Answering Short Answer Questions
Supplemental Instruction by Ms. Andrea Haymond-Tang
The information available through this site is inteded to assist students in becoming effective and efficient learners. The pages were adapted from material presetned at two websites: www.academictips.org and www.studygs.net. If you are interested in obtaining additional help, you might visit either of those two sites or perhaps two others: www.studyguidezone.com/resource_tips.htm and www.studytips.org.General Exam Tips
Answering Multiple Choice Questions
Answering True-False Questions
Answering Essay Questions
Answering Short Answer Questions
Taking Open Book Exams
Preparing for Emergency Exams
Coping with Test Anxiety
Note Taking Strategies
Active Listening
Answering Short Answer Questions
The instructor usually has a primary purpose for giving these kind of exams - to cover the material. The best strategy is to know the text and the lecture notes. Be prepared.
1. Prepare for the exam by using summary sheets that have the material organized by importance.2. Use clues in the grammar of the statement to offer hints about the correct answer.
3. If you're able to think of several answers for a blank or short answer question, raise your hand and tell the instructor. He/she may offer a hint about the direction they are wanting for the correct answer.
4. If you have to guess on an answer, use common sense. Doing so will earn you more points than simply leaving the answer blank.
5. Write your answers in a concise and simple manner. Literary style is far less important than the amount of information packed into your answer.