How to write a good English exam answer

1. How to write a good English
exam answer.

2. How to write a good English exam
answer

3. What are the terms of the question?
 Decide what the key words of the question are, and underline them.
 Ensure that you have defined them - at least in your own mind.
 If you think they are problematic, define them at the beginning of your essay.
 Make sure your definition is sound: do not try to stretch the meaning of words
too far, but do not just jump at the first possible idea.
 What has been asked?
 Answer the question asked – not the one you would have liked to be asked.
 Avoid being irrelevant.
 Be sure that you show explicitly how your ideas relate to the question.
Focus on the question

4. If you are asked to analyse an extract:
 Read it through two or three times
 On your second reading begin to underline key words
and phrases
 Make a plan of your answer, ensuring that you cover
every point asked in the question
 Concentrate on the passage and avoid irrelevant
material.
Close analysis

5.  Do not adopt the first possible approach.
 Try to range widely but keep to the terms of the
question.
 Be willing to dispute the terms of the question if you are
given the opportunity (for example, in questions that
ask ‘how far…', ‘to what extent' or ‘do you think'?).
Be willing to think

6. Try starting with:
 A short controversial statement
 A relevant quotation
 A striking piece of evidence.
 The main thing is to demonstrate that you have thought about the question.
 A strong ending is important in that it creates the final impression the
examiner carries away from your answer:
 Save a bold statement until the end
 Or finish with a useful quotation.
Create a strong opening and closing

7.  Do not try to get by on ignorance and waffle – the
examiner will spot it!
 Use a good number of brief but relevant quotations,
derived from your thorough knowledge of the text.
Illustrate amply with relevant material

8. Think about your style

9. Develop a fluent style
 Give some thought, however brief, to each sentence
before you write it:
 Does it say what you mean?
 Does it make the point?
Think about your style

10. Be accurate!
 Anyone claiming to be a student of English is expected
to have a good knowledge of the mechanics of the
language:
 spelling, grammar and punctuation take action before
the examination as you will be penalized for errors.
 Examiners award marks for ‘quality of language'.
 Proof read leave time to proof read your paper.
Think about your style

11. Be succinct!
 Say what you mean in the clearest and shortest manner.
 Leave yourself time to make new points.
 Avoid repeating ideas: if you find yourself writing ‘as I
said earlier', be sure that it is really helpful to repeat the
same point.
Think about your style

12. Use an appropriate tone and vocabulary
 Most of the exams (and essays) that you will write require a
formal register of language:
 Contractions such as ‘don't' and ‘can't', used naturally in
spoken language, are not appropriate in writing.
 Also avoid slang or colloquial terms.
 Make use of literary terminology – words like ‘form',
‘structure', ‘style', ‘image', ‘symbol' – where appropriate.
Think about your style

13. Make good use of quotations
 You need to know your text so well that all its ideas are in
your head and relevant quotations come easily to mind.
 When you use quotations, remember to blend them
seamlessly into your own sentence structure.
 When you use a quotation, make it work for you: a well-
chosen quotation may, for example, enable you to comment
on theme, style and character.
 Do not use quotations simply because you have memorized
them: make sure that they are relevant to your answer.
Think about your style

14. Organize your time

15. Divide your time appropriately
 In an examination you will almost certainly have several essays to write or
sections to complete:
 Decide on the order in which you wish to answer them.
 Make sure that you answer them all.
 Jot down ideas about any of the questions you expect to answer: don't hope to
remember things – especially bearing in mind that you may be pressed for time
towards the end.
 Give each question the appropriate time and don't exceed it: a brilliant but
overlong answer is no guarantee of success.
 Use your text in the examination only for reference and checking quotations.
Organize your time

16. Plan your answers carefully
 Have the confidence to take time to plan. You could usefully
devote up to a quarter of the exam time to this process. It is
worth it because:
 You will save time in the end
 It is much more efficient than sitting and trying to think of
the next point
 You will have a sharper, more fluent and authoritative
answer.
Organize your time