Study questions are a great way to help you prepare for an exam or test. They help you review the course material and practice applying it to questions — just like ²â´Ç³Ü’l±ô do during the test.
The key to doing this effectively is to create study questions that force you to use the same skills ²â´Ç³Ü’l±ô use during the exam.Ìý
Back in high school, you had to remember, understand and apply new information. But in university, ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð expected to demonstrate higher levels of learning. You also have to analyze, evaluate and create something to demonstrate your knowledge.
When ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð making study questions, break them down into these six categories, starting from the simplest ones (remember) and working your way up to the most complex ones (create).
Tip: Questions in the higher stages—analyze, evaluate and create —will typically have higher grades attached to them! Ìý
Remember
- Key words: Who, what, identify, recall
- Questions that require you to quickly recall specific information
- Examples:
- Who…? What…? Where…? How…?
Understand
- Key words: Interpret, summarize, give an example of
- Questions that require you to organize and select facts and ideas
- Examples:
- Re-tell in your own words ____.
- What is the main idea of _____?
- What difference exists between _____?
- Write a brief outline of _____.
Apply
- Key Words: Construct, demonstrate, predict, show that
- Questions that require you to demonstrate use of facts, rules and principles
- Examples:
- How is ____ anÌý example of_____?
- How is _____ related to_____?
- Why is _____ significant?
- What difference exists between _____?
Analyze
- Key words: Break down, what is the relationship between, compare
- Questions that require you to separate a whole into component parts
- Examples:
- Classify_____according to_____.
- What are the features of_____?
- How does_____compare/contrast with_____?
Evaluate
- Key words: Judge, defend, evaluate, critique
- Questions that require you to combine ideas to form a new whole
- Examples:
- What ideas can you add to_____?
- What solutions would you suggest for _____?
- What might happen if you combine_____with_____?
- How would you design a new_____?
Create
- Key words: Create, compose, design, prove
- Questions that require you to develop opinions, judgements or decisions
- Examples:
- Do you agree that_____? Explain.
- Prioritize according to_____.
- What criteria would you use to assess?
- How would you decide about_____?
Study question tips and tricksÌý
- Make sure to have at least one question for each of the six categoriesÌýabove (remember to create)Ìý
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Refer to your notes, quizzes and course material when ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð creating questionsÌý
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Try to find the topics that the instructor emphasized in the lectures and make sure to include these in your questionsÌý
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Write down your questions and put the paper somewhere visibleÌýÌý
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Work through the questions as part of your test or exam reviewÌý
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Try saying the answers our loud or writing them down Answer the questions in your own wordsÌý
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¶Ù´Ç²Ô’t be discouraged if you »å´Ç²Ô’t know all the answers. Review the material again and go back to the questions you struggled with