Answering Longer Answer Questions at GCSE
“Squeezing every mark that
you can out of the longest
questions”
Yr10 Study Skills Day 2012
Answering Longer Answer Questions at GCSE
Why are these Questions so
important in your exams?
In the UK, at the insistence of the Education Secretary Michael Gove, there
are moves towards penalising for poor spelling and punctuation (even in
Science Exams!)
In response Exam bodies now talk about 'Q' or 'QWC'- Quality or Quality
of Written Communication
In long exam questions, you are awarded marks for:
- the quality of the answer
- use of appropriate subject language
- flow or coherence
- spelling and punctuation
The Golden Rules
1. Read the Question Carefully
RTFQ – What do they actually want from you?
2. What is the Mark Allocation?
A minute per mark - How long have you got? Check the time, and keep to
schedule
3. What is the Trigger or Command word?
Describe? Explain? Evaluate? Compare?
4. Don’t repeat the Question in your Answer
It won’t score you any marks, and wastes valuable time and space
5. Key Words or Key Terms
Show off your knowledge by using the technical terms
Answering Longer Answer Questions at GCSE
Trigger or Command words
Think about the first letter of the question (describe, explain and
evaluate)
"Describe" normally requires you to refer to a graph or chart – so just
‘say what you see !’
"Explain" means to delve into the actual process it is asking you about,
using specific vocabulary and good grammar – tell them WHY
"Evaluate" needs you to weigh up the pros and cons and (but ONLY if
it says to) provide a conclusion
Answering Longer Answer Questions at GCSE
The final step is to look again at the number of Marks
allocated to the question
Whether it be 4, 6, 8 or even 10 Marks, be sure of how many
points you need to convey – count them off before you move
onto the next question
With Evaluate questions try to split the marking up equally for
example with a 6 mark question you would have 2 pros, 2
cons and a valid conclusion
Answering Longer Answer Questions at GCSE
PE - Describe the FITT training principle and explain why they are important in
relation to planning a personal exercise programme
(6 marks)
PE - Anorexia is associated with diet. Explain the causes of anorexia and the effect
it has on the person concerned
(6 marks)
RS - Explain why a Christian might try and show concern for the poor
(6 marks)
RS - Explain how a Christian might respond to animals used in medical research
(6 marks)
Business - Using your knowledge of business, assess whether it was right for the
government to increase the national minimum wage to £5.80 per hour
(10 marks)
Geography - Using one example that you have studied, describe the issues in LEDC
shanty towns and explain how they can be resolved
(10 marks)
Answering Longer Answer Questions at GCSE