This document provides guidance on answering open-ended questions in four steps: 1) Understand the problem, 2) Devise a plan by determining what to write, 3) Carry out the plan by writing the answer, and 4) Check the answer. It explains that answers should be concise for name/state questions, provide relevant details for describe/list questions, involve scientific reasoning for explain questions, and relate back to experiments for results/prediction questions. Answers must use information from diagrams/tables if specified and incorporate scientific concepts.

1. Answering Open-Ended Questions
The Secret Manual

2. How long should the answer be?
• State / Name
– Give concise answer. No explanation required.
Something that is concise says everything that is necessary
without using any unnecessary words.
e.g. State one way in which insects are similar to birds.
• Describe / List
– Give relevant details. No explanation required.
e.g. Which material would you choose to make a key?
Describe the properties of the material that would make
it suitable.

3. • Explain / Give a reason
– Involves scientific reasoning or reference to
science concepts. Not one or two word answers.
e.g. Nila has a box that can hold exactly ten of these
ping pong balls. How many of these rubber balls can
the same box hold? Explain your answer.

4. • What does the results/experiment tell you?
– Analyse and/or interpret information using
science concepts. Relate back to experiment!
e.g. From the examples above, what can you
conclude about the needs of the living things?
• What would happen…?
– Make a prediction using science concepts where
relevant.
e.g. Explain what will happen when the large funnel
is pushed down into the basin of water.

5. Based on the diagrams….? / Study the table…
– Answer using information found only in the
diagrams/table given. Do not use prior knowledge
e.g.
Based on the diagrams, how is a nymph different from a caterpillar?
Note: In a comparison question such as the one above, pupils need to state fact
of BOTH animals.
Correct: The nymph develops into the adult insect while the caterpillar develops
into a pupa.
Wrong: The nymph develops into the adult insect.
Undesirable: The nymph develops into the adult insect but the caterpillar does
not. (stating the negative)

6. Important!
• Whenever there is an experiment in a
question, always answer with regards to the
experiment. Avoid giving general statements.
C

7. Step 3: Carry out the plan (Write the answer)
• Use scientific concepts in answering
questions.
• How long the answer should be depends on
the type of question

8. • How many marks are allocated? Is the answer
sufficient?
• Are key words spelt correctly?
• Have scientific concepts been included?
• Is the answer specific enough?
Step 4: Check the answer

9. In summary…
To answer OE questions well, follow the 4 steps:
1. U _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the problem
2. Devise a plan – P_ _ _ what to write
3. Carry out the plan – W_ _ _ _ the answer
4. C _ _ _ _ the answer
n d e r s t a n d
l a n
r i t e
h e c k

10. End of Manual
Now… you are
READY.