Answering exam papers
Content
01 Read the question carefully
02 Answer it
03 Plan your answer first
04 Explain and give evidence for your answer
05 Answer academically
06 Reference appropriately
07 Keep your language clear and concise
08 Ensure your exam paper is presentable and legible
09 Put some time aside at the end
- 01 Read the question carefully
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Take the time to read the instructions on the cover sheet and all the questions carefully. Pay close attention to what each question is asking you to do; there are differences between ‘compare and contrast’, ‘discuss’, ‘evaluate’, ‘comment on’ and ‘agree/disagree’, and between these and questions that ask for a yes/no answer.
These questions are NOT just different ways of inviting you to write everything you know about a subject in the given time.
NB. There is dedicated guidance on understanding ‘key words’ for essay questions, such as those above, elsewhere on the website.
[Back to top] - 02 Answer it
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Answer the question: do not reproduce essays or revision notes, or talk around the question. Analyse the question in order to plan your answer and use the terms that appear in the question in your answer.
[Back to top] - 03 Plan your answer first
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Plan your answer: even a simple three-point plan is better than none at all and will help to give your answers coherence and structure.
[Back to top] - 04 Explain and give evidence for your answer
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Support and explain your answer: if it is a theoretical question or a question that involves theoretical elements, explain the concepts and/or theories to which you refer in your answer. Explain the underlying principles on which your answer is based. If it is an empirical question, present facts, figures and other evidence, but interpret and analyse them.
[Back to top] - 05 Answer academically
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Use academic evidence and academic terminology, not personal anecdotes, rhetorical statements or day-to-day language.
[Back to top] - 06 Reference appropriately
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If you can remember, refer to particular writers and texts where certain theories or arguments have been advanced, but there is no need to give exact references as would be required in an essay. For example: As Dahl argued in ‘On Democracy’
[Back to top] - 07 Keep your language clear and concise
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Keep your sentences short and to the point: one sentence = one idea, is a good general rule to follow.
[Back to top] - 08 Ensure your exam paper is presentable and legible
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Write as clearly and neatly as possible; number pages and questions where appropriate.
[Back to top] - 09 Put some time aside at the end
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Leave time at the end for checking and, if necessary, correcting, revising, and adding.
[Back to top]
Writing Exam Papers - Summary Sheet
1. Read the question carefully
- But first, read any accompanying instructions
- Read and re-read the question
- Clarify (i) what the question means
- Clarify (ii) what it is asking you to do
2. Answer it
- Do not treat the question as an invitation to waffle on
- Analyse the question
- Use the terms that appear in the question
3. Plan your answer first
- Use, at the very least, a simple three-point plan
- Consider the structure before you write
4. Explain and give evidence for your answer
- Always support your answer
- It the answer has theoretical elements, explain the theories
- If the answer is empirical, present and interpret facts
5. Answer academically
- Use academic evidence
- Use academic terminology
- Avoid personal anecdotes and rhetorical statements
6. Reference appropriately
- Clarify conventions with your teacher, but generally.
- The level of exactitude expected for essays is not required
7. Keep your language clear and concise
- One sentence, one idea
8. Ensure your exam paper is presentable and legible
- Write clearly and neatly
- Number pages and questions, if appropriate
9. Put some time aside at the end
- Leave time for checking, correcting, revising and editing