VHF radio phraseology — common mistakes

I'm preparing for my radio exam and I'm worried about getting the phraseology wrong. What are the most common mistakes students make on the radio?

A few common ones: saying "to" instead of using the phonetic number (e.g. say "flight level two five zero" not "flight level two fifty"), forgetting to use your full callsign on initial contact, stepping on other transmissions because you didn't listen before transmitting, and using non-standard phrases like "roger that" or "copy" instead of the correct readback. Stick to the standard phrases in the AIP and you'll be fine.

What about reading back clearances? I sometimes get flustered and miss part of it.

Write it down as you hear it. Keep a notepad on your kneeboard. The key items to read back are: runway assignments, altimeter settings, headings, altitudes/flight levels, speed restrictions, and any hold short instructions. If you miss something, just say "say again" — ATC would much rather repeat themselves than have you act on an incorrect clearance.