1. Answers should be in full sentences. Unless you are instructed otherwise, a single word or incomplete sentence is not a good answer. Incomplete responses can create confusion that can cost you points.
2. Make sure your answer can stand by itself. A well-answered question is self- contained. That means it doesn’t need the assistance of anything else, such as the question sheet, in order to make sense. When answering questions, a good rule of thumb is to imagine the person reading the work does not have a copy of the questions. Your job is not only to answer the question, but to also remind readers what the question was.

For example: QUESTION- Why was it wrong for Jim to take the hat?

Acceptable: It was wrong for Jim to take the hat because it belonged to Larry.

Correct, but possibly confusing for the reader - It belonged to Larry.

Common Mistake because it belonged to Larry.

The word ‘because’ is a conjunction (technically, it is a subordinating conjunction, but don’t worry about that) that means it is used to create a cause and effect type sentence. For example:

Because he finished his homework (cause), he got to go to the game (effect).

Sometimes the effect comes first

You can’t go to the game (effect) because you didn’t do your chores (cause).

Either way, both the cause and effect are necessary in order to create a clear message. Anything that reduces clarity can cost you points!

***Note - Even when a question asks you to answer with a list, it is still a good idea to introduce the list – "The three main causes of teenage driving accidents are..."

3. Search out the key words: When reading a question, there are certain key words that determine exactly what information we have to provide. The most obvious of these are the five W’s: Who (a person) What (a description) When (a time) Where (a place) and Why (an explanation). The close cousin to the five W’s is HOW (description).

There are other words or terms in a question that will tell you how much detail you need to provide. Some of these words or terms are: list (provide a list) explain (provide a detailed response) describe (provide a detailed, descriptive response) discuss (provide a solid, organised description) support (provide examples to help strengthen your argument).

Make sure you pay attention to these key words when answering questions. You may understand the material completely, but if you answer a question with the name of a person and you were expected to provide the name of a place, you won’t get value.

4. Count number of question marks. Often, teachers sneak a tricky little three-letter word at the end of a question; WHY? This changes the complexion of a question completely. It often turns a simple answer question into something much longer and tougher. Here’s an example:

Who told Reg to stay out of the back yard? (That’s easy! It’s on page 1! Jim did!) Why? (Now the question gets tricky - what reasons did Jim have to keep Reg out of the back yard? This will involve a longer answer that might need a deeper answer than what the book provides. I might have to get into Jim’s head and figure out why he acts the way he does...)

In this case, you have two question marks, which means you need two pieces of information. Almost always, the second question is the one that takes more energy to answer, and is worth most of the points. Students who only answer the first part are throwing away most of their marks even though they think they have answered all the questions.

5. Don’t argue the question unless you really know your stuff! There are many times when you should question authority. People should always be able to explain why they do (or want you to do) why they do or say. In the past, however, the Nova Scotia Standardised Test has not been one of those places.

Here is an example of the type of question where students have challenged - and lost: (actual question from a provincial standardised test) -Re-read lines 1-12. Explain why at the end of the first two paragraphs the reader is struck by the irony of the word "babysitting".

In this case, you are not going to do well on this question if you answer by writing, "There is no irony at the end of the second paragraph." They probably wouldn’t ask for it if it weren’t there.

6. Consider the value of the question. A 1-point question shouldn’t take you all class to complete. Any test I provide for you will break down the value of each question. Take advantage of this information for two purposes - don’t waste all day on a low-value question, and don’t offer a short, vague response for a question worth a lot of points. Obviously, a 20-point question demands a longer, more detailed answer than a 2-point question.

 

7. Read through your test before starting! In high school, I never listened to this advice. It seemed a waste of valuable time. When I got to University, I realised how much time I SAVED by doing this. Fact: it rarely takes more than 4 minutes to read through the questions on a test. I will be more than willing to let you stay longer than four minutes if you need the time!

So, how do you save time and earn higher marks? Many ways!

• Sometimes a question later in the test can help you answer an earlier question.
• Some students prefer to answer the high-value questions first. If you are going to leave one question empty due to time constraints, it’s better a 2 point question than a 10 point question. Also, by writing through some of the longer answer questions, you can help remember things you will need in the shorter answer questions.
• Some tests ask you to answer five of seven questions (for example). By answering all seven questions, you are wasting time and energy.
• In the past, students have finished tests only to find out afterward that there were questions on the other side of the page. Ouch.

 

8. Make a blueprint for longer answer questions. A few notes on the back of a page or in a margin can really make a difference. Once you’ve read an essay or longer-answer question, write down a couple of main points you feel you should make in the essay. As you finish writing about each one, check it off. Often, students get so caught up in writing down the first point, they forget to add all the other points necessary to get full marks. A small outline that lists the main points can help you stay on track earn full value.
9. Check your work! You have just finished a mentally and physically draining set of questions. Take a breath, stretch and read through your answers. Make sure you have complete sentences, that your answers are relevant, and that you’ve answered all parts of each question. Make sure the words on the page state what you want them to state. Sometimes our brains fill in words or thoughts that aren’t on the page. You won’t be over my shoulder telling me what you meant to say when I evaluate your answers. Make sure they can make sense on their own.
10. Re-check! There is no shame in making sure you get all the marks you deserve. If you have time at the end of an assignment, take advantage of it to make sure every thing makes sense - you‘ve filled words in all the liquid paper blanks you made, that all questions are answered, that your pages are numbered, that your name is on your work, that you have put a date on the assignment. All little things that can make a big difference, believe it or not.

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