Examinations

Below are some exam tips for students:

Pre-Exam Preparation
Revise thoroughly well in advance of the examination. Use past papers to help you prepare. This will familiarise you with the exam format.

Exam Day Preparation
Take time to carefully read the information, instructions and advice on the front of the exam paper. Make sure you understand how the marks are allocated. The number of marks allocated to each question is your guide to how much detail to include in your answer.

Deciding Which Questions to Answer
Where you have a choice, read each question carefully before deciding which to answer. Jot down a few brief notes to see which questions you can answer best. Then make your decision. Attempt only the questions you are required to complete. This may seem obvious, but some students mistakenly attempt all questions when they are not required to do so. This is a waste of time, as we will only award you marks for the questions you are supposed to answer.

Deciding Which Questions to Answer

Where you have a choice, read each question carefully before deciding which to answer.
Jot down a few brief notes to see which questions you can answer best. Then make your decision.
Attempt only the questions you are required to complete. This may seem obvious, but some students mistakenly attempt all questions when they are not required to do so. This is a waste of time, as we will only award you marks for the questions you are supposed to answer.

Your Responses
Read the question carefully and make sure you fully understand what is being asked. You are marked on how well you answer the question set. Be sure that you understand the ‘command’ words used in questions. These include explain, analyse, examine, discuss, evaluate, define, describe and compare. Each is explained for you below: Explain This requires you to make an idea or relationship clear. Analyse and Examine These are both prompts that seek careful, detailed investigation. Discuss This means you need to make points for and against a particular view, not just blandly accept statements printed on the question paper. Evaluate When asked to ‘evaluate’, you are generally being asked ‘How worthwhile, satisfactory or effective in your opinion is this theory, explanation or policy?’ A question will sometimes ask you to ‘critically evaluate’. This means you should use your judgement and show that you understand that there may be no answer, more than one valid answer, or many perspectives on the problem in question. Define This requires you to give the meaning of a term. A question that asks you to define will also sometimes ask you to ‘illustrate’. ‘Illustrate’ means that you need to give one or more examples or an explanation in a real-world context. You can use examples to support your definitions, but we don’t recommend that you define by using an example only. Describe This calls for clarification or summary. Describing the functions of money is a more straightforward task than providing a description of the motives for liquidity preference. Compare When asked to ‘compare’, take care to investigate differences as well as similarities in your response. Highlighting differences is even more important if you are asked to ‘distinguish’ or ‘differentiate’ between ideas or phenomena. Stick to the point. Don’t waste valuable time writing irrelevant details and facts that do not answer the question.

Your Responses

Read the question carefully and make sure you fully understand what is being asked. You are marked on how well you answer the question set.
Be sure that you understand the ‘command’ words used in questions. These include explain, analyse, examine, discuss, evaluate, define, describe and compare. Each is explained for you below:

Explain
This requires you to make an idea or relationship clear.

Analyse and Examine
These are both prompts that seek careful, detailed investigation.

Discuss
This means you need to make points for and against a particular view, not just blandly accept statements printed on the question paper.

Evaluate
When asked to ‘evaluate’, you are generally being asked ‘How worthwhile, satisfactory or effective in your opinion is this theory, explanation or policy?’ A question will sometimes ask you to ‘critically evaluate’. This means you should use your judgement and show that you understand that there may be no answer, more than one valid answer, or many perspectives on the problem in question.

Define
This requires you to give the meaning of a term. A question that asks you to define will also sometimes ask you to ‘illustrate’. ‘Illustrate’ means that you need to give one or more examples or an explanation in a real-world context. You can use examples to support your definitions, but we don’t recommend that you define by using an example only.

Describe
This calls for clarification or summary. Describing the functions of money is a more straightforward task than providing a description of the motives for liquidity preference.

Compare
When asked to ‘compare’, take care to investigate differences as well as similarities in your response. Highlighting differences is even more important if you are asked to ‘distinguish’ or ‘differentiate’ between ideas or phenomena.

Stick to the point. Don’t waste valuable time writing irrelevant details and facts that do not answer the question.

Managing Your Time
Make sure you know how much time is allocated for the exam, and regularly check how much time you have left. Manage your time carefully. Make sure you allow enough time for each question. Don’t rewrite the question in your answer booklet. This wastes time as well as space in your answer booklet.

Review
If time permits, check over your answers and correct any errors.