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Understanding final assessment questions

Final assessments offer you opportunities to fully demonstrate your mastery of what you have learnt in those
units. They require you to demonstrate your understanding of key concepts, your ability to analyse or evaluate
these concepts, and your skill in applying your knowledge to new scenarios.

There are six different levels of understanding that the examiners want you to demonstrate: knowledge,
comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Click on each below to reveal what is
expected in an answer.

Question Type: Knowledge

Who?
What?
Where?
When?
Define…

What do they want you to do?

To recall definitions, facts, or observations. This may be material you need to know by heart - accuracy is
important.
Question Type: Comprehension

Describe (what happened in our experiment).

What is the main idea (of this text)?
How are (these two systems) alike? How are they different?

What do they want you to do?

To give a full and accurate description in correct sequence. State the main idea, explain its significance,
or clarify points of similarity and difference.

Question Type: Application

Suggest improvements to X based on your knowledge of Y.

If X is true, how can you apply this to situation Y?
Solve the following problems using X’s law.

What do they want you to do?

To apply your knowledge to unfamiliar situations or problems.

Question Type: Analysis

Why does this trend occur?

Now that we've studied X, what can we conclude about Y?
How does the writer achieve this effect?

What do they want you to do?

To make inferences and draw conclusions based on the information that you have.

Question Type: Synthesis

Can you suggest a method for solving X?

How could this experiment be improved?
What do you predict would happen if this firm were to restructure?
What do they want you to do?

To integrate information to solve problems or answer questions.

Question Type: Evaluation

Do you agree with X? Do you believe that this is the best way to proceed?
In your opinion, which of these factors had the greatest effect on X?
Which design best fulfils the design brief?

What do they want you to do?

To give your informed opinion about an issue, judging the validity of an idea, the merit of a solution, or
the quality of a product. You are expected to draw on knowledge gained throughout the subject.

Activity

Final assessment question quiz

Identify the type of understanding you are required to demonstrate in each of the following exam
questions.
Explain briefly the meaning of the following terms:
– Demography
– Consumer sales promotion
– Media mix

What type of question is this?

 Comprehension

 Knowledge

 Check 

Next: Sample final assessment

questions > (https://www.mon
ash.edu/rlo/study-skills/prepar
ing-for-exams/sample-exam-qu
estions)
Quick study
Preparing guide
a study
timetable
template
Assessments test both your content knowledge and your
ability to manage your time effectively. Setting up a study
timetable can be an effective time management strategy.
To succeed in your assessments, you should allocate
enough study time to prepare effectively for all your
subjects.

Check your Allocate study

assessment
dates.
Note the dates for each
of your assessments.
How they are spaced
out will affect the
amount of time you have
to study for each
assessment.
time for each
assessment.
• Break your study time
into short study
sessions (e.g. 2 hours
instead of 6 hours).
• Allow more time for
subjects you find
difficult.

Arrange the Revision

study sessions requires
around your repetition.
commitments. You will need to revise
Also, remember to content several times in
include: order to recall it effectively
in the assessment, so
• study breaks make sure to allocate
• travel time to do enough
revision before each
• meals. assessment.
 Study timetable example

Google Calendar
You can use the calendar attached to your Gmail
account to create your study timetable.

This will allow you to colour code your activities, set

reminders, and sync with your devices.

Final tips
Follow your study timetable as much as
possible in order to ensure you use your study
time most effectively.

If you find you need more time for a particular subject

or topic, you can adapt your timetable, but make sure
that you still have enough time for your other subjects.

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Completing final assessments

Open-book assessment

What are open-book assessments?

Unlike ‘closed-book' exams where you cannot bring anything to the task except your pens, pencils and
calculators, open-book assessments allow you to have access to your notes, textbooks, references and/or
other resources (including access to the internet) with you when you undertake the assessment. You might
do the assessment in a university setting or in your home.

Open-book assessments usually come in two forms:

1 Short timed assessments (1 - 2 hours), held at a university exam venue or completed remotely, with
varying degrees of access to resources and references.
2 Longer timed take-home assessment (6 hours or more), completed either on a Monash University
platform, or in the format of an assignment submission.

If you are completing open book assessments at home, you will be required to complete the given task(s)
without any help from or consultation with others within the specified period of time, which can vary
significantly from a couple of hours to a couple of days (or longer).
 Open-book assessments are commonly referred to as open-book exams. Traditionally, exams
have been conducted in a specific venue and have been timed and invigilated. As more
assessment moves online, when we refer to these open-book assessments, we include those
that you complete on-campus and those that you may complete from home.

One of the misconceptions about open-book assessments is that they will be easier than closed-book
assessments.

Open-book assessments are trickier than they look! Your examiners know that you will have all your
resources in front of you, so the questions will go beyond rote-learning, or just reproducing what the textbook
says. Open-book assessments are testing your ability to find relevant information quickly, and they often
require you to interpret, synthesise and apply that information to solve new problems.

Below are our top tips on preparing and writing open-book assessments.
Open-book assessments are an opportunity for learning

Open book assessments challenge you in higher-order thinking to apply, synthesise and think creatively about
the content of the unit. They provide opportunities for you to demonstrate your learning in open and creative
ways, which is often what is asked of you in the workplace as well.

Closed-book exams
Final assessments may take the form of closed-book exams. This is a traditional format that you may have
experienced in the past. This means that you are only allowed to bring your writing materials and approved
equipment, such as a calculator, into the exam with you. Let's look at a few exam strategies that you might
find helpful. Work through the module below for a series of strategies to help you before and during your
exam.

Exam strategies FAQ

What if I go blank or start to panic during the exam?

This is usually a symptom of stress or anxiety, which can be managed using calming strategies. First,
approach the anxiety on a physical level by taking some long, deep breaths. Then let your mind relax –
close your eyes, if you like, and give yourself an opportunity to calm down.
If your mind goes blank just as you start answering a question, wind back and think about the topic more
broadly, scribbling down anything that comes to mind. This should jog your memory. If not, skip the
question and come back to it later. You will eventually remember as your mind is prompted by other
material on the exam, and you don't want to waste time worrying.

If you find this happens regularly during exams, you might want to contact the Monash University
Counselling Service for advice on managing stress and anxiety.

How should I approach multiple choice questions?

Consider these four strategies for dealing with multiple choice questions:

1 Read the exam instructions carefully and work out how long you should spend on each multiple
choice question.
2 Read each question carefully, underlining key words or phrases. Options in multiple choice
questions are often designed to make the choice difficult, so make sure to read all of the options
before answering.
3 If you get stuck, double check the wording of the question and the answer options. Take special
note of words such as “always” or “never”, as these can sometimes allow you to eliminate certain
options. Also take note of subjective terms, such as “choose the best answer”, and negative terms,
such as “choose the statement that is not correct”.
4 If you still can’t answer the question, skip it and come back to it later. Make sure you don't spend
too much time on each multiple choice question, as this can waste precious exam time.

How should I approach short answer questions?

Here are three key steps in answering short answer questions:

1 Read. Read the question carefully to understand it fully. Identify the direction words, as these
explain what the examiner expects in your answer. Short answer questions often ask you to
provide a definition for one of the terms or concepts covered in your subject, or present a short
argument in response to a question.
2 Plan. Short answer questions usually require paragraph-length answers. It is best to plan your
response before writing it, thinking through your main argument and the evidence or examples you
will use to back it up. You should structure your response the same way you would structure a
body paragraph of an essay, as follows:
A Begin with a topic sentence, clearly stating your response to the question.
 B Follow this up with one or two explanatory statements, which clarify your argument or
response.
C Next, provide evidence and examples to support your statements.
D Finally, conclude your answer with a sentence that summarises your response.
3 Write. Write your response following the structure above, remembering to write in full sentences
using standard academic conventions, just as you would in an essay. Also try to use subject-
specific terminology and concepts to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding. Make sure
you read over your answer afterwards to check the clarity of your writing, spelling and punctuation.

How should I approach essay questions?

Consider these four steps in answering essay questions:

1 Read. Read the question carefully to understand it fully. Identify the direction words, as these
explain what the examiner expects in your answer. Also identify the content words, which specify
the topic of the question, and any limiting words (such as "always" or "since WW2"). Consider the
question's assumptions and your stance on the point of view it implies.
2 Plan. The most important feature of a high quality essay answer is a logical argument supported
by high quality evidence. This means you need to spend a few minutes planning your response. Jot
down your overall argument and several (usually 3-4) key points, along with what evidence or
examples you will use to support each key point.
3 Structure. Outline your essay structure before you begin writing. An essay in an exam follows the
same structure as an essay assignment, as follows:
A Begin with an introduction, setting the context of the question and clearly stating your
response to it. You should also briefly outline the structure of the essay – the main points it
will cover – in a statement such as, "This essay will discuss..."
B Several body paragraphs will follow and each will develop a different key point in your
argument. Remember, each paragraph should contain a topic sentence, explanatory
statement(s), evidence and examples, and a concluding sentence that links it back to the
overall argument of the essay.
C End with a conclusion that summarises your key points and clearly re-states your overall
argument. Consider using phrases like "to summarise" or "in conclusion" when re-stating
your argument.
4 Write. As with any academic essay, you are expected to write in full sentences using appropriate
academic language conventions (avoid contractions, slang, informal language, and so on).
Remember to use technical terms and concepts relevant to your subject to demonstrate your
knowledge and understanding. Make sure you read over your essay after to check the clarity of
your writing, spelling and punctuation.
 What if I am a student from a non-English speaking background?

Markers need to understand your answers in order to give you a fair mark. In your answers, pay attention
to:

Clarity. Write in short, simple sentences to avoid word order mistakes. Read over your sentences
to check they make sense.
Tenses. If you are unfamiliar with all the English tenses, stick to the simple present, simple past,
and future tenses.
Subject and verb agreement. Make sure that the form of the verb matches its subject for example,
“the scientists who wrote the paper agree”; “the lecturer of the unit agrees”.
Articles ("a", "an", "the"). Concrete objects need an article (for example, "a table", “the table”), while
proper nouns (names of places or people) do not require articles. Abstract nouns or concepts
sometimes require an article (for example, “the theory of relativity”).
Spelling and grammar. Working under time pressure it is easy to make mistakes. If you have time,
check your short answer responses and essays for correct spelling, punctuation and sentence
structure. You can always make edits to fix mistakes.

If you are concerned about your English language skills, consider attending some of the English Connect
programs or peer support sessions during semester.

What if I have to complete an electronic exam or electronic assessment?

Visit the electronic exams page (https://www.monash.edu/exams/conduct-venues/electronic-exams) to

learn more about eExams at Monash.

References

Simon Fraser University. (2018). Exam preparation: Strategies for open book
exams.  https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/slc/learning/exam-types/open-book-exams (htt
ps://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/slc/learning/exam-types/open-book-exams)

University of New South Wales. (2019). Open-book and take-home exams.  https://student.unsw.edu.au/open-

book-and-take-home-exams (https://student.unsw.edu.au/open-book-and-take-home-exams)
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-skills/preparing-for-exams/un
derstanding-exam-questions)