Exam Tips

Tips to Score High Marks in Business Studies

• Read and scan the exam paper carefully. Plan and organise your answers in your mind.
• Plan out a strategy to attempt the exam paper.
• Divide your time well between very short, short and long answers.
• Write your answers in points as far as possible. Avoid writing in paragraphs. If a question carries a long answer but has been allotted comparatively less marks, focus on points and sub-points.
• To make presentation effective, underline the headings/main points and keywords.
• Space out your answers well. Also leave some space in between the points for a particular answer.
• Don’t get confused with the words — list, outline, state, enumerate, explain, etc. In list/enumerate/outline question, complete sentence should be given for each point. In state question, brief description of the points (one sentence each) may be given. In list/enumerate questions, complete sentence should be given for each point. However, you may check the marks assigned to the question and accordingly write your answer within the given word limit.
• You can make your answers more effective by supporting it with illustrations, diagrams, views of management experts, wherever necessary.
• If calculations are required, include workings and define your variables. Examiners want to see that you were not guessing and they rarely award many marks for the final correct figure. They will award more marks for the workings and logic.
• Keep to the time limit for each question, and if time is up for that question move to the next. Continuing with that question may lose you ten minutes to gain only one mark, and make you panic more when the invigilator announces, 'one hour left'.
• When revising, stop briefly after each question or set of questions and take a short break to relax, stretch, or have a snack.