Posted in Tips and Techniques

5 techniques to write great answers in examination (+1 BONUS tip)

Image source: UPSC today

Many of us find it tough to figure out what type of answers would the teacher love so that we get good marks in our exam. It sometimes gets really tricky and we fumble by not being able to construct an answer in the correct format.

Here I will share with you 5 techniques that I have implemented myself in the past to get good benefits out of it. I am pretty sure this will help you as well. So, let’s get to business.

1. Have a good concept of the subject matter:

It is one of the foremost thing that you need to have before you are ready to write an answer. Once you have a good grasp of the concept, it will allow you to write a perfect answer in a well constructed manner. Unless you have that, you will falter in putting out good information and end up having an answer that’s more of a repeated stuff of the same content. This is not what you want. So, understand the subject in a way that you are able to teach it to someone else. This will make you be in full authority over writing the answer.

2. Divide your answer into suitable segments:

It is really important for you to understand that a well constructed answer needs to have a good brief introduction on the topic, followed by the main body, where you explain the main subject matter. And at the end, you need to have strong conclusion. What this does is that it makes your answers systematic. This will allow the evaluator to have a clear idea of what you are trying to convey. So make sure you have atleast these three segments in your answer: The Introduction (keep it brief. No one likes a huge intro), The Main Body and a Conclusion.

The important thing about the conclusion is that you need to make it a good one. Because when you conclude something nicely, it ensures the evaluator that you have understood the subject and you were not bluffing in the answer. It puts a good impression.

3. Write the answers in small paragraphs:

It is one of the most undervalued part while writing an answer. Think of an answer that you are asked to check that contain 1-2 pages of writing without any changes in paragraph. You are bound to get bored or even irritated while checking it. But if you see an answer sheet having well spaced paragraphs it makes it better for you to go through the answers. So, it is aesthetically very good to have short paragraphs of writing. It will make it easier for the evaluator to check.

REMEMBER: You don’t write an answer for yourself. You write if for someone else who is going to have a look at it. So make sure you present it in a nice way.

4. Add diagrams or flow charts:

It is also an extremely integral part of writing answers. Adding diagrams to answers makes you answer script not only look nice, but also it makes it easier to understand with diagrams than with just writing. Also, adding diagrams into your answers will provoke the teacher to realise that you have a good knowledge of the subject.

Sometimes its not possible to add diagrams to all answers. Then go for flowcharts or graphs. These things also help a lot to represent your answers in a nutshell.

Again I say, remember that you are writing it for the evaluator. So present your answer script nicely. You don’t want to piss off that guy.

5. Add references:

This one is tough. I admit. But if you can do that, it will boost your answer’s level to the top. By references, I mean, if you have gone through any research paper or even any article on that subject matter, then mention it while you write the answer. Put a small bracket after the end of the line and write the name of the scientists or authors. Here is a small example:

Telomerase enzyme can have anti aging effects ( John, et al., 2001).

[The name of scientist and year are fictional.]

Doing this is so great, because, not many students will put in that much effort to be able to write references in the answer scripts. So, if you can do it, it automatically gives you an added advantage over the others. Go ahead and try it.

BONUS TIP:

When you write an answer, think that the evaluator doesn’t have good knowledge on the topic and you are imparting the knowledge to him through your answer. When you start thinking like this, you will automatically start writing the answer in a well organised way so that the evaluator can understand the subject matter properly.

If I have to say it in a raw way, think that you are the teacher and you are creating notes for your students. So, you will never want your students to learn a poor answer, would you? So be in the driver’s seat when you write an answer.

That’s all for this segment.

If you think that there are some techniques that can be followed then do let me know. I would appreciate that a lot.

Also, try these techniques and let me know in the comments if you benefited from these.

Cheers!

Posted in Uncategorized

Why should you read my blog? : A letter to all my readers

To,

The Reader,

A place called internet,

Anywhere in the world

Subject: Reason to read my blog

Dear Reader,

You might be wondering, “Who is this guy? What is he trying to do?” And most importantly, “Why should we listen to what he says?”. Well, these are pretty relevant questions as we might have never met. So this makes it very understandable that you won’t want to listen to anything I say. But I would love to tell you why.

I am a student from India studying in a national institute pursuing my master’s degree. So, it is quite reasonable that I am not having enough experience about life to give you any significant suggestions to apply. But this is my last year as an academic student. Thus, I have had a complete experience of what a student faces in his journey. I have faced a lot of highs and lows and I have tried to get myself of out of the harsh conditions either with someone’s help or all by myself. I have faced situations where I had no support from my family to do things that I had a passion for and there are some dreams that I had to leave aside. But there are dreams that I am pursuing, like writing these blogs, and some that I really aspire to live in my future life.

And that’s why I am here. To share with all you students out there, the things that you need to do right, so that you don’t face the situations that I might have faced during my life as a student. I want to share with you the things that I have learnt with you so that you can shine in Your life.

I am not a mastermind. I am not a trained life coach of any sort. But I have solved problems that has helped me to become more confident in my life. Things that have given me the will power to do things that I love. So I want to share my experiences with you so that you can solve those problems as I have and find success.

I love the quote from the movie Rocky, where Sylvester Stallone said that epic dialogue, “The world ain’t all about sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place. And I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You me or nobody is going to hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.

We all get hit by life, but we need to learn how to get up on our feet to keep fighting. Fighting for our dreams, for our family, for our loved ones. And I am here to help the students out there to help you to get to the life that you want.

So, if you are a student and you think you want to fight for it, then come join me in this journey to become the best versions of ourselves and give in all that we have to live our dreams. I am here for YOU.

Cheers!

Thank you.

Yours loving,

The Verbal Explainer.