USE OF EXAMINATION TECHNIQUE TO IMPROVE YOUR GRADES Exam Technique

Objectives What are we trying to achieve?  Examination technique can increase your mark by up to 10%  You can go up at least one grade, maybe two grades What do you need to do to make it happen?  Listen, concentrate, but most importantly:  Put the techniques into practice

Language of Exams Questions contain specific words Task 1: Key Words – 10 mins Look at the exam paper you have been given and take time to read the questions carefully  In the 10 questions, underline/circle the word that tells you how you should answer the question. State, Describe, Discuss, Compare, Give, Identify, Explain  Why is it important to identify these words?

Language of Exams – State, Describe State  Average Marks: 1  Words Per Mark: 1  State is a low level question. It is a designed to allow you to give single word or phrases as answers.  DO NOT give long sentences or paragraphs  Single words will get you the marks – no explanation, no discussion, no justification Describe  Average Marks: 3  Word Per Mark: 10  Describe is a question that allows you the opportunity to apply your knowledge and requires enough information that the examiner can follow what you are saying – it must flow as a sentence

Language of Exams – Explain, Compare Explain  Average Marks: 4  Word Per Mark: 15  Explain needs you to give reasons with your answer. You cannot give an advantage or disadvantage without backing it up in some way. There is usually one mark for the statement and one mark for the reason. Compare  Average Marks: 6  Word Per Mark: 10  You must make a comparison. Do not give a definition of one and then a definition of another but focus on similarities and differences.

Language of Exams – Discuss, Identify Discuss  Average Marks: 6  Word Per Mark: 15  This is a high mark question focused on the top grades. You need to make a point, and then back that point up with evidence. With discuss based questions you must consider both sides of the argument and come to a conclusion. These are essay based answers. Identify  Average Marks:1  Word Per Mark: 1  Very similar to state – single words are acceptable and get you the same marks as essays.

Language of Exams – Give Give  Give is interesting. It is a strange word and its meaning and the answer required depends on the question. It can be a state/identify type question: Give three ways to protect data on a computer  Or it may be a describe: Give two advantages and disadvantages of shopping from home  It may even be an explain/discuss type question: Give reasons why a company should register with the Data Protection Registrar.  Look at the question and identify which other word it is pretending to be.  This also applies to words such as: How, Why and What.

Matching Questions to Answers Task 2: Matching Question to Answers – 15 mins  You have ten questions and ten answers.  Match the questions to the answers  Look at: Type of question Length of answer Subject matter  All the answers are correct!

Explain Average Marks: 4 Word Per Mark: 15 – 52 Words A travel company is producing a page of a brochure that is illustrated. Explain when each of the following is the most suitable method of obtaining the information. (4) scanner - If the image exists in non-digital form then you could use a scanner to get it into the work digital camera- The Image is instantly available in digital format. clip art - To obtain a deliberately artificial image eg. cartoon, sign etc. painting package - To create original work.

Discuss Average Marks: 6 Word Per Mark: 15 – 131 words John is doing his GCSE coursework on the school network. He would like to continue this work on his computer at home. Discuss ways he could arrange to do this. [6] John could his work home. But he needs to have an address. He could save his work to a USB stick or a CD-ROM because they are suitable devices but he would need permission from the network administrator. He would need a compatible device or software at home. He could print out his work but then he would have to re enter it or scan it at home. He could access his work directly from home on the Internet but he would need the facility installed at school to enable him to do this or access to the Internet at home. From the choices he has I would say that ing his work home is the simplest, quickest and probably the most secure, providing he has an address.

State Average Marks: 1 Words Per Mark: 1 Describe Average Marks: 3 Word Per Mark: 10 State the two main types of barcode scanners currently available. Describe one advantage of each type. Type 1 Hand held scanners [1] Advantage they are mobile so they can be used on the move[2] Type 2 Flat bed/fixed scanners[1] Advantage They are very accurate [2]

Describe Average Marks: 3 Word Per Mark: 10– 56 words You use your computer to send an message to a company in New York. Describe how an is transmitted to New York after it has left your computer. The signal needs to be changed into analogue data by using an ADC. The signals travel down cable or telephone lines. It is transmitted to New York ISP. Where it is converted back into digital format by using an ADC. Then it is downloaded onto recipient’s computer. Then it is ready to be read by recipient. [4]

Language of Exams – Give Give four reasons why a publisher might choose to publish an Internet-based encyclopaedia rather than a paper- based one. Reason 1 there would be fewer printing/production costs. Reason 2 it would reach a larger audience. Reason 3 it may include sound. Reason 4 it could contain direct links to other relevant sites.

Describe what is meant by software copyright. It means that software may not be copied or shared without permission as the author has ownership of intellectual property. Software companies can issue or sell licences [2] Describe Average Marks: 3 Word Per Mark: 10 – 27 words

Language of Exams – Give When setting up a database a user is asked to choose between different data types for each field. Give an example of each of the following data types and give a reason why you would choose this data type for a field. Real number Suitable example eg The field contains a decimal fraction (money). Integer Suitable example eg. 2 The field only contain whole numbers. Boolean Suitable example eg. N A field with only two values. Alphanumeric Suitable example eg. X21345 A field that needs to be a mixture of letters and numbers.

Language of Exams – Give The term ‘network topology’ describes how a computer network is arranged. Give the name of one network topology. [1] Ring

Explain Average Marks: 4 Word Per Mark: 15 Look Lively will take orders for books and videos over the Internet using its website. Each item they sell will be shown on the website, and the customer will be able to search the catalogue for items they want and then fill in an order form to be sent electronically. The designer of the website wants to use data validation on the order form. Explain the meaning of validation in this situation. [2] A way of reducing the number of errors by blocking data that does not fit the validation rules.

Tick - read the question carefully Wordsworth Dental Practice stores data about patients. The Data Protection Act protects patients from the incorrect use of data. Tick four statements from the table below that are true: True? Each patient must agree to the storage of sensitive data about him/herself. x The practice must state the purpose for which the data is required.x The practice can collect any amount of data on each patient. It does not matter if some of the data stored is inaccurate. Data must be kept up to date.x Once data has been collected, it can be kept indefinitely. The practice must take steps to ensure that data is not lost or misused. x

Summary Identify the key word Look at the number of marks Answer accordingly using an appropriate number of words Make sure that you answer each type of question properly  state does not need a description  explain needs an example  etc.

What to take Away- Plenary State is single word or phrase Describe is a full sentence Explain is a describe, with an example or reason Compare is picking a feature and looking at both sides in turn Discuss is a compare, with each side being an explain