As an academician and someone who has been a student as well as a teacher, I sometimes wonder how students respond to their exams, especially when it comes to those which require theoretical answers. It amazes me how they start writing the answer and how they conclude it.
Most of the time, if the question was anticipated or if the question expects a direct answer, many students write everything they know about the topic, without checking about the marks allotted for that particular question.The evaluators definitely will get frustrated seeing the ‘essays’ and develop a negative impression of the students’ ability to answer a question, and could misconstrue it as a tactic to masquerade his or her inability to answer the question. Students or job-seekers, who undertake exams, must keep in mind that evaluators maybe of different psychological conditions when evaluating answer scripts. For instance, they might be entrusted with the assignment of evaluating large bundles of answer scripts within a short span of time. They also could be under different mental conditions due to personal or other reasons. Hence, many times, they might award marks which may not be in tune with students’ expectations, or what they deserve. What you must keep in mind is that irrespective of whether or not it is a theory paper, or one with numerical problems, evaluators have been given the answer key, which shows either the answers, or important points that must be covered, in order to score the required grades. For example, if a question carries five points, the answer must have covered the necessary criteria to score full marks. So, instead of writing to the point, if the candidate writes an essay, it becomes a task for the evaluator to scan the essay for the necessary points, and there are high chances of the evaluator, grading them less.
Dos and dont’s
It is better to write the answer, with visible cues, highlighting important points, much like in PPTs. It could either in the form of bullets or other symbols such as hash or star. It is better to avoid providing numbers, as it might be misinterpreted as answers to specific question numbers.
The key points in the answer may be either highlighted by making them bold, or can be underlined, else insert in a rectangular box. If the question expects the candidate to state a theorem, it must be written as it is to be stated, and supported with additional equations. Also, it is advisable to expand acronyms with proper quantifications.
A picture is worth a thousand words. So, add enough pictures such as circuit diagram, graphs, tables or maps associated with the theory.
Unless otherwise asked to draw neatly, you must make a back of the envelop drawing visible and legible in free hand, with pen (not by pencils), and carefully describe the figure content, give rationales of the data in the figure, with proper labelling.
Almost the same applies when you handle numericals. It is important to know what you need to find out, even if it means reading the question again before attempting it. If you understand the theory well, you can provide a good response to the ‘problematic’ questions. So, you must add the basic equation/s required for the same, in relation to the theory from where the problem has been asked, substitute the given values from the puzzle and find the final value/s required.
It is better not to skip any steps involved to reach the final value/s, give sufficient space between consecutive steps, and finally, highlight the conclusion with a traditionally followed double underscore, or put it in rectangle with proper units, for the final answer.
The writer is academician (engineering education) and senior consulting engineer for IoT-based Low Cost Medical Devices
