How to Write and Present an Answer?
It is always advisable to write the answer in points.
Underline the Point Headers explicitly.
Then, explain each point in a few lines mentioning and underlining ALL the significant KEYWORDS in the explanation. (This is very important since you may not score full marks in a question even if you have written a long enough answer but not mentioned and/or underlined the significant keywords)
To make the answer look presentable, you may start the explanation leaving one line after the point header, especially if your handwriting is not upto the mark with respect to neatness and legibility.
What Factors affect the Length of an Explanation?
The length of the explanation should depend on the weightage of the question, and also of each point. For instance, the explanation length for a 6 marker question demanding 6 points would be relatively less than that for a 6 marker question asking for 3 or 4 points.
Further, it is advisable to write MORE THAN a typical brief and to the point answer, since the examiner may not feel like awarding you full marks (in-spite of proper explanation and underlining the keywords) in case the answer seems to be a short one.
Flow Charts and Diagrams
Flow Charts and Diagrams contribute to a great extent in making the paper look presentable, neat, readable and beautiful. (doesn’t matter whether or not you are good at art). (Important for topics like Types of Leaders)
It is advisable to draw a flow chart (if no diagram can be drawn), simply mentioning the point headers of an answer. This explicitly shows the examiner what all points you have covered in the answer, with no need for her/him to hunt for the points separately.
This is recommended especially for Long Answer Type Questions.
One may draw the flow chart in the beginning of a question, but since it is definitely better to leave the flow chart, than skipping the explanation part of the answer (especially in case of a time crunch, as no marks are awarded just for drawing the flow chart/diagram), it is advisable to draw the flow chart/diagram at the end of the answer, only if time permits.
It is recommended that space be left for flow charts/diagrams to be drawn at the end of the long answers in which they can be drawn, to be drawn at the end of the paper, in the last 15-20 minutes, AFTER one is done with revising the paper. (I personally did the same, since it is not recommended to leave a question unattempted just because you spent time in drawing the flow chart for some previous question)
What to do if you tend to forget the points?
You may jot down the mnemonics learned by you (to memorize the points) at the last page of the answer script (mentioning it to be a rough sheet) corresponding to the various questions, as soon as the writing time begins.
If you feel that this won’t solve the problem, then, when beginning with a question, write the down the point headers using short forms somewhere in rough, so that you do not forget the points to be covered in the answer.
It is not advisable to write all the point headers first explicitly, leaving space for explanation, and then explaining the points, since a rough estimate of the length of the explanation may lead to disturbing of the symmetry and making the answer look less presentable and neat, maybe shabby as well.
Tips for Rechecking the Paper
After checking if you have attempted all the questions to the best of your abilities, go through the paper once, especially through the tricky questionsto check if you have answered them correctly. (look for silly errors committed, if any)
Once you are done with revising the paper, the remaining time is to be utilized towards presentation of the paper, by drawing flow charts and/or diagrams in the spaces left by you at the end of the answers where there was a scope drawing them.
Hope this helped you. There is more content to come! Stay tuned!
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