1. Use of Examination Technique to Improve Your Grades
AS Exam Technique
Use of Examination Technique to Improve Your Grades

2. What is Exam Technique?
Using a set of techniques to increase the mark you get in the exam
Being able to identify what is required in an answer
Targeting your answers to the question
Learning how to answer questions the way the examiner intended them to be answered

3. Why is Exam Technique Important?
You may have the knowledge but not be able to put it down in words
Exam technique can gain you up to 8% more on the exam – this is the equivalent of one grade
No additional knowledge is required, it is just a different way of writing your answers
The examiner
If your answer is clear and meets the marking point it will get all the marks
If your answer is vague and full of waffle it will lose marks
Layout - make it easy for the examiner to mark and award you marks
Do not repeat the answer – saying the same thing in several different ways will only get 1 mark

4. Golden Rules of Answering A Question
If you have to explain what you have written:
The examiner does not know what you are talking about
It gets no marks
Look at your answers:
Are they clearly written
Are they making a point
Are there enough points for marks
Can you understand what you have written
And most importantly:
Can the examiner understand what you have written
Can the examiner read what you have written

5. The AS ICT Papers Time: Style: Context: 1 hour 30 minutes
Lines for you to write on – no additional paper is required
Blank sheets at the end in case you need to write more
Where a specific number of answers is required you will be given numbers on the paper
Context:
For 2512 and 2514 there is a context and your answers should be written within the context of the paper

6. The Importance of Key Words
What are Key Words?
They are known as driving words
They determine how you will answer the question
They determine how the question is to be marked
Examples of Key Words:
State, Identify, Give, Why, What
Describe, Compare, Evaluate
Explain, Discuss
Why are they important?
They tell you how to answer the question
They tell you how much you need to write
They tell you how much detail to give
They determine how the examiner will mark the answer

7. Use of Key Words in the Questions
Task Sheet 1:
There are ten questions
Identify the key word in each question (underline).
Task Sheet 2:
There are five questions
Using your pen, remove all the words that are irrelevant
i.e. the words that can be removed and the question still gain the same amount of marks

8. State and Identify These are the simplest key words:
They require single words or phrases as answers
Q: Identify two different network topologies. [2]
A: Star and Ring
The marks are being awarded for the single words
You may need to write a few words to get your point across
You do not need to write your answer in complete sentences.
These questions are “knowledge based” the examiner is looking for facts
Task Sheet 3:
Answer the questions on task sheet three using the minimum number of words possible

9. Describe Longer answers required, full sentences
Q: Describe two different methods of moving text around a page in a word processor. A:
1:You could use cut and paste. This requires selecting the text and deleting it. This places it onto the clipboard. You then place the cursor where you want the text to be and paste it into the document from the clipboard.
2: Another method is drag and drop. This is where you highlight the text you want to move and use the mouse to drag it to the required place and drop it into position.
There is usually a mark for identifying followed by a second mark for a description.
Make sure the identification is the first sentence – this is what you are going to describe
The identify mark may be for a single word
Sometimes, as in the above question, it may be necessary to “state the obvious” – if you do not, you will lose the marks

10. Describe Writing Frame
Task Sheet 4:
Habit is important in examinations
You should try and answer similar questions (questions with the same keyword) in a similar way
Use of writing frames
A writing frame is a framework for putting your answers down on paper in the correct format
Eventually, once you have acquired the habit, you can dispense with the frame
On task sheet 4 there is the outline for a writing frame and four describe questions
Use the frame to develop the structure of the answer and then write the answer out in full sentences
There is an example on the following slide

11. Describe Writing Frame
Describe the ways in which spreadsheet software can be customised using form controls. [4]
Identify Points
Additional Information
Drop down boxes
To select information from – validation
Buttons
To take you to different parts of the spreadsheet
Answer:
You could have drop down boxes which allow you to select values from a list or buttons which can be used to take you to different parts of the spreadsheet.

12. Compare
Taking two different areas/applications, finding points that are relevant to both and describing them
Compare is a question that is done very badly in examinations
There can be one mark for getting both parts of the comparison.
“Compare the advantages of using a star network topology to a bus topology”
Select the points you are going to compare
Go through the points bringing in the features of each that are relevant.

13. Compare Writing Frame Identify the features you are going to compare.
In the question: “Compare the advantages of using a star network topology to a bus topology”
Features to compare include:
Speed
Collisions
Adding a new station
Amount of cable
Locating cable breaks

14. Compare Writing Frame Feature Bus Star Speed Collisions
Slow as each station is connected on the same cable
Very fast as each station has direct link to the hub
Collisions
Lots of collisions because of single cable
Few collisions as only one machine per cable
Adding a new station
As it is a single stretch of cable can bring the network down
Very easy as the machine and cable are not disruptive to the rest of the network
Amount of cable
Very little cable required – only a single run
Each machine requires its own run of cable – lots of cable required
Locating cable breaks
Very difficult as if there is a break it could be anywhere
Very easy as only one machine will not work – that is the cable with the break

15. Compare – Task Sheet 5 Task Sheet 5: Task sheet 5 has four questions.
The first two questions have the points to compare already given
Fill in the rest of the grid
The last two questions require you to come up with the points you are going to compare and then fill in the grid

16. Explain This is a “describe with reasons” answer.
You are required to give both sides of the argument:
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using a command line interface for a point of sale system.
Occasionally, the question itself might only ask for one side of the argument:
Explain the advantages of using video conferencing for holding meetings between offices in London and Toronto.
You need to identify the point you are making, then describe it – put it into a sentence. You then need to give a reason why it is an advantage or a disadvantage.
The reasons need to be quantified:
Quicker, faster, cheaper, more efficient are not acceptable on their own!

17. Explain Writing Frame
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using a command line interface for a point of sale system.
Identify the points you are going to make
Break them up into advantages and disadvantages
Give reasons for each point
Put it together into continuous prose

18. Explain Writing Frame Points Advantage or Disadvantage Reason
User Friendly
Not very user friendly – the display is not helpful to users
Knowledge
Need knowledge of what to type in and to understand the error messages
Control
Advantage
Can control the interface through the use of switches altering how the command runs
Memory
Does not require as much memory or high spec hardware as there are less overheads involved in the GUI

19. Explain Answer – Continuous Prose
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using a command line interface for a point of sale system.
The command line interface is not very user friendly - the display is not helpful to users and for novice users in particular it is difficult to know what to do or how to operate it.
The user will need a lot of knowledge of what to type in and to understand the error messages that the interface gives if they make a mistake. The commands will not be known by most users making it more difficult to use.
The interface can be controlled through the use of switches which alter how the command runs. Different switches used with the same command can increase the number of commands available.
A command line interface does not require as much memory or high spec hardware as there are less overheads involved in the GUI as there are in a menu or dialog box interface.

20. Explain – Task Sheet 6 Task Sheet 6:
There are four explain questions on the sheet
The first two have the points to cover filled in
Complete the sheet and write the answer out in continuous prose
The third and fourth questions require you to come up with both the advantages and disadvantages and fill in the grid
Write out your answer underneath in continuous prose

21. Discuss This is an “explain with a conclusion”
You need to follow the rules of the explain:
Describe, with reasons, giving both sides of the argument
But it requires a conclusion:
“In conclusion, I think that…….”
Discuss the impact of ICT on education.
Identify the points you are going to make
Are they advantages or disadvantages (positive or negative)
Make sure you include at least one of each – try and make it an equal amount of both
Draw a conclusion at the end:
“In conclusion I think that……..”

22. Discuss Writing Frame This is exactly the same as for Explain
You use the same frame and the same style
The only difference is that the final paragraph should begin with:
“In conclusion I think that…….”
And contains what you think

23. What Makes A Good Answer?
One that answers the question (obviously)
One that is easy to mark
This also means easy to read
One that does not repeat itself
One with the correct amount of detail
One that does not waffle on but targets the marking points
One that gives more points than are required to ensure you get full marks

24. Good Answers Task Sheet 7: There are four questions listed
For each question there are three answers:
A, B and C
For each question, put the answers in order of good answer to bad answer
An example is given on the next slide

25. Example of Good Answers – Task Sheet 7
Describe what a wizard is and describe the purpose of wizards to create a document [4]
Answer A:
A wizard is a step by step set of instructions, usually run by a set of programming commands or macros that enable the user to select from a list of possible outlines and templates and will create a document for them. The purpose of a wizard is to save the user time as they do not have to set up the template themselves and to ensure a corporate identify as all documents will look the same and people from outside the company will be able to tell who sent the document.
Answer B:
A group of recorded instructions to create a document – saves time and gives corporate identify
Answer C:
A wizard is a set of instructions followed by the user with programming code behind it. The purpose is to save the user time as they do not have to set every option and to ensure a corporate identify as every document will look the same.
Order of Answers: Best to Worst:
C, A, B

26. Marking Answers Task Sheet 8: Task sheet 8 has 4 questions
For each question there is an answer
Mark the answer
After having marked the answer, use the space below the question to say how the answer could have been improved (or not)
You also need to say how you think the marks are allocated
Do NOT rewrite the answer
You do not have a mark scheme so you will need to use your knowledge to see what is a good answer!
There is an example on the next slide

27. Marking Answers - Example
Question:
Identify and describe three different ways of navigating from slide to slide in a slideshow presentation and identify an application where each one would be suitable. [9]
Answer:
You could use buttons, automatic transition or manual transition.
Buttons are useful if the slideshow is set up on a stand where you want the customers to interact. Manual transition is useful for giving a presentation where you want to control the slideshow. Automatic transition is useful if the presentation is being used to advertise a produce at a show and there is no interaction.
Mark, allocation and improvements:
Mark: 6/9
Allocation: 3 marks for identify, 3 marks for describe and 3 marks for application
Improvements: They have identified three methods and given applications but they have not gone onto describe the three methods.

28. Giving More Answers Than Required
If a question asks for two things:
Give two methods of tailoring an interface
If you give three things – what happens?
The first two are marked and the rest ignored?
All are marked and only the right ones counted?
You answers will be marked up to the point where you have scored the maximum for the question
Unless
You contradict yourself
Can edit a hard disk, cannot edit a CD ROM
The list you give is endless
You should only give half as many answers again as the question requires
If the question asks for 2 – give 3
If the question asks for 4 – give 6

29. Giving More Answers Than Required
Hints and Tips:
When giving answers, make sure you do not use separate sentences but make the two answers flow together
For example:
Question: Identify two factors affecting the quality of information [2]
Answer 1: Accuracy and Relevance
Answer 2: Age
There are two marks for this question so 2+1=3, you should give a maximum of three points
Do NOT write Answer 3 underneath and give your answer there
Do NOT start a new sentence

30. Giving More Answers Than Required – Task Sheet 9
There are four questions to mark
For each question:
Identify how many points there are in each answer
There are five questions for you to do
Give as many answers as you can up to the maximum

31. Written Communication
There are 4 marks for Quality of Written Communication
They are for:
your use of technical terms
Your use of the English language
Ability to write in sentences
Ability to punctuate
Make your writing clear and easy to read
Use sentences on longer answers
On explain/discussion questions do NOT use bullet points or a list
Make sure you use capital letters and full stops
Use paragraphs on long questions

32. Use of Marks and Time One mark a minute!
Look at number of marks available for each question
Short questions
One mark per answer
Usually knowledge based – specific answers required
If it asks for two – give three (be subtle, and do not contradict!)
Look at the question to see if it is appropriate
Do not write too much for a few marks
Longer questions
Take the number of marks, half it, add to the whole – that is the number of points you should try and make.
For example, a question is worth 6 marks – half it (3), add to the whole (6+3) – make 9 points.

33. Use of Marks and Time When you have finished
Go back, add more (especially on the long questions)
If you are unsure if a question is asking for what you have written – write out a completely different answer but do not erase the first.
Do not erase or cross out answers, put a line beside them (that way the examiner must read and mark it!) – make it a line down the left hand side of the answer.
Doodling/Messages to examiners
Don’t – they do not get any marks and give a bad impression.

34. Completing the Paper First Page – setting the impression Neatness
The first page is setting the impression of the rest of the paper
If you get this wrong
What impression are you giving?
What will the examiner be expecting towards the end of the paper – the higher grade questions, the longer answers?
Neatness
Make it legible – if it cannot be read, it cannot be marked.
First words
Make the first word the important one, the one that gives the answer
Do not use ten words when one will do

35. Specific Answers to Avoid
Health and Safety
Epilepsy
Stress
Comfortable Chair
Regular Breaks
Words to Avoid:
Faster/Quicker
Cheaper
Easier
Efficient
Viruses
Difference between stopping a virus getting onto the machine and removing a virus from the machine
Remember: for explain and discuss, you must qualify your answers

36. Individual Questions
You may come across questions in papers which do not follow the above rules exactly
Discuss and explain
Not able to give both sides of an argument
Describe
Only 1 mark awarded for a describe
Use your common sense

37. Summary: Key points to remember
Consider the main areas:
Look at the type of question
Look at the main word in the question that tells you what you are going to do
If appropriate, use a writing frame
Remember QOWC – Quality of Written Communication
Work out what the examiner is looking for
Begin with the key words
Give enough points to get marks (including extra!)
Answer all questions
Add extra detail to questions if you finish early – write to the end

38. Final Checks Check over what you have written
Make sure you check the grammar and spelling (QOWC)
Check what you have given as an answer against the question
Have you written enough to get the marks?
Have you given the answer the examiner expects?
Have you answered the question?