Based on the degree to which you are able to truly understand a new topic, we recommend that you work in stages. Start by reading a short explanation of something, then try to recall what you’ve just read. This will have a limited effect if you stop there but it aids the next stage. Question everything. Write down your own summary and then complete and mark a related exam-style question. Cover up the answers if necessary but learn from them once you’ve seen them. Lastly, teach someone else. Explain the topic in a way that they can understand. Have a go at the different practice questions – they offer an insight into how and where marks are awarded.
Bloom’s taxonomy
The six levels are remembering, understanding, applying, analysing, evaluating, and creating. These relate to the style of questions asked in exam papers.
Remembering is used in simple knowledge and recall questions. These are usually 1 mark and towards the beginning of a paper to relax you and ease you in.
Explain questions (often 2 marks) start to assess your understanding and application. They usually want a point and then an explanation of why that point is valid. Describe questions also ask for understanding and application.
Discuss, analyse and evaluate questions are usually longer answer questions. These are often marked using a levels-based mark scheme rather than giving marks for individual valid points. A balanced argument is required with positives and negatives for both sides perhaps, and a reasoned judgement made for a conclusion is often required in a ‘justify’ type question.
