The 10 traps that lose marks.

1. 1

   Ignoring the command word

   If it says Explain, you need 'because', 'so that', 'therefore'. Describe = what + how, not why.

2. 2

   Latin names wrong or untidy

   Capital genus, lower-case species, italic if you can: Lavandula angustifolia. Misspelt names lose the mark.

3. 3

   Vague justifications

   "Good for the soil" is not a mark. Name the mechanism — adds organic matter, improves structure, feeds soil biota.

4. 4

   Listing instead of comparing

   Compare = both items together in each sentence. Use 'whereas', 'in contrast', 'both'. Two paragraphs side by side scores half marks.

5. 5

   Too few points for the marks

   Rule of thumb: one distinct point per mark. A 6-mark answer needs 6 separable ideas, not 2 long sentences.

6. 6

   Cultivar confusion

   Cultivar names sit in single quotes and roman type: Rosa 'Iceberg'. Not italic, not double-quoted.

7. 7

   Generic 'use chemicals' for pest control

   Name a control type (cultural, biological, chemical) and give a specific example tied to the pest's life cycle.

8. 8

   Pruning answers with no timing

   Always state season and reason: 'late winter, before sap rises' or 'after flowering on previous season's wood'.

9. 9

   Soil answers without pH or texture

   Anchor every soil answer in pH, texture (sand/silt/clay) and organic matter. These are the examiner's hooks.

10. 10

    Time mismanagement on the paper

    ≈1 minute per mark. A 10-mark question deserves 10 minutes — no more. Move on, come back if time.

Read once tonight. Re-read in the 10 minutes before you turn the paper over.