Elizabeth acted on first impressions and made bad mistakes. Take time to check out what the question is really asking. Do more than read – decode.

The four Assessment Objectives matter to the examiner just as much as they matter to you. If you don't hit them, they can't tick them.

Don't be a Bingley. ‘He leaves out half his words and blots the rest […]’ which means that his letters ‘convey no ideas at all’.

Have ‘compassion’ on your nerves. Make a plan which times your answers according to the value of the questions and your confidence in tackling them.

It's so easy to run out of time. Plan your last sentence in advance and have it ready to write before the clock says stop.