IPS Exam Read the Question

The single most frequent reason, other than a lack of preparedness, why students do badly on exam questions is that they do not read the questions properly or they fail to understand them. They often miss a key word or phrase and misinterpret the entire question. Consequently, they do not answer the question asked but wander off in a direction that yields few, if any, marks.
Following are some key words that will enable you to determine the type of answer an examiner is looking for in a given question:

• Compare: Emphasize the similarities, then add some differences.
• Contrast: The emphasis is reversed; emphasize the differences then add some similarities.
• Compare and contrast: Both differences and similarities must be explained for each of the terms or items under consideration.
• Criticize: Give your opinion on the merit or truth of the factors mentioned.
• Define: When this word is used in isolation, all that is required is a brief but accurate explanation of what a word or phrase means. There is no harm in giving an example if time allows, but if an example is considered essential, the examiner will use a phrase such as "define and give an example of..."
• Describe: Relate events one after the other in story form and add important details such as who, what, where and when as you go along.
• Discuss: Analyze with supporting evidence.
• Evaluate: Make an objective judgment, giving both sides of a proposition as well as your own opinion.
• Explain: Give reasons, causes or motivations; make plain or intelligible. It is wider in scope than the word "define".
• Illustrate: Show by specific examples.
• List, name or state means exactly that: a list of items or a statement of facts. No explanations are required nor will they gain any extra marks.
• Outline: Give a general, rather than a detailed description. It implies the answer should be comparatively brief, but sufficient to cover the topic under discussion. Provide key points in sequential order but without much explanation.
• Summarize: Tell main points only.
• Trace: Outline development and progress.

Some words appear often in exam questions but, judging from many answers, students have no clear understanding of their meaning. Just a few examples are:

• Function: the purpose for which something is designed or exists; role.
• Objective: something that one's efforts are intended to attain or accomplish; purpose, goal, target.
• Implement: fulfill; perform; carry out; put into effect according to or by means of a definite plan or procedure.
• Factor: an element contributing to a particular result or situation.
• Procedure: a particular course of action.
• Provision: a formal or explicit statement of a condition demanded; proviso, stipulation.
• Concept: a general notion or idea; an idea of something formed by mentally combining all its characteristics or particulars.

There is another type of key word that can have a major impact on an answer. Watch carefully for such words as:
 

only	always	often	never
may	true	false	sometimes
correct	no	not	incorrect
most	least	general	specific
brief	detailed	any	all
some	fully	any given number

Now let us demonstrate how some of these terms can affect how a question should be answered.
Examples:
1. List the means by which insurers spread risk.
This question would carry few marks. All that is expected is a list of the ways insurers spread risk, i.e., volume, diversity of location and diversity of classes of insurance. As there are only a few ways, you are expected to list all of them for a complete answer.
2. Explain how insurers spread risk.
Now you must identify the ways in which insurers spread risk and explain how each method achieves its objective.
3. Discuss TWO (2) ways in which insurers spread risk.
In this question you are asked to deal with a specific number of items. If you deal with less, you have no chance of obtaining full marks; if deal with more, only the first two will be marked. You could achieve full marks but you will also have wasted valuable time. In discussion type questions examples are a good way of providing supporting evidence.
4. Contrast a "representation" with a "warranty".
In this question you would emphasize the differences between the two, and just mention some similarities, if any. In this type of question you may simply have to jot down all the features of both and then determine which are differences and which are similarities and their relative importance.
5. Two examples of multiple-choice questions follow:
A material fact
a. is the subject of insurance.
b. is any fact that relates to the item insured.
c. need only be divulged if insured is asked about it.
d. is a fact relating to anything that could affect the premium charged or the acceptability of
the risk.
Always read all options before making a choice. Let us analyze the question and observe some common pitfalls. Most students would immediately identify a. as being an inappropriate answer. In b. the operative word is any; it makes the statement incorrect. In c. the word only makes the statement incorrect. That leaves d. as the only possible answer.
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
a. Binders are usually issued by insurers.
b. Cover notes are usually issued by brokers.
c. Temporary insurance is limited to a fixed term.
d. Oral binders are effective and legal.
In this question note that three answers will be correct and you are to identify the correct one. Don't make the mistake of reading a. and thinking, this is correct, marking it down and proceeding to the next question. Remember you must only mark one answer and that is the one that is false.