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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