how to write the paper in exam

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How to write in exam paper to get good marks

• inspiria-author
• November 30, 2018

Exams can be quite stressful. The very thought of sitting in the examination hall can drive anyone nervous. If you’re gearing up for the board exams and feeling anxious regarding ‘how to write answers in exams’ , then you’re not alone. However, there are no rules as such that specify about ‘tips for writing exam papers’ , the simplest way to score good grades include adequate preparation followed by intense and meticulous revision.

Still worried? Here are a few important and effective tricks and ‘tips for writing exam papers’ to get good marks.

1. Read the questions carefully

The best thing about board examinations is that they provide 15 minutes primarily for reading the questions and instructions. So, utilize those minutes wisely. Make mental strategy on how you’ll write the answers. Tick the questions that you want to do. Do not forget to write the answers as per the specified instructions. Following instructions can be advantageous as you will be well aware of DOs and DON’Ts, the nature of the questions, marks distribution, etc. These small things matter when it comes to scoring marks.

2. Finish the easiest questions first

Wondering ‘How to write answers in exams?’ Well, as far as the sequential format is concerned, there is absolutely no rule for writing answers in a consecutive setup. Given the fact that the easiest questions are less time-consuming, solving them first can boost your confidence and lessen the nervousness. You just need to mention the exact question and section number in every question that you have attempted.

3. Write what is asked, not what you know

Do not skip the mandatory questions. Write what is being asked, not what you know. Be precise while writing your answer. Make it appear presentable and organized by writing them in points, use bullets and numbering methods rather than writing bulky paragraphs. The best ‘Tips for Writing Exam Papers’ in order to gain good scores to be specific about and clear in regards with your answer. While writing an essay, do not exceed the mentioned word limit.

4. Divide your time wisely

The board exam comprises both objective and essay-type questions. While reading the instruction, make a mental prediction on how much time you’re going to devote to each question. Stay mentally alert and do not waste the entire 20 minutes on a question carrying 5 marks. Careful time distribution helps in finishing the answers quickly so that you can utilize the remaining time for the unattempted questions.

5. Be expressive, use Illustrations, Diagrams

Be fearlessly expressive when your opinions are asked in the question. Use examples of your own to show the authenticity. You can draw a flowchart or a chain to indicate the flow or a cycle. You can even draw the diagrams and label it correctly to symbolize the details that have been probed to illustrate. You can highlight the important words. Conclude with a strong and genuine opinion to show your support or disapproval. Being authentic is one of the best ‘Exam Writing Tips’ that can score grades.

6. Stay Calm and Composed and 

While you’re writing your answer or reading the question paper always maintain calmness. It will encourage you to attempt all the questions. On other hand, it will enhance your efficiency and your critical thinking ability. It is highly suggested to you practice breath control it will help you to maintain your calmness while you are writing your paper during the exam.  

7. Make it Attractive 

If you are seeking good grades try to make your paper attractive through good handwriting and avoid untidiness. This approach will serve your purpose. Never try to use multiple colors of pen while writing. This creates a negative impact. It is suggested to you that always use a black and blue pen for writing. 

8. Write Precisely 

When you are attempting questions in an exam you must not get nervous. Sheer nervousness will distract your focus and it may create a negative impact on your paper. Always focus on writing answers accurately and do not make them unnecessarily lengthy, it must be to the point and precise. Moreover, use vocabulary when necessary it makes your answers informative. 

9. Do Revise 

Before submitting your answer script, ensure you have once revised it. If you have the ability to double-check your paper it is commendable. It requires perfect time management to allocate time for revision. You should save at least 15 minutes to scrutinize all the silly spellings mistake or any questions left that you haven’t attempted. 

Besides the mentioned above points, the board examinees should be careful regarding certain elements like handwriting, drawing columns, margins, etc. Pay attention to spacing while mentioning the question number. Make sure that your handwriting is distinct and understandable to the reader or examiner. Do not over-stress regarding ‘How to write answers in exams’ . Use the right pen and do not remain stuck in a single question for more than 2 minutes. You can skip it and come back to it later once you finish the easier ones.

Above all, take good care of your health, and believe in your abilities. We wish you all the best for your upcoming board exams.

Also Read: Importance of good handwriting in Board Exams Five easy and fun ways to improve your english

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How to Write Exams

Last Updated: March 6, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Soren Rosier, PhD . Soren Rosier is an Education Expert based in Palo Alto, CA. He is the founder of PeerTeach, a platform that empowers students to grow their leadership, confidence, and love of math through AI-powered peer tutoring. Additionally, he is an instructor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, where he teaches courses on designing impactful tools for learning. Before beginning his PhD, he taught middle school in Oakland, developed teacher training programs, and evaluated the efficacy of popular ed tech products at SRI International. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a PhD in Learning Sciences & Technology Design at Stanford University. This article has been viewed 29,514 times.

At some point in every teacher’s career, they will have to write an exam for their students. For newer teachers, this can seem like an overwhelming task, given all that they teach in a course. However, you can understand everything you need to know about writing exams by identifying the exam’s purpose, determining what content should be included, and working out the best way to actually write the exam.

Choosing an Exam Style

• For example, if the goal of your exam is to test how much new knowledge your students have accumulated in the class, you might design an exam that asks them true-or-false or fill-in-the-blank questions about facts you’ve covered in the course. Or you may want to ask questions that test new skills you want your students to have, such as critical thinking, written communication, or logical reasoning.
• What you want your exam to assess in your students will determine the type of questions you ultimately come up with. It’s imperative that you have a clear purpose for your exam before you write it to prevent it from being a waste of your and your students’ time.
• It’s also vital for your students to understand the purpose of the exam, so make sure you communicate that clearly.

• For example, if you’re teaching a course on American history, you may craft an exam that gauges whether students can accurately describe major themes in American history or recall historically significant names and dates.
• The objectives and learning outcomes for your course should also have been stated in the course outline or syllabus.
• It’s also important to clearly define how much material each exam will cover. For example, for an American history class, an exam might cover a particular class unit or historical period rather than all of American history.

• For example, to test students’ knowledge of historical facts, you might write a multiple choice question asking them to select the correct year in which a particular event took place. Conversely, you might write a question asking them to remember a specific detail like a name, such as in the question: “____ was the first president of the United States.”

• For instance, instead of asking the type of detail-specific question used in a multiple choice question, you might instead write a question that asks students to critically evaluate and explain the 3 most important factors that led to the American Revolution.

• For instance, it would be better to write an exam that includes some multiple choice questions, some short response questions, and some essay questions, rather than an exam that is solely composed of 1 type of question.
• The frequency with which you use a certain type of question will depend on what you want your test to assess. For example, if you want to prioritize testing your students’ recall abilities, fill-in-the-blank or multiple choice questions would be best. If you want to assess students’ written communication skills, open-ended essay questions would be ideal.

• For example, if your students only have 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete the exam, you might write the exam with 20 multiple choice questions (allotting 1 minute per question), 4 short answer questions (allotting 5 minutes per question), and 1 essay question (allotting 30 minutes per question).
• The amount of time your students will need for each part of the exam will vary based on factors like their age and grade level. Talk to colleagues who have taught your course or a similar one about how long each test section should be.

• You should ultimately aim to test students in a way that they’ll be familiar with, thus allowing your students to appreciate the value of the exam as a way of testing their learning outcomes in the course.
• If your students feel that you’re trying to trick them or psych them out, they will be resentful of the exam and perhaps also of the entire class.
• If your test is open-book, you may need to give your students more time or limit how much reference material they can use. The process of looking through the material for information will cut into the time it takes for the students to actually write out their answers.

Crafting Questions

• For example, the main topics in a course on early American history might include the reasons behind the American Revolution, the principles of early republican government, and the geographical expansion of the country.
• Be sure that you don’t add any topics to the list that your students have not encountered in the class. The content of the exam needs to be recognizable to all of your students. [9] X Research source
• Try to focus on broad, overarching topics that have been covered throughout the course, rather than topics you only touched on in passing (unless those topics are very significant). For example, if you spent less than 10 minutes in one lecture discussing dark matter, your astrophysics exam should not include more than 1 or 2 small questions on the subject.

• For example, if you’re creating questions for an exam on American history, avoid asking students questions like “What was the name of Robert E. Lee’s horse?” Although you may have mentioned this fact in a lecture, it’s more than likely not relevant to the overall theme of the course itself.
• Remember, your exam should give students the opportunity to demonstrate how much they’ve learned from the course, not whether or not you can stump them.

• The best way to make sure a test question isn’t too difficult is to simply use your own judgment: ask yourself whether a student who has attended your lectures and read the assigned material would reasonably be able to answer your question without struggling for too much time.
• If you’re not sure whether your questions are too difficult, ask a colleague who has taught your class before to read over your exam and give feedback on your questions. They will have more experience with administering and grading exams and will have a good sense of what students can be expected to know by this point in the course.
• It may be hard to tell whether your questions are too easy or difficult until you’ve written the whole test. Once you see them all together, you’ll have a better sense of which questions don’t fit well with the overall difficulty level of the exam.

• There are also many resources for educators online that you can use to craft exam questions. If you’re a K-12 educator, check the website for your local school district or state board of education for suggested exam questions.
• If this is your first time teaching the class, see if you can ask a colleague who has taught the class before for their previous exams.

Checking for Difficulty

• Keep your instructions clear and concise. Don’t confuse or overwhelm your students by over-explaining things.
• You might also consider explaining how fully you want your students to answer short-response or essay questions to avoid them spending too much or too little time on such questions.

• This is especially important if you have any students for whom English is not their first language.

• If possible, see if your colleague would be willing to take the entire exam, just to make sure its length and difficulty level are acceptable.

• For example, instead of asking for any example of a particular phenomenon in a biology exam, ask instead for the best, most impactful, or most common example of a particular phenomenon.
• It will be difficult, if not impossible, to write essay questions that have only 1 possible correct answer. Instead, write essay questions so that students have to provide specific answers (e.g., “Describe in detail the 4 phases of mitosis”) that are grounded in factual accuracy.

Expert Q&A

• Do a practice run through the exam yourself to see if it makes sense. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Check all of your questions for typos or inaccuracies before submitting the exam! Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Avoid writing your exams at the last minute; this will only make them lower in quality. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/developing-assignments/exams/exam-preparation
• ↑ https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/assessment/assesslearning/creatingexams.html
• ↑ https://www.k-state.edu/ksde/alp/resources/Handout-Module6.pdf
• ↑ https://www.newcastle.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/268980/Open-Book-Exams.pdf
• ↑ http://www.crlt.umich.edu/P8_0
• ↑ https://homes.cs.washington.edu/~mernst/advice/exams.html

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7 Tips To Write Perfect Answer In Board Exam 2022

Did you know writing perfect answers in board exams can score more marks in exams? So, in this article, you will discover the 7 tips to write the perfect answer in board exam 2022. You cannot compromise with hard work and studies however combining smart studying with writing a perfect answer may result in a 90 or above.

If you are appearing for the board exam in 2022, you need to learn how to write answers before sitting for the exam. It makes no difference how well you prepare if you don’t know how to channel your knowledge and hard work effectively. 

Moreover, if you’ve completed your board exam syllabus , check these 7 tips to write the perfect answer in board exam 2022.

1. Invest In Reading Your Question Paper

The first tip for board exam 2022 is to not rush while writing answers after getting your question paper. You should spend at least 5-8 minutes studying your paper, then mark the easy questions with a checkmark and the difficult ones with a circle. After that, you’ll be able to discover which sections are the easiest to attempt first. If its section is A, B, C, or D. 

You must decide the section you want to begin first. My advice is to start with the most difficult and time-consuming part. Furthermore, because your brain is more relaxed and active at the start, it will be easier for you to attempt tough answers in the beginning

. Alternatively, you can also start with easier questions first to get as many scores out of them as possible. As a result, you must select what is best for you.

2. Circle Or Tick The Attempted Questions

This board exam 2022 advice may sound obvious, but trust me when I say, it will help you in avoiding anxiousness. Sometimes students finish writing answers so quickly that it’s natural for them to hurry through to the next questions while forgetting or skipping to attempt some questions. To ensure that you don’t miss a question, circle or tick them all in your question paper.

3. Don’t Underestimate The Value Of Even a 1 Mark

One of the main rules for writing board exam 2022 is to attempt all questions even if you don’t know the answers. Furthermore, there is no negative marking, so answering every question will not harm you in any way. Simply go for it. 

Leave those questions till the end so you don’t waste time thinking about them. As a result, write the relevant answer and you never know, you might get a few points. Furthermore, did you know that some students fail to clear the cut off just by 1 mark? Students can’t get into their desired college for just 1 score is something big. So, don’t underestimate the role of a single mark.

Related Article: Effective Practices To Follow A Day Before Your Board Exams

4. Write-In Agreement With The Marks

If it’s a 1 mark question, don’t write more than one or two lines for it. It’s a complete waste of time, and also you won’t get extra marks for it. So, you need to write your answers accordingly. Furthermore, if it’s a 5 mark question, don’t write more than 8-120 words for that answer. 

So, avoid writing stories and focus on to-the-point writing. Moreover, if you write answers based on the marks, you will save time and score higher. So, this is also one of the effective time management tips for board exams.

5. Write Neat & Clear Answers

When you write for your board exam, make sure to write clear, neat, and well-structured answers. It takes time and effort to examine the answers. Thus, it can be very frustrating for the teacher if they are not clear and precise enough. Finally, allowing for better clarity, neatness, and penmanship for the answers will offer you an advantage over other answer sheets with poor writing. 

Write the headline with a black pen, mention question numbers, and underline the important words. Furthermore, if you are taking MCQs, make sure to write the MCQ number/letter along with the answer and not just the chosen answer.

6. Be Calm During Exams

Board exams often come with stress, fear, and tension. But such emotions make kids anxious during the exam or while seeing the paper. Make sure to be calm, practice breathing techniques, and stay focused on giving your best. If you don’t stay calm, it might lead to forgetting answers, getting distracted, or skipping questions. 

Therefore, always stay focused on the questions by concentrating on the answers and writing well. Make sure to write down the questions and answers clearly and thoroughly so that you can score well in board exam 2022. Furthermore, eat brain-boosting foods to enhance your focus and concentration.

7. Wrap Up & Don’t Forget To Revise

It’s one of the most vital tips for board exams. Students always tend to skip revising their answer sheets and this can be the biggest blunder for you. Dedicate your last 15 minutes to revising and reading your answer sheets to check your silly mistakes or any spelling errors. 

So, make sure to thoroughly read your answer sheets after completing your exam. Furthermore, rechecking will assist you in locating your errors as well as determining whether or not you attempted all of the questions.

Related Article: 8 Smart Study Tips For Board Exams 2022

Final Words

 If you’re working hard and studying for board exams, make sure to write effectively in your board exams. So, if you combine your hard work with good writing skills, you can score much better in these exams. If you are feeling overwhelmed by a board exam, Consider the smart study tips along with these 7 tips to write the perfect answer in board exam 2022.

So, it’s time to say goodbye to sweaty palms, anxiousness, fear, and constant overthinking because PiggyRide is here to help you. Moreover, eat well, take proper sleep, complete your syllabus, solve previous years’ question papers, and keep these tips in mind to write effective answers. PiggyRide is taking all the necessary efforts to make sure that you do well in your upcoming board exams. Moreover, if you need any personal assistance and 1:1 doubts clearing sessions, Visit PiggyRide and contact us at +91 63 64 63 62 63. We will help you get in touch with our expert teachers to help you clear your last-minute doubts. 

WRITTEN BY: Nidhi Arora

Hi Friends! I am Nidhi Arora. I am working as a content writer with PiggyRide. I graduated from Delhi University with a bachelor's degree in literature and am currently pursuing an MA in Literature. I am an enthusiastic reader and a dedicated writer.

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Writing The Perfect Answers For An Exam

How do you write a perfect answer? Is there any importance to the way it is presented? Will writing everything you have learned fetch you full marks? With final exams just around the corner, there are a lot of thoughts right now confusing a student. One among those got to be about writing the perfect answer. With a lot of sections and different types of questions, answers should be written accordingly. Nobody is going to give you extra marks if you write a paragraph for a one-word answer. In fact, it creates the exact opposite impression. Here are some tips to write the perfect answer that will get you full marks.

1. Read all questions carefully The first thing that you must be doing when you get your question paper is to read the whole thing. Don’t worry about the time in doing so. Understand each question and find which ones you are thorough with and which ones you are not. Start with the one that you know clearly and leave the difficult ones for last. This method will  boost your confidence.

2. Good handwriting A good handwriting can do wonders. It is the first impression about your paper and it has to the best one. It is not really necessary to have beautiful handwriting. It is more than enough if your paper is neat with margins and proper spacing.

3. Structure your answer Before you actually write an answer, structure the answer in your mind. An essay question will need a different structuring when compared to short answer questions. However, the introduction should make your point clear. For an essay, the last paragraph should be the concluding part. Elaboration, comparisons, examples, etc. can come in the middle.

4. Use simple language Use simple language for all your answers, except when you are  writing your language paper  which demands advanced vocabulary and literary skills. There is no point if the invigilator can’t understand your answer.

5. Don’t write everything you know It is absolutely a waste of time if you write everything you know about a topic, even when it is an essay. It is important to directly come to the point. For essays, the introduction should contain the proper definition or a brief on the topic.

6. Review your answers thoroughly After you have finished your answer, go through it once and check if you have missed a point. Grammatical and spelling mistakes should also be corrected upon review.

7. Choose questions wisely For questions that have a choice, take a minute to clearly understand the choices. Try to structure answers for both questions and then pick the one which feels more comfortable. Remember, a hasty decision here could cost you a lot of marks.

8. Attempt all the questions Attempting all the questions is necessary even if you don’t really know the answer. The question might be wrong or out of the syllabus or your vague answer could possibly be the right one. You won’t lose anything answering it.

So, now you know how to write a perfect answer. Keep these points in mind and write accordingly. All the very best for your exams.

If you are in need of a little confidence boost,   take up dSAT  right now. Trust me, it will help you a great deal.

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The Power of Paper Presentation in Board Exams

Let’s know about the useful paper presentation tips to be followed in board exams.

"Paper presentations are not just about conveying information; they are about crafting narratives that captivate, educate, and inspire."

The presentation of an answer sheet is quite crucial in the context of exams. While the content and quality of your answers are critical, how you present them can significantly impact the examiner's assessment of your work. How you organise and structure your answers on paper is referred to as an answer sheet presentation, and it includes characteristics such as handwriting, formatting, headings, and overall neatness.

Also Read: 7 Effective Ways to Understand Difficult Concepts

This article explores the significance of paper presentation in board exams , focusing on readability, structure and organisation, clarity of expression, time management, professionalism, and attention to detail. Understanding the value of correctly presenting your answers can increase your chances of effectively transmitting your knowledge and skills, thus increasing your exam result.

How to Present a Paper in Exam Neatly

Paying attention to many areas of presenting a paper neatly in an exam entail paying attention to numerous aspects of its presentation. Here are some tips to help you learn how to present a paper in exam neatly :

1. Follow the Instructions Specified : Before answering the questions, carefully read the directions provided by the exam invigilator or mentioned on the exam paper. Follow any formatting, margin, or additional sheet rules provided.

2. Use Readable Handwriting : Use clear and legible handwriting for board exams to write your answers. If the examiner does not understand your writing, it may result in misunderstandings or grading errors. Use a comfortable writing speed and take your time to ensure that your words are legible.

3. Begin with a Clear and Informative Heading : Begin each answer with a clear and informative heading. Include the question number or title, and use highlighting or bold type to separate it from the rest of the content. This allows the examiner to more easily recognise and follow your answers.

4. Maintain Proper Formatting : If there are any formatting requirements, such as bullet points, numbering, or indentation, make sure to follow them. Consistency in formatting makes a visually pleasing answer sheet and aids in organising your thoughts.

5. Allow Enough Space : Allow enough space for each answer, with enough for additional additions or adjustments. Refrain from cramming your writing into a limited space because it will make your answers challenging to understand and may need clarification. If you run out of space, clearly indicate where you have continued your answer on an additional sheet.

6. Use Subheadings or Paragraphs : Use paragraphs to distinguish and divide your answers if a question has many parts or sub-questions. This makes it easy for the examiner to recognise and analyse each component of your answer separately.

7. Highlight Crucial Points : Use underlining or highlighter to emphasise essential points or keywords. This draws attention to important information and makes your answers stand out.

8. Review and Edit :

Before submitting your paper, review and edit your replies.

Check for spelling and grammatical mistakes, and make sure your sentences are clear and concise.

In your presentation, correct any errors or inconsistencies.

Paper Presentation Tips

Answer Questions in Order : Unless otherwise specified, it is best to answer questions in the order they appear in the paper. This keeps the logical flow going and avoids misunderstandings between you and the examiner.

Begin with a Concise and Clear Introduction : For essay-style questions or more extended answers, start with a brief introduction highlighting your key points or thesis. This allows the examiner to comprehend the direction of your answer right away.

Use Bullet Points or Numbered Lists : Consider utilising bullet points or numbered lists when presenting lists or multiple points. This improves readability and makes recognising and evaluating each effectiveness easier for the examiner.

Use Diagrams or Pictures : Include diagrams, flowcharts, or pictures to support your answers. Visual representations can more effectively convey information and make your answers more engaging.

Correctly Cross Out Errors : Instead of scribbling it out, neatly cross it with a single line if you make a mistake while writing. This shows that you know the inaccuracy and helps keep your answer sheet tidy.

Conclusion:

P aper presentation in board exams is critical for effectively communicating your knowledge and skills to the examiner. You can improve the presentation of your answer sheet by the suggestions provided in the article.

Remember that correct paper presentation in board exams improves readability and demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail. Presenting your answers effectively can make a favourable impression on the examiner and increase the overall impact of your exam result.

"In the realm of board exams, a powerful paper presentation can be the key that unlocks success."

FAQs on The Power of Paper Presentation in Board Exams

1. How can I improve the quality of handwriting for board exams?

Work on writing slowly and legibly. Take time to form each letter and carefully keep the regular spacing between words. Consider utilising ruled or grid paper to guide your writing if necessary.

2. What should I do if I make an error when composing my answers?

If you make a mistake, cross it out neatly with a single line. Scribbling or smearing the text is not permitted. This shows the examiner that you know the problem and allows them to read your corrected answer.

3. Do I have to draw diagrams or illustrations for exams?

Diagrams or illustrations help clarify your explanations or support your answers. However, include them only when they are relevant and add value to your comments. If you draw diagrams, make sure they're legible, labelled, and appropriately depict the information you're trying to convey.

4. Do I need to use a ruler to underline headings?

While employing a ruler can aid in creating straight lines, it is only sometimes necessary. You can do it freehand if your underlining is excellent and consistent. However, a ruler might be a helpful tool if you have trouble keeping straight lines.

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   Home » Articles & News » Exam Writing Techniques for All Kinds of Exams

Exam Writing Techniques for All Kinds of Exams

Discover writing tips for all the most common types of exams. Impress with your exam essays, short written answers and multiple choice responses!

One of the most common anxieties students have before exams is around their exam writing technique. If you have exams coming up you might find yourself wondering if your writing is strong enough and if you are writing in the correct way to perform well in your exams.

Just as there are different types of exams, there are different writing styles that are appropriate for each one. In today’s post, we will break down some of the most common exam styles and give you some writing tips for each one. At the end, we’ll also offer some general tips that will help you in any kind of exam.

Essay Exams

Common in subjects such as English, History, and Media Studies, essay-based exams require you to write an extended essay on a specific question or subject. You might get a choice of several questions. If so, take a few moments to choose the question that is most aligned with your knowledge.

When you are writing an exam essay, it is essential to stay on topic and ensure that every point you make addresses the central essay question. It’s a good idea to spend a few minutes writing an essay plan before you start. This helps you organise your thoughts and remember all the most important points you need to make.

An essay exam answer should have a clear introduction, where you introduce the topic, and a conclusion, where you sum up your answer. You will need to communicate your thoughts clearly, support your claims with evidence, and structure your essay logically.

Short Written Answers

In some exams, you will have to provide short written answers to several questions. The length of the answers required might vary from as short as one or two sentences to as long as one or two paragraphs. Pay attention to any instructions about how much to write. If none are provided, the amount of space allowed on the exam paper is a good indicator.

Being concise is critical here. You do not have the time or space to write a full essay, so get to the point quickly. Be thorough in your answer, but choose your words carefully so that you don’t fall into the trap of “waffling”. Read the question twice before you start writing and make sure that you are answering the exact question that was asked.

In exams with multiple questions, different questions might be worth different numbers of marks. Make sure you allocate more time to the questions that are worth more marks.

Multiple Choice Exam Questions

In some exams, you will be given a selection of possible answers to a question and have to choose the correct one. These are called multiple choice questions. Multiple choice exams usually carry the same number of available marks for each question, but double check because there are exceptions to this rule.

Here’s a technique for answering multiple choice questions: try to think of the answer to each question before you look at the possible choices. You might be surprised at how many you know straight away.

Some multiple choice exams do not allow you to correct an answer once you have filled it in. This is because they are marked by a scanning machine. Therefore, always double-check before you fill in your answer on the paper.

If you don’t know the answer to a question, leave it and move on. You can come back to it later. If you’re not sure of the answer, make an educated guess based on what you do know. If you really have no idea, guessing is a better last resort than leaving the question blank.

Number-Based Exams

Some subjects, such as Maths, Physics, and Computer Science, will require you to work with numbers and formulae. Even in these number-based exams, how you write your answers matters.

Unless it specifies otherwise in the instructions, try to show your working out for each question clearly. This can help you to pick up a few extra marks. Sometimes, you’ll get a point for good working out even if your final answer is wrong.

As with multiple choice questions, skip a question if you find yourself getting stuck and come back to it later. Spending too long on one question, at the expense of picking up easier marks elsewhere, can be a mistake.

General Exam Writing Tips

No matter the type of exam, some basic tips can help you to write your answers in the best way possible. This can help you to score some extra points as well as ensuring you do not fall into any common marks-losing pitfalls.

Here are our top exam writing tips for all exam styles:

• Read the question twice before you begin.
• If the question calls for a longer answer, make a plan before you start writing.
• For any answers longer than 1-2 words, always write in full sentences.
• Make sure every point you make refers back to the central question.
• Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation to the best of your ability.
• Write as neatly as you can. This ensures your examiner can read your answers correctly.
• If you make a mistake, cross it out clearly with a single, neat line and write in the correct answer instead.

Oh, and always bring a spare pen or two. Running out of ink mid-exam is a level of stress you don’t need!

All the best for your exams.

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Writing exam questions in a six-step process

Writing exam questions is a meticulous, complex and creative part of teaching. The habit of using a standardised process will make this frequent task more manageable, writes Fiona Lifen Liu

Fiona Lifen Liu

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Writing exam questions is a big project, and it is not accomplished at one stroke. It requires time to prepare and polish this form of assessment but using a standardised process when writing exam papers can streamline the task.

Different subjects and exam purposes may have different processes but they are nevertheless similar, especially for closed-book exams. A reliable process can boost teachers’ enthusiasm for writing exam questions, improve the quality of the questions themselves and save a lot of working time.

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Six steps for writing exam questions

The process of writing exam questions usually involves six steps: determine the goal of the questions; match to a three-way exam question guide; prepare exam questions; construct the test; predict difficulty; and develop grading rules.

1. Determine the goal of the exam questions

The goal of the exam questions serves as the starting and end point of question-writing and guides and constrains the writing process. It can be based on teaching objectives, combined with test purposes, difficulty coefficient and time constraints. For example, if I wanted to prepare a 30-minute quiz to just review a chapter, I would usually use multiple-choice questions as the best way to do this. With regard to difficulty, teachers can use their experience and a framework such as Bloom’s taxonomy to determine the level. If we choose a question from a test bank, there is often a number indicating the difficulty of the question, so teachers can also imitate the scoring method to score their own questions.

2. Match to a three-way exam question guide

What I call the three-way exam question guide is a framework used to organise test content, the assessment intent (what specifically is being tested) and the type of exam question in a table format.

Let’s consider one of the ways that writing exam questions needs to take into account types of questions. Of course, there is no single perfect type; it is often advantageous to mix types of questions based on the assessment intent (using, for example, Bloom’s taxonomy). In an accounting exam, say, there are two common types of questions: multiple-choice and computational. Multiple-choice questions are often used to test the low-level skills, while computational questions are often used to test higher-order thinking skills. The teacher also needs to match the test content to the assessment intent and types of questions.

This grid can also be helpful if you are collaborating with other teachers and want to avoid repeating questions from other assessments such as mid-term exams.

3. Prepare the exam questions

Preparing exam questions is the core step in this process. It involves creating questions that effectively measure the knowledge and skills that students have gained from their learning experiences. The process of preparing the questions should be based on a hierarchy of cognitive categories and the difficulty and requirements of learning objectives, so the teacher should formulate questions with varying levels of challenge. For example, computational questions in accounting exams generally have at least three parts; not all of them are difficult to solve, but they should gradually deepen in difficulty.

Usually, preparing exam questions involves adapting existing questions or creating new ones. Adapting exam questions may modify or transform existing examples to make them more formal and functional. There are many ways to adapt exam questions from a test bank; you can change the perspective of a question, the known conditions, the examination objectives, the question type, or restructure the questions. If you are writing from scratch, a new context can provide new questions.

As you prepare exam questions, it is necessary to synchronously write the answers to each one, so that problems can be identified and corrected in a timely manner.

In addition, the exam questions should be free of scientific or knowledge-based errors and the language used in the questions should be clear and concise so that students understand them without any misinterpretation.

4. Construct the test

Once prepared, the exam questions need to be grouped into a test in a certain order. The written questions in an accounting exam, for example, should be arranged in the order of multiple-choice, then computational questions. When constructing a test, the questions should be arranged from easy to difficult.

5. Predict difficulty

After the exam questions have been written, the teacher must answer the questions and record the answer time. In general, the time the students need to finish an exam is twice that taken by the teacher. Based on the teacher’s experience answering the questions, the wording or number of questions can then be tweaked.  In addition, it is necessary to predict the possible scores of students to estimate the difficulty of the exam and adjust questions appropriately.

6. Develop grading rules

The answers to the exam questions should be detailed and accurate, and the grading details of the questions should be indicated. The allocation of scores for answers should be based on the difficulty and answering time. If the difficulty of the question is high and it takes a long time to answer, the mark allocation should be higher.

In conclusion, writing exam questions is a creative task, sometimes requiring the input of multiple teachers. Cultivating a standardised process can help colleagues offer mutual assistance and complete tasks together. By following the six steps in the process of writing exam questions, teachers can ensure that their exams accurately assess their students’ learning outcomes.

Fiona Lifen Liu is a lecturer in accounting at the School of Business at Macau University of Science and Technology.

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Making an exam - a guide to creating a question paper video transcript

Making an exam - a guide to creating a question paper.

A qualification is a way of demonstrating that someone has achieved a certain level of learning.

To gain a qualification, students often take examinations. The exams taken by GCSE and A-level students are based on a syllabus, which is now usually called a specification.

Specifications are created by exam boards and cover all the information and skills that students are expected to have learnt by the end of their course. They are accredited by the exams regulator, Ofqual, to make sure that they meet the national criteria for the qualification.

A question paper tests how well a student can demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge, understanding and skills set out in the specification.

As it would be impossible to test the entire specification in one set of exams,

we select which areas to focus on in a particular paper, and ensure that all parts of the specification are covered over a five year period.

At the same time  -  as we develop the question paper - we also create the marking guidance , or mark scheme , that goes with it. This ensures that the overall assessment is valid and students will be given the right marks for their answers

Creating a question paper takes a lot of time. In fact, work starts more than a year and a half before students are due to sit the exam.

A question paper is put together by an exam committee. The members of the committee are often teachers, who have developed assessment expertise as a result of working as examiners. The committee is made up of senior examiners including the chair of examiners for the subject, a chief examiner for the specification and a lead assessment writer for each question paper.

There is also a qualification developer, who is responsible for managing the process and ensuring that the question paper complies with AQA’s rules. In addition, we draw on the research and assessment expertise of our Centre for Education Research and Analysis.

There are two other types of specialists that help ensure the quality and consistency of the question paper – the reviser and the scrutineer. We’ll come back to them in a moment.

Before we start to write a question paper, the chair and chief examiner review the  papers from the previous exam series. They look in detail to see how well each question performed. For example – did students understand what they were being asked to do? This review is one of the ways we ensure that we continuously improve the quality of our question papers. The lead assessment writer then develops the blueprint for the paper with the chief examiner. This is one of the most important parts of the whole process, as all the individual questions will be checked carefully against the blueprint.

Once a question and its mark scheme have been created, it is reviewed by the reviser and other senior examiners. They use a comprehensive checklist to make sure each question offers the right level of challenge, tests content that is covered in the specification and is error free.

We want to ensure that our questions work for everyone, so we have a team that modifies papers for visually impaired students. We also work with The British Association of Teachers of the Deaf, who tell us if certain words or images could make the question more difficult for some students.

When all of these checks have been completed, the individual questions are pulled together into a question paper.

At this stage there are a number of further checks to be made. The paper is read by the qualifications developer and professional proofreaders. They check the spelling, grammar and accuracy of the questions, as well as any images, diagrams and charts. After that, the lead assessment writer and reviser check that the paper follows the blueprint.

The next stage is where the first scrutineer comes in. Our scrutineers are subject experts who sit the paper exactly as a student would. They check to see that all the questions are clear, the paper offers the right level of challenge and that it can be completed in the allocated time.

The question paper is then reviewed by the Question Paper Approval Committee, who sign it off as fit for purpose and error free. It’s proofread again and a second scrutineer sits the paper. They check it against the mark scheme, as we need to know if they’ve given the answers we would expect.

A member of the subject team who hasn’t seen the paper before gives it a final check. If everything is fine, the chair of examiners gives their approval.

After 18 months of work, the question paper is ready to be sent to the printers. When we get the printed papers back, we do one last check.

But that’s not quite the end of the process. The question paper now goes back to the specialist team who produce all the different versions of the paper - including large print and braille – which will make it accessible to visually impaired students.

Making an exam - a guide to creating a question paper, brought to you by AQA.  For more information visit aqa.org.uk .