USE OF EXAMINATION TECHNIQUE TO IMPROVE YOUR GRADES

Exam Technique

Objectives

What are we trying to achieve? Examination technique can increase your mark

by up to 10% You can go up at least one grade, maybe two

grades

What do you need to do to make it happen? Listen, concentrate, but most importantly:

Put the techniques into practice

Language of Exams

Questions contain specific wordsTask 1: Key Words – 10 minsLook at the exam paper you have been given and

take time to read the questions carefully In the 10 questions, underline/circle the word that tells

you how you should answer the question.

State, Describe, Discuss, Compare, Give, Identify, Explain

Why is it important to identify these words?

Language of Exams – State, Describe

State Average Marks: 1 Words Per Mark: 1

State is a low level question. It is a designed to allow you to give single word or phrases as answers.

DO NOT give long sentences or paragraphs Single words will get you the marks – no explanation, no discussion, no

justification

Describe Average Marks: 3 Word Per Mark: 10

Describe is a question that allows you the opportunity to apply your knowledge and requires enough information that the examiner can follow what you are saying – it must flow as a sentence

Language of Exams – Explain, Compare

Explain Average Marks: 4 Word Per Mark: 15

Explain needs you to give reasons with your answer. You cannot give an advantage or disadvantage without backing it up in some way. There is usually one mark for the statement and one mark for the reason.

Compare Average Marks: 6 Word Per Mark: 10

You must make a comparison. Do not give a definition of one and then a definition of another but focus on similarities and differences.

Language of Exams – Discuss, Identify

Discuss Average Marks: 6 Word Per Mark: 15

This is a high mark question focused on the top grades. You need to make a point, and then back that point up with evidence. With discuss based questions you must consider both sides of the argument and come to a conclusion. These are essay based answers.

Identify Average Marks:1 Word Per Mark: 1

Very similar to state – single words are acceptable and get you the same marks as essays.

Language of Exams – Give

Give Give is interesting. It is a strange word and its

meaning and the answer required depends on the question. It can be a state/identify type question: Give three ways to protect data on a computer

Or it may be a describe: Give two advantages and disadvantages of

shopping from home It may even be an explain/discuss type question:

Give reasons why a company should register with the Data Protection Registrar.

Look at the question and identify which other word it is pretending to be.

This also applies to words such as: How, Why and What.

Matching Questions to Answers

Task 2: Matching Question to Answers – 15 mins You have ten questions and ten answers. Match the questions to the answers

Look at: Type of question Length of answer Subject matter

All the answers are correct!

ExplainAverage Marks: 4Word Per Mark: 15 – 52 Words

A travel company is producing a page of a brochure that is illustrated.Explain when each of the following is the most suitable method of obtaining the information. (4)

scanner - If the image exists in non-digital form then you could use a scanner to get it into the work

digital camera- The Image is instantly available in digital format.

clip art - To obtain a deliberately artificial image eg. cartoon, sign etc.

painting package - To create original work.

DiscussAverage Marks: 6Word Per Mark: 15 – 131 words

John is doing his GCSE coursework on the school network. He would like to continue this work on his computer at home.Discuss ways he could arrange to do this.

[6]John could email his work home. But he needs to have an email

address. He could save his work to a USB stick or a CD-ROM because they are suitable devices but he would need permission from the network administrator. He would need a compatible device or software at home. He could print out his work but then he would have to re enter it or scan it at home. He could access his work directly from home on the Internet but he would need the facility installed at school to enable him to do this or access to the Internet at home. From the choices he has I would say that e-mailing his work home is the simplest, quickest and probably the most secure, providing he has an email address.

StateAverage Marks: 1Words Per Mark: 1

DescribeAverage Marks: 3Word Per Mark: 10

State the two main types of barcode scanners currently available. Describe one advantage of each type.

Type 1 Hand held scanners [1]Advantage they are mobile so they can be used on the move [2] Type 2 Flat bed/fixed scanners [1]Advantage They are very accurate [2]

DescribeAverage Marks: 3Word Per Mark: 10– 56 words

You use your computer to send an e-mail message to a company in New York.

Describe how an e-mail is transmitted to New York after it has left your computer.

 The signal needs to be changed into analogue data by using an

ADC. The signals travel down cable or telephone lines. It is transmitted to New York ISP. Where it is converted back into digital format by using an ADC. Then it is downloaded onto recipient’s computer. Then it is ready to be read by recipient.

[4] 

Language of Exams – Give

Give four reasons why a publisher might choose to publish an Internet-based encyclopaedia rather than a paper-based one.

Reason 1 there would be fewer printing/production costs.

Reason 2 it would reach a larger audience.Reason 3 it may include sound.Reason 4 it could contain direct links to other

relevant sites.

Describe what is meant by software copyright. It means that software may not be copied or shared

without permission as the author has ownership of intellectual property. Software companies can issue or sell licences

[2]  

DescribeAverage Marks: 3Word Per Mark: 10 – 27 words

Language of Exams – Give

When setting up a database a user is asked to choose between different data types for each field.Give an example of each of the following data types and give a reason why you would choose this data type for a field.Real numberSuitable example eg. 2.30 The field contains a decimal fraction (money).Integer

Suitable example eg. 2 The field only contain whole numbers. Boolean Suitable example eg. N A field with only two values. Alphanumeric Suitable example eg. X21345 A field that needs to be a mixture of letters and numbers.

Language of Exams – Give

The term ‘network topology’ describes how a computer network is arranged.

Give the name of one network topology. [1]

Ring

ExplainAverage Marks: 4Word Per Mark: 15

Look Lively will take orders for books and videos over the Internet using its website. Each item they sell will be shown on the website, and the customer will be able to search the catalogue for items they want and then fill in an order form to be sent electronically.The designer of the website wants to use data validation on the order form.

Explain the meaning of validation in this situation. [2]

A way of reducing the number of errors by blocking data that does not fit the validation rules.

Tick - read the question carefully

Wordsworth Dental Practice stores data about patients. The Data Protection Act protects patients from the incorrect use of data.

Tick four statements from the table below that are true:

True?

Each patient must agree to the storage of sensitive data about him/herself.x

The practice must state the purpose for which the data is required. x

The practice can collect any amount of data on each patient.

It does not matter if some of the data stored is inaccurate.

Data must be kept up to date. x

Once data has been collected, it can be kept indefinitely.

The practice must take steps to ensure that data is not lost or misused.x

Summary

Identify the key word

Look at the number of marks

Answer accordingly using an appropriate number of words

Make sure that you answer each type of question properly state does not need a description explain needs an example etc.

What to take Away- Plenary

State is single word or phraseDescribe is a full sentenceExplain is a describe, with an example or reasonCompare is picking a feature and looking at both

sides in turnDiscuss is a compare, with each side being an

explain