Answering Exam Questions: Tips for Clear and Structured

Answers

Do you often find yourself going off-topic when answering an oral question to the point
where you forget to answer the actual question?

Similarly, do you struggle to formulate a concise and well-structured answer to a written

exam question?

If so, the following tips can help you improve your approach.

BEFORE THE EXAM

Be prepared
✓ Everything starts with thorough preparation. The better you understand the course
material, the easier it becomes to formulate a well-structured answer and the less likely
you are to digress.
• Pay attention to the structure and organisation of the course. This approach will
help you develop a comprehensive grasp of the subject matter. Make sure to
examine the table of contents carefully.
• Distinguish between what's essential and what's not.
• When studying, focus not only on understanding the learning content but also on
retaining it.
• When retrieving the learning content, try to stick as closely as possible to the
reasoning and terminology used in the course material.
• Test yourself by thinking of potential exam questions.
• Gather information about the exam format in advance. For example, consult the
ECTS course description, the teaching staff, and example exam questions.

✓ Talk to your fellow students about their study strategies for processing the course
material. This way, you can improve your own approach to studying.

✓ Analyse the exam questions and model answers provided to understand what the
teaching staff expects. Determine whether they want a concise answer or more context
and details.
➢ Should you explain the concepts used in the question?
➢ Should you explain the concepts you use in your answer?
➢ Is it necessary to provide context?
➢ What level of detail is expected in your answer?
 Focus on the course materials provided by the teaching staff or academic advisers to
avoid studying inaccurate information.

✓ During the semester, you can practice by solving example exam questions and having a
fellow student or an academic adviser review them. For example, consider asking the
following questions:
• Is my answer logical and well-structured? For example, is there sufficient white
space between paragraphs and a clear distinction between the introduction,
middle, and conclusion?
• Is my answer coherent? For example, did I use enough signal words?

✓ Meet up with fellow students and question each other.

DURING THE EXAM

STEP 1: Read the exam question carefully

✓ Read the exam question thoroughly and multiple times.

✓ Rephrase the question in your own words.

✓ Underline the key elements of the question to focus on what is being asked.

✓ Highlight question words (who, what, where, when, what consequences, why, etc.).

✓ Highlight dates, names, and other important details to ensure your answer is relevant to
the question, i.e. about the right person, art movement, etc.

✓ Number all additional questions.

✓ Identify different types of open questions and look at the answer space to determine
whether the teaching staff expects a concise or extended response.
 Fill-in-the-blank Short answer questions Essay questions
questions
You only need to fill in a few The teaching staff expects a These questions require
words. short, concise answer. longer answers.

These questions typically These questions typically

E.g. In what year was
Mozart born?
E.g. What does PCR stand
for?
begin with words such as
"what", "who", "where",
"when", "name", "which",
"give", etc.
E.g. Give a definition of
feudalism.
E.g. How is the principle of
superposition used to date
rock layers?
begin with "describe",
"explain", "argue", etc.
E.g. Explain the
geographical location of
ancient Rome.
E.g. Explain why an electron
follows a circular path when
it moves perpendicular to a
uniform magnetic field.

STEP 2: Prepare an outline of your ideas

✓ Creating a draft can help you organise the structure and content of your answer.

✓ Use key words and concise sentences instead of full sentences. Keep an eye on the
time!

✓ Consider using mind maps if you regularly use them for studying.

✓ You may find it easier to formulate the answer in your head first, especially if time is
limited.

✓ When writing out your answer, start with the elements you underlined in the question.

✓ Structure your answer logically:

• What is your main argument, and with what facts and data do you support it?
What relationships exist between those elements?
• Do not skip any steps, including the obvious ones. Show the teaching staff that
you understand the learning content.
• Examples of well-structured answers:
o You have to indicate an evolution → structure your answer
chronologically.
 o You have to make a comparison → you can first describe
similarities and then differences.
o You have to evaluate a point of view → you start by explaining it,
then provide arguments in favour of it, followed by arguments
against it, and finally, a conclusion.

✓ Consider the structure of the question. If the question has several parts, make sure to
answer each part following the structure of the question. Often, there's a logical flow.

STEP 3: Check your outline

✓ Did I answer the question (right person, historical period, concept, etc.)?

✓ Have I answered each part of the question?

✓ Have I answered every additional question?

✓ Have I elaborated on things that aren't relevant to the question? If so, retain only the
parts that are relevant to the question.

STEP 4: Write out your answers on your exam copy

✓ Start from your outline.

✓ Use full sentences.

✓ If your answer consists of multiple parts, ensure a clear structure.

• Start each part on a new line or leave a blank line between each part.
• Underline a key word for each part that provides structure to your answer.
▪ E.g. Underline 'similarities' and 'differences'. Also, underline key words in
your explanation of the similarities and differences.
▪ Number the different parts of your answer if possible.
E.g. Two arguments in favour: 1, 2. Three arguments against: 1, 2, 3.

✓ When answering essay questions, structure your response with an introduction, body
and conclusion. Leave white space between each section and use paragraphs. Typically,
a paragraph should consist of 6-10 sentences.
• Introduction
▪ Situate.
▪ Briefly answer the question.
▪ Announce what you are going to discuss.
• Body
▪ Elaborate on your answer to the question.
▪ Include arguments and examples.
 • Conclusion
▪ Formulate a conclusion.
▪ Highlight the key points.
▪ Do not include new information in your conclusion.

✓ Use signal words, linking words and deictic expressions to provide structure and
coherence in your argument. For example, "first," "second," "on the one hand," "on the
other hand," "because," "therefore," "after all," and "in summary".

✓ Avoid colloquialisms. Use neutral, concrete and business/scientific language.

✓ Underline or highlight the key elements of your answer. This way, you clearly indicate
the core of your response. This will make it easier for the teaching staff to read your
answer.

✓ Ask yourself: "Have I included everything from my outline on my exam copy?"

✓ Avoid the following:

• Repeating yourself.
• Elaborating on irrelevant topics. After all, you don't get extra points for
redundant information.
• Overly focusing on your own opinion. Include the information as it is written
down in the course materials.

✓ Consider the available answer space.

STEP 5: Proofread your answer

✓ Ideally, you should proofread your answer several times. Focus on different aspects
each time, such as structure, spelling, clarity, and relevance.

✓ Check whether your ideas are sufficiently substantiated through the use of examples,
evidence, literature references, etc.

✓ As a student with a disability, you can use screen reader software to have questions
read aloud to you. Do the sentences sound right? Is your answer well-formulated?
Please note that you need permission from the faculty to type out your answers and
that access to an exam laptop should be part of your exam accommodations. You
should also be able to work with Sprint or Kurzweil. Any questions? Contact your
disability officer.

✓ Keep an eye on the time!

 TIPS FOR TAKING ORAL EXAMS

Written preparation
✓ Prepare an outline of your ideas.
• Number the different elements you want to include in your answer.
• Do you still have enough preparation time? Write down the broad
structure/table of contents of the course. This will help you quickly identify the
relevant chapters when supplementary questions are asked. Your professor
might also notice how motivated you are if you know the course structure
thoroughly.

✓ When it comes to oral exams, the teaching staff won't be able to reread or listen back to
your answers. So ask yourself which sentence you want them to remember. This is the
key sentence. "If the teaching staff could only remember one sentence from your
answer, what would you want it to be?"

Answering oral questions

✓ Begin by informing the teaching staff about the topics you will discuss. This way, you
provide a clear overview of the structure of your answer. Once you've done so, proceed
with presenting your arguments.
E.g. 'First, I will discuss the various DSM criteria for autism. Then, I will provide
about two examples for each criterion.'
E.g. 'I will first discuss the process of endothermic reactions and then the process
of exothermic reactions.'

✓ When elaborating on your answer, stick as closely as possible to the structure and key
words of your outline; refer to it regularly. This will help you stay focused on the core of
your answer, and you avoid forgetting to explain certain parts.

✓ Practise with fellow students. Is your answer well-structured and easy to understand?
Do you limit yourself to what is actually asked?

✓ Don't talk too fast.

AFTER THE EXAM

Didn’t pass?
✓ Take a look at your exam. This is an important learning opportunity. The guiding
questions from the 'After the exams' section of the online module 'Study and exam
period' can be helpful.
✓ If you'd like, you can request a copy of your answer from the teaching staff. This way,
you can review it at your convenience and, if needed, discuss it with an academic
adviser.
 RESOURCES Where to go?

Online modules Individual support

• Study and exam period • Your faculty academic adviser
• Fear of failure FAQ • A Stuvo academic adviser
• Studies without worries

Websites
• Exam types
• Study and exam period
• Essay questions

Book
• The Mind Map Book