What makes a good answer

Learning to write for an examination is as important as studying from my experience. A student should consider examinations as a pleasant and challenging experience in order to cope in a healthy and efficient way.

A test item is said to be reliable, only if the answer to it gives the true achievement of a student. Careful reading and understanding of each question should be given top priority in order to organise the available information, ideas and facts in the context of the given situation to present a good answer. The answers appropriately presented are an indirect evidence of the topics successfully learnt by the student. Therefore, the question paper calls for thoughtful structuring of different patterns of questions and their selection conforming the true purpose of the test.

From what I understand from the discussions with my peers, students often get confused in deciding how to start an answer, how to take it forward and conclude it. The answers should be split into logical sequences and each sequence should be presented as small content points or steps to have a full view of the answer with proper organisation. However, there should be meaningful linkage between the first sequence and the subsequent ones with an introduction and conclusion. The language should be simple and the length of the answer and its descriptions should be as per the instructions given. Write in clear and legible handwriting and highlight the important points to get the examiners attention.

The most important task of the teacher is to provide many challenging opportunities that allow us to engage systematically in a wide range of relevant and applied areas, promoting higher order thinking skills - both inside and outside the classroom.

- The reader is a student based in Sharjah.