Guide To Preparing For Examinations Part Iv

Guide to preparing for examinations: Part IV: During and After examination -Nitin D Parekh, CA, CFA, MBA (IIM, A) Executive Director, Ashima Limited

We have discussed general tips useful during the exams. In this article I would present specific strategies for different types of questions. The preparation for examinations during and after examinations is discussed in the following paragraphs. Specific strategies during examinations 1. Multiple choice questions: a. Understand clearly how and where the answers are to be marked. b. Understand whether there is any negative marking system for incorrect answers. This is quite common in many competitive exams. c. If you do not understand the question properly look at the answer choices to make the meaning of the question. d. If two answer choices are almost alike and confuse you, look at the question again and get some clues. You may follow elimination method of answering and then make a calculated guess, when there is no negative marking system. Even in a negative marking system you may take a chance if say out of 4 choices you have already eliminated two choices and you are deciding one from the balance two choices left. e. If you want to eliminate some choices you may see which choices do not fit grammatically. f. If you are at guess work in answering a question without any clue, the longest response is correct answer in many cases. Another tip is normally choice ‘C’ is less risky than other blind choices. g. If you are not able to settle on the correct choice immediately, mark the question and come back later on rather than spending too much time. h. Having attempted the choice, if you get confused and think that some other choice should have been made, you can change the answer. However if you are equally uncertain about both the answers do not change the choice and keep the original answer as the correct choice. i. While attempting answers pay special attention to the words like ‘none’, ‘not’, ‘never’, ‘all’, ‘always’ etc. j. There is a possibility of some questions carrying multiple answers like ‘all the above’ or ‘none of the above’. For the first choice all previous answers choices must be correct and for the second choice all the previous choice answers have to be incorrect. 2. True or false questions: These are again multiple choice type questions but with only two choices. Keep the following points in mind:

a. Read minutely the statements clearly and understand the key words and phrases of the same. b. You should not make attempt to read any hidden meaning out of the statements. There is no need to bring in your interpretation of what should have been the question as the paper setter is supposed to have taken due care in framing the questions. c. In case you are not sure of the answer you may go for guesswork only if there is no negative marking system. 3. Matching questions: Matching questions are normally based on the relationships of certain names, places, dates or periods, creations, who says and what etc. keep the following tips in mind: a. Read the question carefully and understand whether there are more items on any side than the other side. If yes, then it means that there are certain misleading answers to confuse you. b. Start matching the items where you are quite sure to reduce the uncertainty for rest of the items. c. You may read the column with the longest details to find the answer. You may not necessarily read items on the left side first and then right side. You may, when you are not sure, start from right side to use certain items on the left side. d. You may be able to do some matching only based on elimination of other items which you are sure can not go with the specific items on hand. 4. Fill in the blanks questions: These questions are normally based on the test of students’ ability to remember and recall some important facts or figures. These may be dates, names of persons, places etc. Keep the following tips in mind: a. Read the question carefully to understand what exactly is missing or to be supplied. b. If you are provided the answers in the brackets, then these are very much like multiple choice type questions and you may follow those guidelines here too. c. If you are not aware about the correct answer and answer choices are made available, some hint as to correct choice may be found by finding the suitable answer which fits in well in terms of grammatical structure. d. Look at the number of blanks and the length of the space left out in the test paper which may lead some hints to the correct answer. 5. Writing an Essay: You may keep the following tips in mind: a. The students are advised to keep writing of essay as the last answer in language papers. This is done for three reasons. Firstly, writing of essay would require some thinking on your part which is better done when you have completed the rest of the questions. Secondly, when you are answering other questions, if you are willing, you may be able to think about the outline of the essay and make note of the same so as to save time at the end. Thirdly, you may decide the outline and actual essay length based on the available timeframe.

b. Make choice of the essay topic based on your preparation and ability to put in best write up rather than which topic you like. c. Before you start writing essay it would be better that you decide the outline of the essay and then you may develop the same, unless such outlines are already given in the test paper. d. The essay should cover a brief introduction, main text part (which may be divided in 3-4 logical paragraphs) and conclusion at the end. 6. Essay type questions: Essay type questions test subject knowledge. They primarily test the ability of the students to remember and present in the orgainised manner specific information. The following points are important: a. Understand exactly what the question is. Read and understand the words like explain, analyse, discuss, illustrate, justify, list, prove, contrast, compare etc. and prepare your answer accordingly. For example in case of contrast question you are only supposed to give differences and in case of compare question you are supposed to give both similarities and differences. These questions are normally of analysis, application, evaluation, recognition, recall or synthesis type questions. b. Please make sure whether you are required to give dates, names or examples as per the question. Keep in mind the question before you answer the same. If you cannot write exact date or year write in general. For example if you are not aware about Nehru’s birthday on 14th November but you remember only November, you may at least write November rather than not writing anything at all. c. You may start your answer with strong introduction or words which clearly establish that you have understood the question properly and are on the absolutely right track. d. Use facts, figures and logic rather than your emotions in writing answers. e. You must not include more than one main idea in one paragraph. f. Your answers should be easy to read, neat and in legible handwriting, properly paraphrased with logical sequence and with titles, headings, serial number etc., wherever applicable. g. Write the answers with adequate margins on all sides of answer book. Ensure that margins on particular side are maintained uniformly through out the answer book. h. A good answer starts with direct response to the question and goes on describing the relevant specific information based on the question and ends with a logical conclusion. i. Do not include unnecessary details in your answer just to increase the length of the answer. Remember the examiner would also like to understand how far your answer is focused and to the point. j. Avoid unnecessary jargon unless it is necessary in the context of the question asked. k. You need to ensure that there is natural flow and coherence in your answer and no internal contradictions.

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The conclusion should emerge as a natural outcome of what you have mentioned and should be consistent with your write up. You should never introduce new information at the end as a conclusion. 7. Short-notes: a. The response to the short-notes has to be really short. You should refrain from putting everything which you know on the topic. b. If you are asked to write a short-note, you cannot write what you have prepared for an essay type question on the same topic. In such case it would be better to cover all major points but you should cut down on the details. c. If the length of the short-note is specified in the question keep the same in mind. 8. Number problems: a. Understand or frame the problem, analyse the information provided, think of the steps to follow for solution and then start solution to the problem. Also decide the formulas to be used for solution to the number problems. b. Normally each and every figure given in the problem would be of use in solving the problem. Thus if you are not in a position to use one or more figures, you must doubly check your work and ensure that possibly the additional information is redundant or given only to mislead the students. c. Ensure that you write all numbers of the question and your calculations clearly legible. Though clear and legible handwriting is must for language part also, this is almost compulsory for number problems. d. Make special note of the one or more units of measurements used in the question paper and the unit of measurement in which answer is sought. For example if in the problem some figures are for kilometer and some in meter and ultimate answer is to be given in kilometer then you have to carry out the conversion from meter to kilometer before attempting the solution. e. Make use of calculator whenever permitted. f. If you are provided with charts/graphs and you have to interpret and write answers based on the same, understand clearly the ‘x’ and ‘y’ axis and the base level (origin). g. You should carry out quick cross check of the answer to the problem if possible before going to the next question. If you think this will be time consuming exercise, please do not attempt to follow this initially and do this work only after completion of the entire test paper. h. If after you have solved a particular problem some changes in the question are announced by the supervisor you must try to re calculate the problem based on the new information. If you are not able to do so due to shortage of time, you must at least mention that fact in your answer book that you completed the solution before the change was announced and thus the solution should be considered in the light of

original description of the problem. If you are courageous enough you should take signature of the supervisor at the relevant place of your answer book. After examinations: 1. When you come out of your exam room you should avoid talking about your performance to other students. 2. During exam days do not make any attempt to think about your performance and expected marks when other subject tests are yet to be taken. This may unnecessarily disappoint you if you have not done well in a particular subject. 3. After all exam papers are over you should evaluate your now expected performance vis-à-vis your original expectations for all subjects. Ask yourself what is there to learn for you from this exam. Is it that you lacked subject knowledge in a particular subject, is it that you could not complete the test paper fully, is it that you forgot to write your details in supplementary sheets, is it that you found sleepy in the exam due to not taking proper sleep on some days etc. These and similar other questions will help you in finding the areas of improvement so that you can work on the same and expect better performance next time. 4. After exams of all subjects are over, you may go through all your question papers and put estimated marks against all the questions in each subject and estimate your subject wise marks and grand percentage to decide your overall expected performance. 5. If you feel that you are not in proper health, you need not immediately decide to take drop from the exams as appearing for exams second time itself can become a matter of losing confidence. 6. You need to reward yourself after the exams are over. How about a picnic party or a movie? Don’t forget me! 7. Even when you get your results you must make comparison with what you expected and then find out what possibly would have gone wrong. You would have some if and then kind of scenarios with you like ‘if I had not given so much time on question number 3 the I would have more time for rest of the questions.’ Make use of such learning for future exams. 8. When you are pursuing studies and are yet to undergo further exams on the subjects you should remain on the task. It is said that a successful students is either taking a test or preparing for another test. Let me wish best of preparations and best of luck to all of you.