How to read a question carefully

Many marks are lost not because students don't know the answer, but because they answer a different question from the one that was asked. Careful reading is a skill you can practise.

Read the whole question first. Don't start writing after the first line. Read to the end, including any diagrams, tables or notes.

Find the command word. Words such as state, describe, explain, compare, calculate and evaluate tell you what kind of answer the examiner expects. "State" needs a short fact. "Explain" needs a reason. "Compare" needs similarities and differences.

Underline the key details. Mark units, numbers, names and limits such as "two reasons" or "in 50 words". If a question asks for two examples, a third won't earn extra marks.

Check the marks. The number of marks is a clue to how much to write. A one-mark question needs a short answer; a ten-mark question needs a developed one.

Watch for small words. "Not", "except", "only" and "most" change the meaning completely. Circle them.

Plan longer answers. For essays and multi-part questions, jot a quick outline before you write, so your answer stays on track.

Re-read before moving on. When you finish, read the question once more and check that your answer matches what was asked, including units in calculations.

Practise these steps with every set of practice questions until they become automatic. Our practice workbooks include worked solutions that show how each question should be read and answered.