This is what it all comes down to;
you’re sitting in the exam hall, waiting to get your hands on that anticipated
piece of paper. You’ve jammed a ton of information into your brain and your
fingernails are non-existent – it’s time to get down to business!
Yes the exam environment may be
different across disciplines. Computing students will sit some tests in front
of a computer with their fingers poised to code. A practical element will
contribute to science student’s final grade. It doesn’t matter if you’re
studying English, Economics, Psychology or History, every exam can be
approached in much the same way with these exam writing tips.
We’re here to give you some help answering
and writing exam questions that will show your knowledge to the person
who reads your paper.
How to Answer Exam Questions
Pay attention! These quick tips
should be common sense but many students who are under exam
stress fail to see their mistakes. We’re going to help you
avoid a major exam disaster by pointing you in the right direction.
Here’s our top exam writing tips to
help you understand how to answer exam questions:
1. Practice Past Papers
There really is no better way to get
exam ready than by attempting past papers. Most exam bodies should have past
papers available online but your teacher will get you started on these in
class.
This process isn’t just about
preparing an answer for a specific question; it’s about understanding
how you approach a question in an exam, how to structure your answer,
the timings you should assign and what information will get marks.
If you want to create an easy way to
test yourself with past papers.
2. Read All Questions Carefully
The stress of the situation can
cause you to misread a question, plan your answer out, start writing your
response and then realize you made a mistake and wasted vital time. Even though
you generally won’t be writing answers to every question on the paper, reading
all questions thoroughly will ensure you make the right choices and
can highlight how much you know about the topic.
Don’t forget to attempt all
questions that you have selected. However, be careful of MCQ questions with
negative marking. If you’re not sure of the answer you could cost yourself some
valuable marks.
3. Manage Your Time
This is where you need to be strict
on yourself. Once you have assigned a time limit for each question, you MUST move
on once you hit it or you won’t be able to give the next question your full
attention.
Remember to leave yourself some time
at the end to go back over your answers and add in little notes or pieces of
information about the topic. You never know, this could help bump you up a
grade!
Don’t just jump into writing your
answer. Take the first few minutes to plan
the structure of your essay which will save you time when you
are delving into meaty parts. Always stay on topic; if you’re discussing the
role of women in society as portrayed by the author in Of Mice and Men,
don’t digress and start outlining other themes in the book for example.
Most essays should have an introduction,
three main points and a conclusion. A lot of students see a conclusion
as a final sentence to finish the piece off. A strong conclusion give an A
grade student the chance to shine by bringing everything together and
fortifying their opinion.
5. Explore Both Sides of an Argument
Building your argument in the main
body of your exam answer will give your overall opinion credibility. English
language questions, for example, encourage you to explore both sides of an
argument and then conclude with a critical analysis of your answer.
Many questions you approach will
look as though they seek a straightforward answer but in reality they want you
to fully outline a structured essay. Don’t fall into the trap of providing a
one-sided view, get your hands dirty and open your mind to other possibilities.
6. Review Your Answers Thoroughly
Smart
students can still make the mistake of handing their answer
book in without checking through what they have written. Proofread your answers
as much as you can to correct any spelling mistakes and add any extra
comments you think are worth mentioning.
You will be surprised what you can
spot in those last few minutes. This is your last chance to throw in that
quotation, list other relevant points or even draw a quick diagram.
Now is not the time to drop your game, show the examiner what you’re made of!
Remember, the exams are not designed
to trick you. Don’t panic on the day of your exam or this brain freeze could
mean that you get a lower grade that you truly deserve. Convince yourself that
you know how to answer exam questions and your almost there.
The best possible way to feel
less anxious about exams is to be prepared. That means doing your revision,
getting used to writing by hand, practising writing timed exam answers, and
getting yourself informed about what to expect when you get to the exam room.
The less you leave to the last minute, the more relaxed you'll feel, freeing
yourself up to focus all your energy on getting the results your deserve. So
thinking beforehand about the strategies you might use in the exam room to plan
and write your answers will help you to feel calmer and more prepared.
You can
also print off an abridged PDF version of this guide. This is designed to be
printed double-sided on A4, then folded to make an A5 guide.
Watch
this brief video tutorial for more on the topic.
Read
along while watching the video tutorial.
The night before the exam
Check all your information – Make
sure you know exactly where your exam will be – the venues may be different for
each exam. Gather what you will need to take into the exam room (pens, water,
allowed texts, calculator, campus card etc). The Exams Office have various
guides for students that will tell you everything you need to know,.
Some tips to help you sleep...
- Stop revising 90
minutes before preparing for bed and find a way to relax - perhaps with
friends, music, book, TV etc
- Avoid
smartphone, tablet and laptop screens for an hour before you plan to go to
bed. The type of light used to illuminate them can disrupt your sleep
rhythms.
- Have a warm bath
or shower and try a relaxation exercise.
- Lavender oil,
herbal sleep tablets and camomile tea may be helpful but try them before to
see how your body responds.
- Avoid too much
alcohol or caffeine, and sleep medications especially if they've been
prescribed for someone else.
- If your head's
still buzzing with thoughts in the middle of the night, have a notebook by
the side of the bed and write them down
|
Student
Wellbeing, RUSU and the Chaplaincy all offer relaxation sessions around exam
time.
Everything
you need to know about arrangements for exams at the University of Reading.
In the exam room
Read the instructions carefully –
Before looking at the actual questions, read the rubric (instructions). Are
there compulsory questions? You can lose more marks by answering the wrong
number or wrong combination of questions than by answering the right number of
questions badly.
Work out the timing – Divide your time
according to the number of questions to be answered. Split it proportionately
if you have some questions (or parts of questions) which attract more marks
than others. Allow some time for planning. An example might be: four essay
questions each attracting 25% of the total marks in a three-hour exam = 45
minutes per question = 5 minutes planning, 35 minutes writing, 5 minutes
checking through. Allow extra checking time for statistics or calculations.
Read the questions carefully. Read
through the paper once before you choose your questions and then re-read each
question. You might think a topic you've revised hasn't come up, when it is
there but the wording is unusual. Alternatively you have revised the topic, but
the question is obtuse and you do not fully understand it.
Choose your best questions - Mark
any questions you might answer, and then check that you fully understand it. Do
you have some relevant knowledge, ideas and evidence for the ones you choose to
answer? If you do not understand a question, it's best to leave it.
Decide on question order. Some people like to
start with the topic they know best to give them a good start. Others prefer to
do their best question second, because with one question completed, they can relax
and expand on their best ideas and gain extra marks.
Watch
this brief video tutorial for more on the topic.
Read
along while watching the video tutorial.
One of
the most frequent complaints of markers is that the student did not answer the
question. Paraphrasing it (re-writing it in your own words) can help you to
make sure you have the right meaning. (There is no answer sheet for this exercise
as there might be several ways of re-writing the question. Try swapping answers
with a friend to see how they rewrite the same question.)
Maximising your marks
Think
about what the question is actually asking. What are you
expected to include in your answer? What material will be relevant? The
most common complaint from markers is that the student didn't answer the
question.
Structure your answer - Even
though you're writing under time pressure, you should still think about the
best structure to communicate your ideas. In your introduction show how you
understand the question and outline how you will answer it. Make one point or
argument per paragraph and summarize to show how it answers the
question. Shortish paragraphs with one or two pieces of evidence are
sufficient. In your conclusion summarize the arguments to answer the question.
Plan before you write – The stress of
working under time constraints in the exam room can make all your good study
intentions disappear. However, this is when it's more important than ever to
get your ideas across clearly and concisely. Take a few minutes to think and
make a mini-plan:
- Underline the
key words in the question;
- Identify the
main topic and discussion areas.
- Choose a few
points/arguments about which you can write
- Make a mini-plan
which puts them in order before you start writing. You can cross it
through afterwards.
Referencing in exams – You
should be able to refer by name (spelt correctly!) to the main theorists/researchers
in your topic, giving the approximate year of their major works. You are not
expected to give page numbers or lengthy quotes, except in open book exams, and
you do not need a reference list.
What to do if your mind goes blank – most
students fear this happening. If it does – put your pen down, take a deep
breath, sit back and relax for a moment. If you're in the middle of an answer,
read through what you have written so far as if it was a story – what happens
next? If you have to remember formulae, you could try associating them with
pictures or music while revising - then use the associations to bring them back
in the exam. If you really can't progress with this answer, leave a gap. It
will probably come back to you once you are less anxious.
If you are running out of time – don't
panic. Look at the questions you have left to answer and divide up your
remaining time to cover them all. Be very economical – make one point support
it with evidence and then move on to the next point. If you really can't finish
in time, briefly list the points you wanted to make – they could pick you up a
few marks.
What not to write
Don't try to shoehorn in something
interesting just because you have revised it. If it isn't relevant to the question
it can lose you marks.
Don't repeat a memorized essay just
because it seems to be on the right topic. The question may be asking for a
different approach.
Don't use text speak or
colloquialisms.
Don't say "I think" or
"in my opinion". Instead have ideas that are supported or opposed by
your evidence.
Above
all, don't be
tempted to write a note to the examiner explaining how you missed the lectures
on this topic because your housemate stole your alarm clock….
After the exam
Beware the post-mortem – it's
natural to want to discuss how it went with your friends, but keep it in
perspective. Exams are dramatic events, and the temptation is to describe them
dramatically – "The easiest/hardest/fastest exam I've ever done!" No
two exam experiences will be the same – that doesn't mean you are wrong and
they are right, or vice versa.
Between
exams, you might find it helpful to practice writing exam answers using past
papers. However, it may be more beneficial for some students to relax
and rest between exams, than cramming in last minute revision
for the next one.
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