Reading a maths question is a skill nobody teaches

Two children with identical maths ability can score very differently, purely because one reads the question more carefully. This is a teachable skill.

Habit one: find the instruction verb

"Estimate", "calculate", "show that", "explain why". Each asks for something different, and examiners award marks for the difference. Underline the verb before starting.

Habit two: hunt for units and constraints

Give the answer in pence. Round to one decimal place. Use 3.14 for pi. These instructions are free marks and are constantly missed.

Habit three: restate it

Ask your child to tell you what the question wants, in one sentence, before writing anything. If they cannot, they have not understood the question yet — and no amount of calculation will fix that.

Practise these three on ordinary homework, not just in exams. By the time it matters, they will be automatic.