How to answer the

question
In the final test or the exam.
 • Know your texts in detail.
• Make notes of the key words in the question.
• Answer the question set (and not the one you
would prefer to answer).
• Use many brief quotations and references to
What you substantiate your points.
have to do: • Analyse the key words in your quotations,
showing how writers achieve their results.
• Give your personal views on the analysis of the
text.
• Write LEGIBLY, with a good pen, in English that is
clear and accurate as you can make it.
 • Do not copy out the question.
• Do not spend too much time planning.
• Do not waste time on long introductions on
background materials that is not relevant to
the question – as this will give you no marks
What you or credits.
• Do not simply tell the story.
musn’t do • Do not try to write about everything.
• Do not refer to writers by their first name.
• Do not repeat material or information.
• Do not talk about only the beginning of the
text.
 • You must read the question carefully.
• Underline the key words.
• Read the passage, undelining all the key
words and phrases in the passage you might
Prose: explore in your answer.
passage • Before writing your essay, write a brief plan,
using bullet points or a mind map.
based • Write your essay, making sure you are
question exploring the key quotations underlined
before.
• Do not forget to analyse the techniques
used, explaining the effect on the reader.
• Before starting an answer, think about:
• The context of the extract
• Its significance
• Its mood.
• It is always vital to show that you have a good sense
of what is going on overall in the extract.
• Do not simply list features of style. For example, it
is pointless to say that the writer uses imagery or
alliteration unless you can say what the effect is, or
might be, upon the audience.
• Answer the specific question! Your answer must
show that it focuses upon what is asked for and is
exactly relevant.