The Art of Reading Exam Questions

Table of Contents

The Art of Reading Exam Questions

Introduction

The most important skill that affects your performance in the exam hall is “understanding exam questions correctly and attempting them effectively”. Reading Exam questions is an art. A wrong interpretation of a question can make your answer wrong, no matter how prepared you are. In this article, we will discuss how to understand the questions and the techniques used to give the correct answer.

1. Read the question carefully

Being hasty in the exam can prove to be a big mistake for you.

First, read the question completely: Never make the mistake of thinking about the answer after reading the question halfway.

Note the keywords: Every question has some important keywords like “explain,” “compare,” “analyze,” or “define.” These keywords tell you how to write the answer to the question.

What has been asked, try to understand: See if the question is asking for specific or general information then write the answer.

2. Follow the instructions properly

Keep the word limit in mind: If there is a word limit given in the question, then there is no need to exceed it.

Understand the answer format: Some questions demand a specific format like points, paragraphs, or diagrams.

3. How to read Multiple choice questions ( MCQs)

The biggest problem in MCQs is when all the options seem similar.

Read the options carefully: Every option is examined one by one and eliminated which is wrong.

Focusing on the keywords of the question: Keywords in MCQs guide you toward the correct option.

Avoid Overthinking: Do not make the mistake of overthinking simple questions.

4. Approach to Long Questions (How to Handle Tough Questions)

Read the question twice: While handling long or tricky questions, Read the questions two times. The first time to understand and the second time to plan the answer.

Identify Main Point: Try to understand the core idea of the question.

Noting sub-questions: If the question has multiple parts, ensure that you answer all of them.

5. Strategy for Short Questions

Precise Answer Writing: Short questions do not require lengthy explanations.

Give to-the-point answers: Directly write what the question is demanding. No need to explain extra information that is not asked in the the questions. The answer should be brief and to the point.

Use keywords: Make your answer impactful by smartly using keywords.

6. Time Management (Correct Use of Time)

Attempt Easy Questions first: The questions that you understand easily, complete them first.

Keep extra time for difficult questions: If you find it difficult, keep it at the end so that you can attempt them with better focus.

Divide time: Pre-decide how much time to give for each question and write answers accordingly.

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7. Re-read and cross-check

Check the answer: After writing the answer, once read the question again and see if you have given the right answer or not.

Check spelling and grammar: Proofreading is necessary to avoid errors.

Revising MCQs: Also double-check the answers to MCQs so that silly mistakes are avoided.

Conclusion

Understanding exam questions correctly is an art that you can develop with practice and patience. Read the questions carefully, follow the instructions, and write your answers. This habit will not only improve your accuracy but will also improve your confidence.