HOW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS APPROPRIATELY IN AN EXAM

Your outcome after these exams are dependent on so many factors. Believe me when I say it goes beyond being a prayer warrior and beyond the ‘overnight’ readings. How you answer your questions matter a lot. So many students pay less attention to this other determinant, but it is as important as the others because how you answer exam questions can be the game-changer between a “let my people go” and “God when?” kind of result.

Here’s how to answer questions appropriately in an exam:

1.      Read the instructions:

Read the instructions like your GPA depends on it (because it does).

“Answer only three questions.”

But you? You’ve gone to answer four – and now your lecturer is confused, lowkey irritated, and angry (mostly the latter sha).  Instructions are not suggestions, they’re laws. Before you even lift that pen, take a deep breath and read through everything carefully. Some questions are compulsory, others are optional.

2.      Understand the Questions properly:

You do realize that it is possible to write a whole booklet, without actually answering the question. Some lecturers are not looking for stories. In fact, some are only looking for keywords in your answer to give you a full mark, but no, you’ve gone to narrate Nigeria’s history. Words like discuss, evaluate, compare, justify are not there for decoration.

3.      Start with a Plan:

Outline your points, first things first. Don’t jump headfirst into the questions. Chances are that you’ll forget one or two things along the line. Whether you’re in Law, Engineering, or Music, structure matters. Plan your Introduction, body and conclusion before anything else.

4.      Answer the question, not the one you wish was asked:

Make sure, with every power in your being, that you’re answering the question that was actually asked, and not the one you were expecting. Resist the temptation to answer your favorite topic, even though it didn’t show up in the question paper. Resist it!

5.      Write your answers neatly:

Yes, I know there’s hardly enough time for you to write all that you have, but it’s better to write carefully and neatly than to write like some doctor’s prescription and risk it all.

6.      Manage your time wisely:

No matter how sweet one answer is going, don’t sleep there. Divide your time. Spend 10 minutes planning, then allocate your hours based on the number of questions. Don’t leave the hall shouting, “I didn’t finish!” as if it’s a heroic badge.

7.      Cross check your work before you submit:

Before you submit, quickly read through, and make sure your brain was not working faster than your hands. Sometimes, you tend to make spelling errors unknowingly. Literally dot your i’s and cross your t’s.