If you are studying MYP Chemistry, you already know that this subject is not about mugging up lines from a book. This is especially true for students in the Middle year program in Dubai Marina, where learning is more about understanding and applying ideas than memorizing them. Still, many students study hard, solve questions, revise again and again and yet their scores don’t move much. Most of the time, the problem is not effort. The problem is repeating the same mistakes in every test.
Once these mistakes are fixed, scores automatically get better. Let’s talk about such mistakes and how you can fix them.
Mistake 1: You Know the Answer, But You Don’t Write It the “MYP Way”
● Writing only the final idea:
Many students jump straight to the conclusion, like “temperature is high,” but MYP wants to see the thinking process. You must show how higher temperature makes particles move faster and collide more
● Using everyday language instead of science words:
Words like “fast,” “slow,” or “strong” are too vague. MYP expects terms like kinetic energy, collision frequency, particle movement and reaction rate
● Skipping explanation steps:
Even if your idea is right, missing steps means missing marks. Every answer should show what is happening, why it is happening and which scientific concept explains it
How to fix it – After every test, pick 2-3 weak answers and rewrite them properly using full explanations and scientific words. This trains your brain to write in MYP style automatically
Mistake 2: You Memorize, But You Don’t Understand
● Relying only on memory:
Students remember definitions but get lost when the question looks new. MYP rarely repeats questions in the same form
● Panicking when numbers or situations change:
If you only memorize steps, you can’t handle new data or real-life examples based on the same concept
● Not questioning the concept deeply:
Many students never ask why something happens, they just accept it as a fact
How to fix it – For every topic, ask why it happens, what will change if one factor changes and what will remain the same. Try explaining the topic in simple words to someone else. If you can teach it, you understand it
Mistake 3: Ignoring Command Terms
● Not reading the question properly:
Students rush and miss words like describe, explain, compare, or justify and then answer in the wrong way
● Using the same style for every answer:
Writing long explanations when only description is needed or giving short lines when full reasoning is required
● Misunderstanding what examiners want:
Each command term asks for a different type of thinking
How to fix it – Make a list of common command words and what they mean. While practicing, underline the command word first, then shape your answer according to it
Mistake 4: Losing Easy Marks in Calculations
● Forgetting units:
Even a correct number loses marks if the unit is missing or wrong
● Not showing working steps:
Examiners give marks for methods, not just the final answer. Skipping steps means losing method marks
● Making rounding and format mistakes:
Writing too many or too few decimal places, or mixing steps in a messy way
How to fix it – Always use one format: write the formula, put in values, show the working clearly and write the final answer with a unit. Practice this format daily until it becomes a habit
Mistake 5: Not Learning From Old Mistakes
● Only checking marks, not mistakes:
Students look at their score but don’t study why they lost marks
● Repeating the same errors in every test:
Without reflection, the same problems come again and again
● Not tracking weak areas:
Many students don’t even know what type of mistakes they usually make
How to fix it – Keep a mistake notebook. After every test, write what went wrong, why it went wrong and how you will fix it next time. Revise this notebook before every exam so you don’t repeat old errors
How Right Guidance Changes Results
Right guidance changes everything. Most students struggle because they are trying to fix problems alone without clearly knowing what is going wrong. When someone shows you how to write answers the MYP way, understand command terms, fix weak topics and track your mistakes properly, improvement becomes natural.
With the right support and structured guidance from expert Chemistry tutors in Marina JBR, NowClasses helps you finally understand what to do and how to do it right.
If you are looking for a chemistry, biology, or Math tutor in JBR, or support in any other subject or curriculum & you need clear guidance for exams, concepts, or regular practice, you can contact us. We focus on helping students understand their mistakes, build strong basics and improve their scores step by step with proper support and personal attention.
FAQs
- Why do I lose marks even when my answer is correct?
Because MYP checks the explanation, structure and scientific language, not just the final idea. - How much time should I spend revising mistakes?
At least 30% of your study time should go to fixing old mistakes. - Is memorization useless in MYP Chemistry?
You need memory for basics, but understanding and application matter much more.
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