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Exam questions
Youth tips on how to answer exam questions.
Article by : SpunOut.ie
- Take the time to read the entire exam paper. The people who set exam papers allow adequate time for students to read and select questions, as well as planning and writing answers. Calm nerves by answering the easy questions first.
- Analyse each question. Never assume you understand the question. Know the exact meaning of verbs such as discuss, describe, compare, demonstrate, examine, explain, justify, state, trace, etc. and know how they apply to the exam subject.
- The use of rough work pages varies from one subject to another. If appropriate, make a diagram of key points to cover in your answer. Ask your teachers for advice on what subjects benefit from rough work (and how best to tackle that rough work) during an exam.
- If answering an essay-style question refer back to the key term(s) of the question from time to time. Develop one point in each paragraph, and aim for the theme of the essay to flow smoothly throughout.
- Leave three lines blank after a paragraph; you may need to add an extra point at a later stage or when you review your full answer.
- Manage your time. Before you go into the exam, find out how the exam will be structured and how much time you should allocate to each question.
- Don’t over-do your response to a question worth 20 marks at the expense of a question worth 70 marks.
- Allow time at the end of the exam to review your answers. Key ideas often pop up when re-reading the text that you’ve written.
- Take care with important details such as handwriting, grammar, spelling, etc. Use the same numbering system (letters or digits and subsections) as used on the exam paper.
By: Andrew Smith
