Student guide.pdf - Quantum Method

Quantum
Student
Guide
Tips for Question Selection and Answer Presentation
I am a student
I am on a journey towards enlightenment
I will learn with devotion
Make the best use of time
And transform my knowledge into service
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After You Get the Question Paper:
1. Figure out how much time you have for answering each question. Divide the
total time of the examination by the number of questions you need to answer. Then
set aside 3 or 4 minutes per question for revision. This will tell you how much time
you have to actually write the answers. For example, if you have to answer 5
questions in 3 hours or 180 minutes, you will get 180/5, or 36 minutes to answer
each question. Try to complete each answer within 32 minutes. Keep the last 20
minutes of the exam for revision.
[This is a general rule. Sometimes, instead of keeping equal time for each question
you may need to keep more time for the complicated questions and less time for
the simpler ones.]
2. After you get the question paper, go through it a number of times. Make sure
you check both sides of the paper. Find out how many questions you have to
answer. Then mark the questions you want to answer. When you have finished
answering a question put another mark on it. The double marks will be easier to
notice and tell you which questions you have already answered.
3. When deciding which questions to answer, consider which answers you know
better; also take a look at the distribution of marks. Usually it is easier to get more
marks when a question is divided into two or more smaller parts. For instance, you
will probably get more marks if you answer question no. 2 or 3 instead of question
no.1 in the following example.
1. Explain how the urban land use pattern has developed. 4
2. a) Give two advantages of using the power of the wind to make electricity. 2
b) Give two disadvantages of using the power of the wind to make electricity. 2
3. For each of the following, describe two factors that can cause inequalities in
development: 2*2
• Economic
• Social
4. Read the question you are about to answer carefully. Make sure you
understand exactly what it is asking for. Pay special attention to words or phrases
such as ‘define’, ‘describe’, ‘explain’, ‘analyze’, ‘compare’, ‘contrast’ , ‘comment’,
‘give your opinion on’, ‘describe the significance of’ etc. For each of these the
answer will be different. Plan your answer based on the question. Do ‘answer
mapping’, i.e. plan how you will answer each type of question, beforehand.
5. Make sure you do not take so much time for one answer that you do not have
time for others. Two answers, even if they are short, usually bring more marks than
one, no matter how detailed it is. Answer all compulsory questions, even if you have
to improvise. If the last question has a theoretical and a mathematical part, and you
know both the answers but time is running out, answer the mathematical part first,
and then the theoretical part. [This will depend on the distribution of marks.]

Presenting Answers in an Attractive Way:
1. Instead of folding the edges of the answer sheet draw a margin with a ruler. Use
a pencil for drawing the margin. Keep a margin of one inch, or the width of a normal
ruler, on top and left. You can also draw margins on all four sides, but this may
leave too little space for writing. You may make the left margin slightly wider. This
will ensure that your writing is visible even if you need to staple extra paper. If you
don’t have time to draw
margins on the extra
sheets, fold the edges. If
you are taking an exam in
Accounting, draw margins
Normal Margin
only for the theoretical
Square Margin
parts. Since journals and
ledgers have their own
Type 1: Normal Margin Type 2: Square Margin
tables, there is little scope
for drawing margins on the
whole sheet.
2. If an answer takes more than one page, instead
of writing to the very end of the page keep at least
half an inch empty at the bottom.
3. If your answer takes more than one page, simply
write P.T.O (abbreviation of Please Turn Over) at
the bottom right of the page. It is better to avoid
drawing an arrow ( ) instead of writing P.T.O.
Numbering each page is also unnecessary.
P.T.O
Leave this much space empty
4. When deciding the order in which to answer the questions follow the 'SLGS'
method: S=Solid, L=Liquid, G=Gas, S=Solid. Start with a solid, i.e. an answer you
know very well. Then write a liquid, i.e. an answer you know well, but not as well as
a solid. Then move on to gas, an answer you know less well than a liquid. Then
finish with another solid, an answer you know very well.
5. Suppose you need to answer 4 out of 6 questions and questions 2 and 4 are
‘solids’ for you, i.e. you know them best. Then according to the 'SLGS' formula, you
should start with either one of them. You may then decide to answer question 1
because it is a ‘liquid’ for you and follow it with question 6 because it is a ‘gas’ for
you. You may also decide the order among the solids. For example, say both 2 and
4 are solids for you, but you know 4 better than 2. Then start with number 4. Then
the order would be 4, 1, 6 and 2.

6. If there are sub-questions within the questions, for instance, a, b, c etc., follow
the order given. For example, if question 4 has parts a, b and c to be answered,
then start with 4a, followed by 4b and 4c. If you think you can answer a and c very
well but you need some time to think about b, then leave the required space for b
and finish answering others. Come back to b later.
Answer to Question No. 4(A)
Answer to Question No. 4(B)
Answer to Question No. 4(C)
In other words, answer related questions in a sequence. Don’t change the order or
break them apart. For example, do not write 1a, 1b, and 1c between 4a and 4b. If
there are some parts that you need to think about, leave space for them, finish the
rest and come back to them at the end. Leave the amount of space you think the
answer will require.
7. Write the number of the question clearly. If your answer covers more than one
page you do not need to write the question number on each page. Before you start
answering a question, write ‘Answer to question no-X' in the middle of the page.
Use a straight line [ ] instead of curves [ ] for underlining.
8. For ‘answer in a one word’, ‘fill in the blanks’, ‘true/false’ or ‘match and join’ type
questions, write a, b, c / i, ii, iii etc. on the left margin.
9. Leave some breathing space between two answers. Follow these general rules
with regard to spacing:
● If one answer
covers one third
or less of a page,
leave about 2’’
and start the next
answer.
● If one answer
covers half or two
thirds of a page
then start the next answer from the next page.
Answer to Question No.2(B)
In such cases start the next
answer from the next page
Start from a new page when you are answering a completely new question. But
take care not to leave any page completely blank.

10. You may answer ‘fill in the blanks’, ‘true/ false’, and other very short questions
in the beginning. Then you can move on to the medium sized answers and end with
the descriptive ones. In Accounting exam you can answer the theoretical questions
quickly and then do the math. If the theory and the math are parts of the same
question then leave enough space for the math.
11. Leave a half inch gap at the
end of a question and then draw
a closing sign. The closing sign
should be a straight line like this
[ ________ ], not [ 0 ] or
[ X ].
Leave
one inch
on the left
when you
start after
the title
Answer to Question No. 2(A)
12. Use black ballpoint pens for
exams unless you are told
otherwise. You may use a blue ballpoint pen to write short titles such as ‘examples’,
‘benefits’ or 'Answer to question no 1'. You can use black, blue or light blue sign
pens for underlining. But make sure you avoid green, orange, red, yellow or any
fluorescent colors during an exam. If you want to highlight a word or sentence in the
answer underline it with the black ballpoint. It is better not to use gel pens because
the ink often spreads and makes a mess.
13. When you are taking a math exam spare one or two pages at the end for doing
rough calculations. Make sure you write the question number properly before you do
the rough work for a particular question. Once all the rough work is done cross it out
with a single line. You can also do the rough work on the page where you are writing
the answer, creating a column by drawing a vertical line at the right side of the page.
In either case, write ‘rough’ on top. However, having the rough work on the same
page as the problems not only lessens the beauty of your copy, but also reduces
space for solving the problems.
14. Write the final answer to the math problem in a box, like this: Answer: 500
Write (approximately) next to an approximate answer. After proving a theorem, write
‘proved’ within brackets like this: (proved).
15. If you have to write a poem, start and finish it in the same page. Make sure you
write the name of the poet along with the title of the poem. Take care to spell the
names of the poets and authors correctly.
16. Good handwriting is always a bonus for students. Make sure your handwriting
is clearly legible. Be careful when writing ‘r’, ‘x’, and ‘n’ in mathematics exams.
Leave a moderate amount of space between two lines, neither too much nor too
little. Make sure your letters aren’t too big.

For High Quality Answers:
1. The length of the answer should depend on the type of the question, and the
time and marks allocated to it. For instance, say you expected a question to carry 10
marks and prepared accordingly. But in the exam you find that only 5 marks have
been allocated to it. Cut the size of the answer down to half. Similarly, when you are
preparing the answer for a question you expect to carry 5 marks, think of how you
can expand the answer in case it carries 7 or 10 marks. Do not repeat any information.
Write only what is asked for. Do not write anything that is unnecessary or
irrelevant, or anything that is hard to understand. For technical or mathematical
questions, answer as required.
2. Write an introduction and a conclusion for descriptive questions, but make sure
they are not too long. For example, if the question is ‘Describe the functions of the
state', you may start with a definition of the state and then move on to its functions.
You can begin your concluding paragraph with the phrase ‘in conclusion’.
3. Write the introduction, main body, and conclusion in separate paragraphs. You
can split the main body into several paragraphs dealing with different topics. If a
question has several parts then write the answer to each part in separate
paragraphs.
4. You can use small headings such as ‘method’, ‘example’, ‘benefit’, ‘advantages’
etc in your answer. But never write ‘introduction’, ‘main body’ and ‘conclusion’ as
titles.
5. Answer in points whenever you can. Instead of using an asterix (*) to mark the
points, use digits (1, 2, 3), alphabets (a, b, c) etc. If the questions or sub questions
are marked 1, 2, 3 or a, b, c use the roman numerals [i, ii, iii,] or bullets such as [
or or ] instead.
6. Use relevant tables, charts, and diagrams to support your answers. You can also
use quotations and add appropriate examples depending on the question. In the
social science exam, alongside maps and solar systems, add diagrams whenever
possible. When relevant, add quotes in other languages, such as Arabic verses in
the Islamic Studies and Sanskrit verses in Hindu Studies.
7. In a science exam, use diagrams or pictures with as many answers as possible.
Use a sharp pencil to draw the picture. Use the following format while drawing the
picture:
Draw a box with a pencil like this.
Draw the picture or diagram with a pencil inside the box.
Label the diagram. Draw an arrow on the left side of the line as shown.
Picture: Amoeba: (should be written with a pen)
[Sometimes in the textbooks you may see a number such as 10.2 below a picture. This simply means that
this is the 2nd diagram in the 10th chapter. You don’t need to write this number in your exam.]

8. In questions where diagrams are compulsory, draw the diagram right at the
beginning or after a short introduction and then write the main body. If you are
running short of time cut down the descriptive part if necessary, but make sure you
draw the diagram.
9. Start geometry
answers (such as
proving theorems
etc.) from the left
page and finish
them in the right
page. If you have to
turn to the next
page, draw the diagram again.
Answer to Question No. 3(A)
Given:
diagram
Support:
(Proved)
10. Use tables to show differences. The table should be like the following:
Sl. No. Subject Heat Temperature
1
Definition
Heat is a form of energy.
Temperature is the heated
state of any substance.
2
3
Measuring instrument
Measuring unit
The apparatus for measuring
heat is called calorimeter.
The CGS unit of measuring heat is
Calorie. In SI unit, it is Joule.
The apparatus for measuring
temperature is called thermometer.
The CGS unit of measuring
temperature is degree Celsius.
In SI unit, it is Kelvin.
- draw the table with a pencil
- ‘subject’ means in what aspect the two things are different . This is the essence of
the main point.
- You can use a blue ballpoint pen to highlight the headings (in this case serial no,
topic, heat and temperature).
11. Be careful about correct spelling. In some cases there may even be spelling
mistakes in the textbooks. When in doubt take the help of a good dictionary.
12. Avoid crossing out and overwriting as much as possible. Instead of overwriting,
write afresh whenever you can. If you need to cross out something, use a single line.
If space allows, write the correct word next to it. Otherwise use an arrow sign and
write above the line like this:
Instead of overwriting like this
cross it out and write afresh.
3
Not like this:
To be, or not too be that is the question. /to
Like this: to
To be or not too ^ be, that is the question.
To be or not too /to be, that is the question.

Others
1. When revising make sure you haven’t left out any questions. Pay special
attention to name, roll no., registration no., mathematical formulas and symbols,
calculations, spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, question no. etc.
2. Do not do rough work above the margin or on the question paper. Try not to write
any formulas or hints to answers on the question paper.
3. Organize the essential things, such as several black ballpoint pens, sign pens
/markers, pencil, eraser, sharpener, calculator, compass, ruler, wrist watch (it is
better to set the time 5 minutes ahead) the night before the exam.
4. If you need more than one extra sheet, number them as 1, 2, 3 etc. Write your
name, roll no, or code no. on the extra sheets according to the exam instructions.
This way the extra sheets can be identified even if they become unattached. Ask the
invigilators what reference information to write on the extra sheets if OMR sheets
are involved.
5. Rather than leaving the seat again and again, keep two to three extra sheets
with you at a time with the invigilator's permission.
6. If you have to use a thread to bind the extra sheets, make sure you bind tightly. If
you are using a stapler, staple both ends of the length from both sides, not the
middle.
7. If there are several sets of questions, such as in objective exams (MCQ), write
the correct set code on the script. After answering the objective questions match the
answers with the questions properly to ensure that all questions have been
answered.
8. Use black ballpoint pens to fill up the circles. Start filling up from the periphery
and gradually come to the centre.
9. Check carefully for special instructions on the admit card and registration card.
Dear Student,
You know, exams are excellent opportunities to demonstrate your skills and abilities
to the examiner. And the examiner’s impression of you is based on your answer
script. The guidelines above will just help you create a positive impression in the
examiner’s mind. You will get many more tips that will help you succeed in student
life in our three part konica series ‘shofol shikharthi’.
If you have any comments or questions about this guidebook, please send them to:
Moderator
Student Program
Quantum Foundation
Email: student@quantummethod.org.bd