The Three-Pen Strategy: A Game-Changing Exam Technique for A-Level Chemistry Success

The Three-Pen Strategy—an advanced exam technique that helps A-Level Chemistry students manage time, reduce mistakes, and write high-scoring answers.

Could switching pens mid-answer really help you get a better grade in A-Level Chemistry? Surprisingly, yes.

The Three-Pen Strategy is a technique used by top-performing A-Level students to improve exam clarity, accuracy, and self-awareness. It's all about writing, reviewing, and learning smarter—not harder.

What is the Three-Pen Strategy?

This method uses three different coloured pens to help you think like an examiner:

• 🖊️ Pen 1 – First Attempt: Answer under timed conditions.

• ✏️ Pen 2 – Clarify and Improve: Refine, expand, or correct your answer.

• 🖍️ Pen 3 – Mark Scheme Review: Annotate where marks were gained or missed.

Pen 1: First Attempt – Thinking Under Pressure

Use your first pen to simulate real exam conditions. Write fast, trust your instincts, and don’t stop to second-guess.

Focus on:

• Timing: 1 mark = 1 minute

• Completing your answer even if unsure

• Getting comfortable with pressure

Pen 2: Clarification – Improve, Explain, Structure

Now switch pen colours and act like your own tutor. Use Pen 2 to:

• Add missed keywords

• Clarify vague points

• Expand steps in calculations

• Rephrase explanations with precise scientific language

Pen 3: Mark Scheme – Annotate and Self-Mark

Finally, consult the mark scheme. With Pen 3:

• Tick where you earned marks

• Underline keywords that matched the mark scheme

• Write down what you missed

• Add examiner-style bullet points for reference

This teaches you how examiners think, which helps you write better the next time.

Why this strategy works so well in Chemistry

• Chemistry is structured and reward-specific phrasing

• You develop metacognition by assessing your work

• It builds exam timing skills and writing fluency

• You learn from mistakes without waiting for feedback

How to Practise the Three-Pen Strategy

Choose a 6-mark question, for example on equilibrium or redox.

1. Write your timed answer with Pen 1

2. Clarify and expand using Pen 2

3. Mark it using the official mark scheme with Pen 3

4. Reflect on lost marks in a journal

How to Use This Strategy in Your Weekly Study Plan

Day	Activity
Mon	Do 3 short questions (3–4 marks) using full 3-pen method
Wed	Focus on 1 topic (e.g. enthalpy) – pick 2 extended questions
Fri	Do one full Section A timed mini paper, review with 3 pens
Sat	Log common mistakes and revisit older questions

Who Should Use This Strategy?

Students aiming to go from B to A/A*
Anyone who writes too much (or too little) in 6-mark questions
Students who don’t always finish exams on time
Anyone who wants to think and write like an examiner

Three-Pen Success Checklist

Used with 5+ questions per topic
Can self-mark confidently using real schemes
Understands how to structure 6-mark answers
Logs mistakes and improvements weekly
Writing is now faster and clearer under pressure

Final Thoughts

The Three-Pen Strategy is simple—but powerful. If you practise this weekly from now until exam season, you will:

• Write more concise, structured answers

• Stop repeating past mistakes

• Improve timing, clarity, and mark scheme awareness

• Feel calmer and more prepared on the day

Need help applying this strategy to your Chemistry revision?
Dr Marguerite Quinn is an experienced online A-Level Chemistry tutor with a PhD in Chemistry and over 3,470 hours of teaching expertise. She helps students apply smart techniques like this for real exam results.

Click here to book a 15-minute consultation with Dr Quinn.