A PPT all about breaking down an exam question. I used this for my classes but this would be beneficial at all levels :)

1. HOWTO
HOWTO
HOWTO
ANSWER
ANSWER
ANSWER
EXAM
EXAM
EXAM
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS

2. First, Let’s Think About De-Coding Different
Types of Exam Questions....
Go right ahead!
These are factual questions, and the answers are straight-forward. You
either know the answer or you don’t; it’s right there in your head or it’s not.
Some green light questions can be very difficult, and your ability to recall
details is often tested with this typeof question.
Study for this type of question by using recitation, making flash cards,
quizzing yourself or a study partner, etc.
If you don’t know the answer to a green light question right away, circle it
and move on; often the answer will pop into your head later on during the
exam.

3. Slow down!
These questions are more detailed than green light questions,
but are based on the same idea: you either know the answer or
you don’t.
Often you’ll have to put multiple or “green light” details
together.
Similar strategies work for yellow and green questions, but
with yellow light questions you’ll need to recall many ideas,
concepts, formulas, etc., just to answer one question.

4. Red
Red
Red
Light
Light
Light
Hold on!
These questions ask you to make inferences or apply your knowledge to new
situations, which is sometimes called “critical thinking”.
You need to know the material being covered to answer these questions at the
“green light” level, but the exam question is not asking you to simply
regurgitate it. You will need to take what you know and use it in ways you have
not yet used it.
This type of question sometimes scares students, because they are surprised
they are being asked a question that wasn’t exactly covered in class. Remember
that with red light questions you are not supposed to already know the answer.
You have to come up with the answer yourself, it is not already in your head.
(You will need to know the basic information, though, to be able to answer this
type of question.)
To study for red light questions, make diagrams or concept maps that link
ideas or topics from the course together. Think about how what you’re learning
relates to what you’ve learned in other classes. Sit down with friends or
classmates and talk about how one might use information from the class in a
job setting.

5. MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Read the stem: First, read the stem and make sure you understand what it is getting at. Look
out for double negatives or other twists in wording before you consider the answer.
2. Try to come up with the correct answer: Before you look at the answer choices, try to come up
with the correct answer. This will help you to rule out choices that are similar to the correct answer.
Now read and consider each option carefully.
3. Look for clues in the stem: Look for clues in the stem that suggest the correct answer or rule
out any choices. For example, if the stem indicates that the answer is plural you can rule out any
answers that are singular. The basic rule is: the correct answer must make sense grammatically
with the stem. Options which fail this exam can be ruled out.

6. MULTIPLE CHOICE
4. Cross off any options you know are incorrect: As you rule out options cross them off with
your pencil. This will help you focus on the remaining choices and eliminates the chance of
returning to an item and selecting an option you had already eliminated.
5. Come back to items you were unsure of: Put a mark next to any questions you are unsure
of. If you complete the entire exam with time to spare, review these questions – you will often get
clues (or even answers) from other questions.

7. COPE WITH QUALIFIERS
COPE WITH QUALIFIERS
COPE WITH QUALIFIERS
Qualifiers are words that alter a statement. Words like always, most, equal, good, and bad. In a
multiple choice test, qualifiers can make an option on a test question be a correct option or an
incorrect option. For example, the following 2 states are nearly identical: It often rains in Seattle. It
always rains in Seattle. The first statement is true, while the word “always” in the second statement
makes it false. Keep careful track of qualifiers by circling one that appears in a test question or in
the answer options.
To beat qualifiers you need to know the qualifier families:
All, most, some, none (no)
Always, usually, sometimes, never
Great, much, little, no
More, equal, less
Good, bad
Is, is not

8. NOTICE
NOTICE
NOTICE
NEGATIVES
NEGATIVES
NEGATIVES
Negatives can be words like no, not, none, and never, or they can be
prefixes like il-, as in illogical, un-, as in uninterested, im- as in
impatient. Notice negatives because they can reverse the meaning of a
sentence. For example, in this answer option, the prefix in- in
indistinguishable causes the statement to be false: Because it is a
liquid at room temperature, mercury is indistinguishable from other
metals.

9. It is logical to assume that Thomas Edison’s fame was due to his many
practical inventions.
Each negative reverses the meaning of a sentence. With two negatives, the
question’s meaning should be the same as it was without. For example,
the first statement below has no negatives. It is obviously true. The second
statement has two negatives. Since each negative reverses the meaning of
the sentence, it is also true, but it is harder to identify as true.
1.
2. It is illogical to assume that Thomas Edison’s fame was not due to his
many practical inventions.

10. CHOOSE THE BEST
CHOOSE THE BEST
CHOOSE THE BEST
RESPONSE
RESPONSE
RESPONSE
Many options in a multiple choice answer may have some truth to
them. You want to identify the best response from the good
responses. If you have eliminated other answer options and have
narrowed it down to two, and both seem true, try to pick the
answer option that is in someway better than one that is just
good. Be sure to reread the stem (or question) over when
selecting the best answer.

11. Although questions follow different format, all must follow the rules of grammar. You can
eliminate answer options that do not make sense grammatically even if they contain
correct information.
Consider this example:
The people of Iceland:
a. A country located just outside the Arctic Circle
b. Are the world’s most avid readers
c. Claim to be descendents of the Aztecs
d. The capital, Reykjavik, where arms talks have been held
Answer option (a) is missing the verb, and answer option (d) has no connection to “the
people of Iceland.” These options can be eliminated, even though both are true, and you
are left with options (b) and (c).
USE GRAMMATICAL CUES
USE GRAMMATICAL CUES
USE GRAMMATICAL CUES

12. MARK ONLY “SURE THINGS”
MARK ONLY “SURE THINGS”
MARK ONLY “SURE THINGS”
FIRST - MAKE 3 “PASSES”
FIRST - MAKE 3 “PASSES”
FIRST - MAKE 3 “PASSES”
THROUGH THE TEST
THROUGH THE TEST
THROUGH THE TEST
Go through the test first and answer all the questions for which
the answers come easily. For the questions that seem more
difficult, mark the qualifiers and negatives, and eliminate as many
options as you can. This will give you a head start for your second
pass. You may come across another question that gives you a clue
to the one that stumped you. On your second pass spend extra
time to figure out the “best” of the rest of the answer options. On
your third pass, take an educated guess at the ones that are still
elusive because any answer is better than no answer.

13. A psychologist has been treating a client for a driving phobia following a traffic
accident when she was driving a work car. During the course of therapy, the client
discloses that she has recently submitted a worker’s compensation claim for
bullying. The psychologist then receives a valid subpoena to provide all his client
records from the workers compensation authority. What is the most appropriate
response to the subpoena?
A. The psychologist is not obliged to release any information as client records are
subject to professional privilege
B. The psychologist should only release information about the client that you judge
to be in their best interests
C. The psychologist should release a summary of the client records but retain a
more detailed set of notes
D. The psychologist must release all information that is requested as there is no
professional privilege
E. The psychologist must not release the client records as it constitutes a breach of
confidentiality

15. A is not the most appropriate response. Psychologists are obliged to provide all information, documents and
other data from their client records specified in a valid subpoena. In this case psychologists are not protected by
professional privilege.
B is not the most appropriate response. Psychologists are obliged to provide all information, documents and
other data within their client records specified in a valid subpoena. All records listed in the subpoena must be
provided; there is no discretion in this matter.
C is not the most appropriate response. Psychologists are obliged to provide all information, documents and
other data within their client records specified in a valid subpoena. All records, documents and information or
other types of records kept (e.g. electronic records) listed in the subpoena must be provided; there is no
discretion in this matter.
D is the most appropriate response. Information, documents, data and any other records gathered in the
course of a psychological service are not subject to professional privilege. You are required to release all
information, documents and other types of records specified in a valid subpoena. This is one of the cases where
a legal obligation overrides the normal protection of confidentiality of client records. The psychologist is at
liberty to communicate their concerns about releasing this information to the court or relevant authorities, but
nevertheless is required to act on a valid subpoena.
E is not the most appropriate response. Legal obligations such as a valid subpoena override normal
confidentiality requirements.

16. An 18-year-old woman is referred to a psychologist for treatment of social
anxiety and insomnia. Following the initial interview, the psychologist and
client negotiate a treatment plan targeting social anxiety. The client attends
the next session stating that she is ambivalent about addressing her anxiety
and instead wants to focus on her insomnia. What is the psychologist’s
most appropriate response to the client’s ambivalence?
A. Utilise motivational interviewing to address the client's ambivalence
B. Acknowledge the client’s ambivalence but continue with the treatment
plan for social anxiety as it is the primary problem
C. Refer the client to another psychologist because of her ambivalence
about the treatment plan
D. Change the focus of treatment and work with the client on her insomnia
problem
E. Explore the reasons for the client's ambivalence in order to maintain a
good therapeutic alliance

18. A is not the most appropriate way to manage the client’s ambivalence. This is because motivational interviewing
is best used to strengthen personal motivation for, and commitment to, a specific goal - but in this case the client
is unsure about what to focus on. Motivational interviewing is designed to address specific presentations within a
readiness to change model, which may not address the client’s reason for wanting to change the focus of
treatment.
B is not the most appropriate way to manage the client’s ambivalence. This option ignores the reasons for the
client wanting to change the focus of treatment and fails to acknowledge that this may increase the risk of client
disengagement in therapy.
C is not the most appropriate way to manage the client’s ambivalence. This option has the potential to invalidate
the client’s reasons for changing the treatment focus by assuming it is something problematic about the current
therapy arrangement.
D is not the most appropriate way to manage the client’s ambivalence. There is no indication that you and the
client have assessed the reasons behind her desire to change, nor have you reassessed if insomnia is the
appropriate treatment focus at this time. This option may simply facilitate the client's avoidance of addressing
their social anxiety, which may be counterproductive to effective treatment.
E is the correct response as exploring the ambivalence will help assess the specific issues. Maintaining a strong
therapeutic alliance is critical to strengthening client engagement and good outcome and even more critical when
a client is ambivalent.

19. Some short-answer exam questions will test your memory (factual
questions), while others will test your ability to apply learnt concepts
(interpretive questions). Your answer may require one word, a phrase, a
sentence or a paragraph. What is required is usually indicated by the
amount of space allowed for your answer and the number of marks
(weighting) of the question.

20. The mark allocated for each question should be indicated on the exam
paper. The number of marks indicates the ‘weighting’. If the question
requires three key points, the number of marks might be ‘3’ or ‘6’
depending on the weighting of that question. Hence, you should not
include irrelevant material or try to write a discursive essay when the
marks for questions are relatively low.

21. The function of factual questions is to describe or define the
way things are. Factual questions do not require an explanation,
but it is often an advantage to give one because it shows the
examiner that you have a good understanding of the subject
matter. Factual questions often use the following instruction
words:
Define
Give
Identify
List
Name
Outline
Provide
State

22. Define the following terms: (a) prepaid expense;
and (b) unearned revenue.
Identify the three major reasons for salination of
the Murray River.
List two characteristics that distinguish _____ from
_____.
What is a _________?

24. Describe the ___________
Explain how some __________
Explain what is meant by the word ‘ltd’ when it is included in a
company’s name.
How would you distinguish a ______ from a ______?
Some psychologists believe that limitations imposed by the _______ may
explain why _____ do not ______. Do you agree? Why?
Suggest a reason for the difference between the _______ and _______.