While the most effective way to do well on an exam, is to attend class regularly, take notes and ask questions, here are some tips to help you navigate between different types of questions on an exam.
All Questions
- Never leave a question blank. Give it your best guess. You might guess correctly or you might get partial credit just for coming close.
- Reread directions before turning in an exam. Did you define terms when you were asked to compare them?
- Answers quite often pop up in other questions.
- Initial guesses are often best. If an answer comes to you from out of the blue, it’s probably right. Don’t fight this intuition unless you’re sure it's wrong.
- When a question is difficult to visualize, draw it.
- To help you recall information, visualize the place where you prepared for the test, or how you took your notes.
- Assume a possible answer, then work backwards to see if you’re right.
- Write legibly and clearly. It is highly unlikely that the instructor will give a student the benefit of a doubt on answers they cannot read.
- Stay until the very end; the instructor may clarify questions.
True/False Questions
- When limiting words are used (all, never, always, must) false is usually the best answer.
- When general terms are used (most, some, usually, could, might) true is usually the best answer.
- Exaggerated or complex answers are generally false.
- Watch for use of names, dates, places, or other details that could make a statement inaccurate.
- Look for multiple ideas or concepts within the statement. All segments of the question must be true for the entire question to be true.
- Answer every question; identify those you’re not sure of with a mark, and review these on a second pass.
Multiple Choice Questions
- When two choices are opposites, pick one of those two as the best guess.
- "Zero" and "none of the above" are usually poor guesses.
- If a few questions have five possible choices instead of four, pick number five.
- If a question asks for a plural or singular answer, make sure you pick the plural or singular.
- Try saying the question and answer to yourself. If it sounds wrong grammatically or sounds silly, it’s probably wrong.
- Some questions may have a best answer and not necessarily a correct answer. If this is the case, work toward selecting the best answer from those, which are available.
- Read a test question and think of your own answer first, then look for it in the example given. If your answer is not in the example, read the question again and substitute each different answer.
- Try to eliminate all but two answers, and you will have a true-false test. Be cautious about changing your original answer without good reason.
Essay Questions
- Make a rough outline of your answer before you start to write. Make sure it includes a thesis statement, main points and proof or examples.
- Avoid long-winded introductions. Get down to business and work toward earning the most points in the shortest amount of time.
- Say as much as you can, use short paragraphs, and write legibly.
- If you have ten minutes to answer the question, know how many paragraphs you can write in ten minutes.
- Decide what kind of answer the question requires
Important Words in Essay Questions
- The following words appear frequently in essay questions. Be familiar with their meanings so that you may answer appropriately.
Verbs Asking for Everything
- Comment: Explain, illustrate, or criticize the meaning or significance of a subject.
- Describe: Give a detailed or a graphic account.
- Discuss: Investigate a subject by argument (pros and cons).
- Relate: Show the connections between ideas or events. Provide a larger context.
- Review: Survey and examine critically a subject through summary, analysis, or criticism.
- State: Describe in precise terms a subject or to reproduce a definition exactly
Verbs Asking for Main Points
- Analyze: Break the subject up into the main ideas.
- Enumerate or List: Present a list of the main ideas composing the whole of the subject.
- Outline: Summarize in a series of headings and subheadings (theme, main ideas, supporting subordinate ideas).
- Summarize: Make a brief, concise account of the main ideas of a theme, concept, principle, development or procedure, omitting details and examples.
- Trace: Follow the development or history of your subject from the point of its origin
