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Become a better student · Module 4: Exam technique

Read the mark scheme like an examiner

Mark schemes show exactly what earns marks. Examiner reports show where thousands of students lost them.

Written by the Brainhub Editorial Team Cites published research Updated 13 Oct 2026 7 min read

The course unlocks one lesson at a time. You can read this now, but it only counts once you’ve finished Stop re-reading.

Key takeaways

1. Where to find them

AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR all publish past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports on their websites. Check which board and specification your school uses: it’s on the front of your past papers, or ask your teacher.[1]

2. Command words

The command word is the instruction at the start of a question. It decides what the examiner is looking for.

Command word
What it asks you to do
State / Give
A short answer. No explanation needed.
Describe
Say what happens or what something is like, step by step.
Explain
Give reasons: say why or how, using “because” or “so”.
Compare
Say what is similar and what is different about both.
Evaluate
Weigh up strengths and weaknesses, then reach a judgement.

3. How longer answers are marked

Many longer questions use a levels-based mark scheme. Instead of a mark for each point, the examiner reads the whole answer and decides which level it reaches, then where in that level. A list of facts without links often gets stuck in a lower level.

The mark scheme’s “indicative content” shows the kind of points examiners expect, but you don’t need all of them. Quality and logical structure matter.

Examiners don’t mark what you meant. They mark what you wrote.

4. Where marks go missing

Examiner reports repeat the same lessons every year: answering a different question from the one asked, describing when the question says explain, missing units in calculations and not using the data given in the question.[1]

Underline the command word

Before writing, underline it and check your answer does that.

Count the marks

A 3-mark question usually needs three distinct points.

Use the source

If the question gives data or a quote, use it in your answer.

For parents: Ask your child to show you one examiner report. Reading the “common mistakes” together takes 10 minutes.

Try it now

Test yourself on this page

Answer in your head first, then check.

  1. 1. What does the command word “explain” ask for?

  2. 2. How does a levels-based mark scheme work?

  3. 3. Where can you find common mistakes for a paper?

Your next steps

  • Find your exam board and specification for each subject.
  • Download one past paper, its mark scheme and examiner report.
  • Read the examiner report before you try the paper.

Finished this lesson?

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Sources

  1. AQA: past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports for GCSE and A-level. aqa.org.uk/find-past-papers-and-mark-schemes
  2. Pearson Edexcel: past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports. qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/exams/past-papers.html
  3. OCR: past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports. ocr.org.uk/qualifications/past-paper-finder

This guide is general study advice. Every student is different. A teacher can help you work out what fits.