment may lack the confidence to ask or answer questions in front of their peers. 

With individual teaching, students become more confident in asking questions, making mistakes in a ‘safe’ environment, and learning from them without embarrassment. As a result, students gain confidence in their own abilities and feel more confident when they go into their actual exams. The skills they learn, such as time management, are valuable when they progress to work-based situations, professional qualifications, and college and university assessments and exams.

Knowledge Is Not Enough on Its Own

Students may know the content thoroughly, yet they may misinterpret questions, fail to structure their answers correctly, or run out of time. By also learning about exam techniques, students gain greater insight into how to achieve successful results. With personalised teaching, students are able to have their individual learning styles met, set realistic targets, receive immediate feedback, be motivated when they see the progress they have made, and be celebrated for their achievements.