Important Mistakes Law Students Should Avoid in University Exams

University evaluators spend between 3 to 5 minutes reviewing a 70-mark descriptive law paper. If your statutory sections, subheadings, and case names are buried in unreadable dense blocks, you receive average marks regardless of subject knowledge.

### 1. The Asymmetrical Time Trap - The Error: Writing 6 pages for Question 1 (taking 50 minutes) and then writing 1.5 pages for Question 5 due to panic. - The Fix: Strict 32-minute cutoff per 14-mark question. Once the timer reaches 32 minutes, conclude and move to the next question. ### 2. The Case Law "Name-Dropping" Error - The Error: Writing "As held in Kesavananda Bharati case, this is true." - The Fix: State the bench strength (13 Judges), the specific issue, and the precise legal ratio (Basic Structure Doctrine restricts amending power under Art 368). ### 3. Ignoring Statutory Exceptions - The Error: Describing an offense or rule without detailing its statutory exceptions or provisos. - The Fix: Always include a dedicated heading: "Statutory Exceptions & Limitations" before concluding. ### 4. Poor Visual Layout & Illegible Handwriting - The Fix: Use black ink for headings and blue ink for text. Underline section numbers and case titles with a neat ruler line.