Starting out on a brand-new qualification can be a daunting prospect, even to the most seasoned of scholars. However, by following these six simple pointers you’ll give yourself an excellent head-start before you begin your management qualification.

Impellus provides a wealth of hints, tips and videos to help you and your managers to pass your ILM qualifications but here are some great ways to approach it to maximise your learning, your marks and complete your qualification in great time.

Read all the questions before you write anything

For the simple reason that you may include material in one question which would be much more relevant later on.

Pay particular attention to how many marks each question is worth

Let the number of points up for grabs guide how much you write for each question. A question worth 28 marks clearly requires a much more detailed answer than one which is only worth 4.

Which verb is used in the question?

What exactly am I being asked to do in this question? Is it asking me to identify? To describe? To review? To explain? Although all these words appear to be similar, there are subtle differences between each. The ILM have published a guide to all of these verbs, which we publish for every manager going through an ILM Award. You’ll find this in your online Business Centre account and it’s a great tip to passing your ILM qualification more quickly.

Read the mark sheets

There’s a mark sheet available for every module which sets out exactly what we’re looking for on each question. Reading through it and following this guidance closely is a simple way to make sure you hit all the requirements. Again, you can check these out in your Business Centre account.

Proof read

Sounds simple, but never underestimate the power and importance of reading back over your answer once it’s finished; you’ll pick up on all sorts of things. Ask yourself, ‘have I fully answered the question?’. Everything you’ve written should go some way towards doing that. If you have information in there that isn’t relevant – take it out. Extra words don’t make a better answer and just cost you time.

Ask for help

We’ve saved this tip until last for a good reason – it’s almost certainly the most important. If you’re ever unsure of what you’re being asked to do, what the question is looking for, how to start your answer, whatever it may be; just ask. Our training and assessment team are always here to help. Far better to start on the right foot than put time into the wrong answer.