Many capable students lose marks not because they don’t understand — but because they rush.

What rushing looks like in writing

• Guessing instead of checking
  
  
• Filling silence with vague language
  
  
• Writing quickly to sound confident
  
  

This often creates waffle — lots of words, little meaning.

Brain-dump before structuring

Why slowing down helps

Critical thinking is a pause skill.
 

It asks students to:

• Check the question
  
  
• Clarify their idea
  
  
• Explain significance
  
  

Slowing the thinking — not speeding the writing — is the real improvement lever.

Slow-thinking frameworks

FAQs

Why do smart students rush essays?
They feel pressure to sound confident and fill silence quickly.

Does slowing down really improve marks?
Yes — it improves clarity, structure, and reasoning.

How can teens slow their thinking?
By using planning frameworks that allow messy first ideas.