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Smart Teens Still Lose Marks for This

analysis skills common mistakes critical thinking study habits Mar 01, 2026

High-ability students often assume understanding is enough. It isn’t.

 

Common mark-losing habits

  • Retelling the plot

  • Explaining what a quote says instead of why it’s used

  • Repeating the question in different words

None of these show thinking.

Analysis over retelling

 

The real shift

Marks come from:

  • Interpretation

  • Reasoning

  • Purposeful explanation 

Capability isn’t the issue — strategy is.

Examiner-focused thinking

 

FAQs

Is retelling ever useful in essays?
 Only when it directly supports analysis — otherwise it wastes marks.

Why do smart students retell?
 They mistake understanding the text for analysing it.

How can this habit be broken?
 By learning structured analysis techniques.

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— Francesca
The Classic High School Teacher