Exam Success at CSU
Tips From Your Lecturers cont...
Should I include my workings?
"In an accounting paper all the workings for an answer should be shown. If the answer is wrong some marks may still be able to be given for the methodology used. This advice would apply to other maths/stats papers."
K Plummer School of Accounting
"No extra marks are given for including an essay plan - but if running short of time some marks may be awarded for showing what you would have argued given time."
C Latham School of Accounting
"I would not consider marks for an essay plan but obviously if a student plans their response it is likely that the essay will be more coherent and hence be reflected in the final grade."
L Roufeil School of Social Sciences & Liberal Studies.
"An essay plan could be included particularly if the student is running short of time."
W Franks School of Social Sciences & Liberal Studies
What is the best way to answer an essay question?
"Any essays in an exam should be planned - a few minutes on this is worth the time as it will be reflected in the marks. Point form can be used in some parts of an exam essay for example, lists even when one or two sentences are used to describe each item in the list."
K Plummer School of Accounting
"Another approach is to jot down the points you wanted to cover at the end of your essay if you run out of time."
Learning Skills Advisers
"Analyse your question carefully. Look for the key words, which indicate the content required and the manner in which you are to deal with this content. For example compare and contrast is a different task than to simply describe. Don't describe if analysis is called for. "
"Make sure your reader can see how the information you give is an answer to the question"
L Ritter School of Social Sciences & Liberal Studies
"I would expect the usual essay style with an introduction that included an outline of the argument and a coherent conclusion. In my mind essay exams assess ability to construct a coherent argument on a critical issue/awareness of the various points of view/ability to draw some well-reasoned conclusions. "
"Try to answer a question even if you think you don't know the answer. You may know more than you think and at least a few ideas might get you some marks- perhaps the difference between a pass and a credit. Nothing will get you nothing."
L Roufeil School of Social Sciences & Liberal Studies. "
"Students need to reach a conclusion on an issue rather than merely argue the merits. A conclusion needs to be based in reasoning."
C Latham School of Accounting "
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