In short
Dr Tej Samani’s advice is that a capable A Level student who understands the content but scores poorly usually has an exam skills problem, not a knowledge or effort problem. Marks are lost through misreading questions, weak structure, poor application and unclear evaluation. Exam coaching teaches these skills, which then transfer across every A Level subject.
Key takeaways
- Understanding A Level content does not automatically translate into exam marks; exams reward structure, judgement and precision.
- Common mark losses include misreading questions, weak structure, poor application to context, time management and unclear evaluation.
- Subject tutors clarify content, while exam coaching teaches how exams work across all subjects.
- Quizzing at home can feel exposing; coaching gives teens neutral frameworks to assess their own work.
- Tell your child: “You understand the subject. The exam is a separate skill, and that skill can be learned.”
Welcome to Dear Dr Tej, a space for parents to ask honest questions about their child’s education and wellbeing. Each week, we share answers from Performance Learning founder Dr Tej Samani to help families navigate the emotional ups and downs of school life with calm, clarity and confidence. You can ask Dr Tej a question of your own at the bottom of this page.
Dear Dr Tej,
My daughter is doing Economics at A Level, but it’s not going as well as we’d like it to. She studies, she teaches back – but she doesn’t like us quizzing her, or asking her to explain things again, as she says we are making her feel stupid.
For the last 2 weeks, we had a student tutor who was actually amazingly good. He was at our house, so I could listen to some of the sessions. But the mark on her next Economics test? 16/30. It just doesn’t add up.
I’m at my wits end. She does seem to have a decent understanding of the subject when we do discuss it, but that’s not translating into an assessment setting. And annoyingly, her teacher does not return tests to students to take home and go over.
How can we help supercharge her grade for this subject?
– A Frustrated Mum
Dr Tej says:
Thank you for writing in. I can tell how draining this situation has become for you. A Levels bring a very different kind of pressure – not just academically but emotionally. It is often at this stage that parents realise something important is missing, even when their child is clearly capable.
Let me say this clearly from the outset: your daughter’s result is not a reflection of her intelligence or her work ethic. What you are describing is a very common A Level issue, where understanding the subject does not automatically translate into exam success.
Many capable A Level students fall into this gap because exams reward structure, judgement and precision, not effort or understanding alone. This disconnect can be deeply confusing for parents, especially when revision seems thorough and conversations show genuine comprehension.
Without explicit exam skills, even strong students can underperform repeatedly. At A Level, the gap between knowing and performing widens significantly. Let’s delve into why…
Why A Levels exams can be so hard
A Levels exams are more than just a memory game. They also reward precision, judgement and exam literacy. Students must decide what to include, what to leave out, how deeply to explain and how to structure their answers under time pressure. These are advanced skills that are rarely taught explicitly in lessons.
Your daughter’s discomfort with being quizzed is a key signal. When she says it makes her feel “stupid”, she is not rejecting learning. Instead, she is reacting to feeling exposed. Many A Level students know the content well enough to discuss it but do not yet trust themselves to perform in an exam setting. That lack of trust shows up as defensiveness, anxiety or avoidance.
Why exam coaching can be key to supercharging your daughter’s A Level grades
It sounds like the student tutor you hired was strong, and that matters. But the thing is, subject tutors usually focus on clarifying content. At A Level, content is only one part of the picture.
Your daughter’s 16/30 test score suggests that marks are being lost on things like:
- Misreading or under answering questions
- Weak structure
- Poor application to context
- Inefficient time management
- Unclear evaluation
These are not Economics problems. They are exam skills problems that she’s coming up against when studying for Economics. Based on that, it sounds like she’d better benefit from exam coaching than tutoring.
What exam coaching gives A Level students
Exam coaching teaches students how exams work across all subjects. It also equips them with knowledge recall techniques and critical thinking skills that are fundamental to exam success in A Levels.
At Performance Learning, some of the exam skills we teach are:
- How to decode questions quickly
- How to plan answers quickly and effectively
- How to apply knowledge rather than describe it
- How to make strategic choices when time is tight
- How to maintain confidence and composure during exams
Once these skills are learned, they transfer into every A Level subject. A student who learns how to structure an evaluative Economics answer will find the same thinking helps in History essays, Psychology questions or Biology explanations.
Of course, there are some nuances to this, but on the whole, it can be instrumental to boosting A Level grades across the board. That is why many parents use exam coaching over tutoring: it’s often the most efficient and impactful support at A Level. It does not patch gaps in one subject – it’s a comprehensive approach to exam success.
Why exam coaching is a safer option than quizzing at home
Parents naturally want to help their children by asking questions or requesting explanations. But at A Level, this can unintentionally raise the emotional stakes. Your daughter is likely worried about disappointing you, or failing, or being judged. You and I both know that’s not your intention, but a teen under exam pressure may not.
Exam coaching removes that emotional layer. It gives students neutral frameworks and language to assess their own work. Instead of feeling tested, they feel equipped. That sense of control is crucial at A Level.
What you can do now as a parent
The most helpful message you can give your daughter is this:
“You understand the subject. The exam is a separate skill, and that skill can be learned.”
This reframes the problem from a personal failure to a technical one. It reduces shame and opens the door to progress. At this stage, supporting her confidence and decision making will matter far more than revisiting content yet again.
A Levels are often the first time students realise that working hard is not always enough on its own. That can feel unsettling, but it is also an opportunity.
Exam coaching teaches students how to think, plan and perform under pressure. Those skills will serve your daughter not just in Economics, but across all her subjects and well beyond her exams.
Once she understands how marks are actually earned, her results will begin to match her ability. More importantly, she will feel back in control of her learning and more confident going into exams.
And in my experience as an exam coach? A happy and confident child is way more likely to pass with good grades.
Do you have a question about your child’s education and/or wellbeing for Dr Tej? Submit it here and we’ll endeavour to answer in a future blog post.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my child understand A Level Economics but still get low test marks?
Dr Tej Samani explains that A Level exams reward precision, judgement and exam literacy, not just understanding. Students must decide what to include, what to leave out, how deeply to explain and how to structure answers under time pressure, skills rarely taught explicitly in lessons. A low score despite good understanding often points to marks lost through misreading questions, weak structure, poor application to context, inefficient timing or unclear evaluation.
Is a tutor or an exam coach better for improving A Level grades?
According to Dr Tej, subject tutors usually focus on clarifying content, which is only one part of the picture at A Level. Exam coaching teaches how exams work across all subjects, including decoding questions, planning answers quickly, applying knowledge rather than describing it and staying composed. Because these skills transfer between subjects, many parents find coaching the most efficient and impactful support at A Level.
Should I quiz my teenager at home to help them revise?
Dr Tej cautions that quizzing at home can unintentionally raise the emotional stakes at A Level. A teen under exam pressure may feel tested, judged or worried about disappointing you, even when that is not your intention, and may react defensively. Exam coaching removes that emotional layer by giving students neutral frameworks and language to assess their own work, so they feel equipped rather than tested.
What can I say to support my child after a disappointing A Level test?
Dr Tej suggests a simple message: “You understand the subject. The exam is a separate skill, and that skill can be learned.” This reframes the problem from a personal failure to a technical one, which reduces shame and opens the door to progress. At this stage, supporting your child’s confidence and decision-making matters far more than revisiting the content yet again.
Ask Dr Tej a question
Have a question about your child's learning, motivation or wellbeing? Email uk@myperformancelearning.com with "Dear Dr Tej" in the subject line. We may answer it, anonymously, in a future column.
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