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Unlock This CourseEven the brightest students can lose marks in IGCSE Business exams - not because they don't know the content, but because they make avoidable mistakes. Understanding these common pitfalls and learning how to avoid them can be the difference between a good grade and a great one. This guide will help you spot these mistakes before you make them and give you practical strategies to maximise your exam performance.
Key Definitions:
Most exam mistakes fall into five main categories: poor time management, misreading questions, weak structure, lack of application and incorrect use of business terms. The good news? All of these are completely avoidable with the right preparation and technique.
Time management is the biggest killer in IGCSE Business exams. Students often spend too long on early questions and then rush the final ones, or they don't leave enough time to check their work. Here's how to avoid these traps.
Many students spend 20 minutes crafting the perfect answer to a 6-mark question, leaving themselves only 5 minutes for a 12-mark question later. This is a recipe for disaster. Remember: a good answer that's finished is always better than a perfect answer that's incomplete.
Allocate roughly 1.5 minutes per mark. A 6-mark question should take about 9 minutes, including thinking time.
Aim to complete 80% of your planned answer in the allocated time, then move on. You can always return if time permits.
Reserve the last 5-10 minutes for checking your work and adding any missed points.
Sarah spent 25 minutes on a 8-mark question about marketing mix, writing everything she knew about the 4Ps. She then had only 15 minutes left for two 10-mark questions. Despite knowing the content well, she achieved a C grade instead of the A she was capable of. The lesson? Stick to your time plan, no matter how much more you could write.
Rushing to start writing without properly reading the question is another common error. Students often answer the question they think they see, rather than the one that's actually there.
Different command words require different types of answers. 'Explain' needs you to show understanding with reasons, whilst 'Evaluate' requires you to make judgements and reach conclusions. Getting this wrong costs marks immediately.
Poor answer structure is a major mark-loser. Students often write everything they know about a topic without organising their thoughts or linking back to the specific question asked.
Writing everything you know about a topic might seem like a good strategy, but examiners are looking for focused, relevant answers. A structured approach that directly addresses the question will always score higher than a rambling essay, even if the essay contains more information.
Spend 2-3 minutes planning your answer structure before you start writing. This prevents rambling and ensures relevance.
Regularly refer back to the question to ensure your answer stays on track and relevant.
Structure longer answers with clear paragraphs, each making a distinct point.
Many students write generic answers that could apply to any business, rather than using the specific context given in the question. This is particularly costly in case study questions.
Question: "Analyse the benefits of e-commerce for a small local bakery." Generic answer: "E-commerce allows businesses to reach more customers and reduce costs." Specific answer: "E-commerce would allow the bakery to take orders online for collection, reducing queuing time in the shop and enabling them to sell their speciality cakes to customers across the town who cannot visit during opening hours." The specific answer shows application and earns higher marks.
Always use the business context provided in the question. If it's about a restaurant, talk about customers, not consumers. If it's about a manufacturing company, discuss production processes, not just general business theory.
Using business terms incorrectly or not using them at all can cost valuable marks. Examiners expect to see appropriate business vocabulary used accurately throughout your answers.
Business has its own language and using it correctly shows understanding. Don't say 'money coming in' when you mean 'revenue', or 'people who buy things' when you mean 'customers' or 'consumers'.
Revenue, profit, costs, cash flow, break-even - use these precisely, not interchangeably.
Customers vs consumers, market research vs market analysis, promotion vs advertising.
Employees, stakeholders, shareholders, management - each has a specific meaning.
Higher-mark questions require evaluation and analysis, but many students struggle with these skills. They often describe what happens rather than explaining why it matters or making judgements about it.
Analysis means breaking something down and examining how the parts work together. Evaluation means making judgements about whether something is good, bad, or depends on circumstances. Both require you to go deeper than just describing facts.
For evaluation questions, always consider: What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? What factors might influence the outcome? What would you recommend and why? This approach ensures you're making judgements rather than just describing.
Now that you know the common mistakes, here are some practical strategies to avoid them and maximise your performance on exam day.
Having a clear strategy for tackling the exam paper will help you stay focused and avoid panic. Follow these steps for each question to ensure you're giving yourself the best chance of success.
Read the question twice. Highlight key words and command words. Check the mark allocation.
Jot down 3-4 key points you want to make. This keeps you focused and prevents rambling.
Start your answer by directly addressing the question. Don't write a long introduction.
As you prepare for your IGCSE Business exam, remember that avoiding mistakes is just as important as knowing the content. Practice these techniques with past papers, time yourself regularly and always review your answers to check for the common errors covered in this guide.