Accessible version | Skip to content | Change your text size

Table of contents
Previous pageNext page

Identifying exam questions

Click on the highlighted text to see the comments.

What are the examiners looking for? Broadly speaking, there are six levels at which they might expect you to operate.

Question Type: Knowledge

Who?

What?

Where?

When?

Why? (if cause is given)

Define...

What do they want?

Question Type: Comprehension

Describe (what happened in our experiment).

What is the main idea (of this text)?

How are (these two systems) alike? How are they different?

What do they want?

Question Type: Application

If X = 83, what does Y equal?

What is (the latitude of Melbourne)?

Classify (these methods).

What do they want?

Question Type: Analysis

Why (does this trend occur)?

Now that we've studied this, what can we conclude about (x)?

What does this tell us about (the author's attitude toward war)?

What evidence can you find to support (the principle that air expands when heated)?

What do they want?

Question Type: Synthesis

Can you think up (a method for solving x)?

How can we solve (this dilemma)?

How can we improve (our experiment)?

What will happen (now that we've changed the accounting system)?

What do you predict would happen (if this firm were to restructure)?

What do they want?

Question Type: Evaluation

Do you agree (with X)? Do you believe (that this is the best way to proceed)?

Do you think (that it is right to practise euthanasia)?

What is your opinion (on this matter)?

Would it be better (to do it this way)?

Which (design) do you prefer?

What do they want?

Question Type: Knowledge

They want you to recall definitions, facts, or observations. This may be material you need to know by heart - accuracy is important.

Question Type: Comprehension

They want you to give a full and accurate description in correct sequence; state the main idea, explaining its significance, or clarify points of similarity and difference.

Question Type: Application

They want you to apply techniques and rules to solve problems that have a single correct answer.

Question Type: Analysis

They want you to identify motive or cause, showing essential elements; making inferences on the basis of information, or finding evidence to support generalisations.

Question Type: Synthesis

They want you to solve problems and make predictions based on rules, procedures, or frameworks you know about.

Question Type: Evaluation

They want you to give your opinions about an issue, judging the validity of an idea, the merit of a solution, or the quality of a product. You are expected to draw on knowledge gained throughout the subject.

word outputDownload a printable version of this page (.doc)
Problems? Questions? Comments? Please provide us feedback.