In short
The five MBA assignment mistakes that cost the most marks are: describing instead of analysing, ignoring the marking rubric, using theory without the case or local context, weak evidence and referencing, and a rushed structure with no editing. Each one is fixable in a single revision pass.
MBA markers read many submissions that are well written but score only average. The reason is rarely English or effort. It is usually one of the same five habits.
1. Describing instead of analysing
What it looks like: pages that summarise the company, the model or the case without saying what it means.
How to fix it: after every paragraph, ask "so what?". State the implication, link it to your argument and use evidence to back it up.
2. Ignoring the marking rubric
What it looks like: writing about what interests you rather than what earns marks.
How to fix it: turn each rubric criterion into a heading or a checklist item, and give the heavily weighted criteria the most words.
3. Using theory without context
What it looks like: textbook definitions of a model with no link to the organisation or market in the assignment.
How to fix it: apply each theory to specific facts from the case, and use relevant regional or Malaysian examples where the brief allows.
4. Weak evidence and referencing
What it looks like: claims with no source, out-of-date or unreliable references, and citations in a mix of styles.
How to fix it: use recent journal articles, industry reports and reliable data, cite every claim, and follow one style. See APA vs Harvard referencing.
5. A rushed structure and no editing
What it looks like: no executive summary, a recommendation buried in the conclusion, and typos left in.
How to fix it: plan headings before you write, put the recommendation where the reader can find it, and leave a day to edit. For business cases, use the case study structure guide.
A last-pass checklist
- Every rubric criterion is answered somewhere
- Each theory is applied to the case, not just defined
- Every claim has a source in one consistent style
- The recommendation is clear and justified
- The document has been proofread
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FAQ
How do I know if my analysis is deep enough?
Read each paragraph and ask whether it states an implication or only a fact. If a reader could not tell what you concluded, add the "so what".
How many references does an MBA assignment need?
It depends on the brief and word count, so follow your rubric. Quality matters as much as number: recent, relevant and reliable sources score better than a long list of weak ones.
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